Medicinal uses of Blue flower tea
Butterfly blue flower tea is well known for its beautiful blue color that it provides when used in cosmetic products, herbal tea blends and cocktails. The unique colour it possesses is due to its richness of the antioxidants present in it called anthocyanins. When steeped in warm or hot water, this blue flower imparts the vibrant blue colour widely used as a dye and for imparting colour to the traditional dishes. Recently this flower has been in the list of the topmost healthy foods due to the various health benefits it offers. Some research backed benefits of this blue flower tea are as follows-
1. Diabetic friendly - This super drink has the power to obstruct glucose uptake from the food and thus lowering the blood sugar levels spike in the body. This hypoglycaemic property makes this drink diabetic friendly. Also its antioxidant content protects from various infections, which diabetics are more prone to.
2. Treats respiratory disorders - The extract of blue tea leaves has shown to possess anti asthmatic activity and can be used as a potential alternative for the treatment of allergies and other respiratory disorders such as bronchitis. Its anti inflammatory properties makes it an excellent treatment option for cold and cough and reducing the lung irritation.
3. Nootropic activity - Its a drink that refreshes the brain and gives a boost to its activity and functioning, making a person feel energised.
4. Anti carcinogenic effect - Antioxidants in this blue hued concoction fights off the free radicals that are responsible for causing cell damage, which further cause cell proliferation and cancer. In various animal trials, the extract of this plant have been seen to exhibit anti carcinogenic effect. This effect is due to the various antioxidant compounds present such as kaempferol, p-coumarin, ternatins etc.
5. Potent antibiotic - The extract of this flower have strong anti microbial properties and destroy both the bacteria as well as fungi.
6. Hepatoprptective effects - Liver ailments can be treated with this beverage as it possesses strong hepatoprotective activity.
7. Mind boosting power - Ayurveda designates this herb as the brain herb as it enhances the brain health by improving memory and combatting anxiety and depression. Also the presence of acetylcholine in it makes it a good treatment option for Alzheimer’s. This flower is very beneficial for brain health and also reduces the symptoms of stress induced ulcers.
8. Eye functioning - The presence of anthocyanins in this blue flower increases the blood flow to the eyes and treats various eye disorders such as glaucoma, retinal damage, blurred vision, tired eyes etc.
9. Immunity booster - The blue tea is a rich source of antioxidants called ternatins. These compounds possess strong anti inflammatory properties and prevent the growth of cancer cells. Various other antioxidants are also present in this flower which boost the body’s immune system and prevent cancer cell proliferation.
10. Anti pyretic effect - It works as a natural paracetamol. Paracetamol functions as a pain reliever and fever reducer and blue flower tea does just the same. This property of reducing fever occurs because this extract expands the blood vessels under the skin, thus cooling the blood by increasing the blood flow and reducing temperature.
This healthy and beautiful beverage has been used since ancient times as a part of the traditional medicine and serves a lot of health benefits, for which definitely more human trials are needed. But the research available till date approves of the benefits it offers, with little or no side effects.