Jasmine Tea

Jasmine tea has long been used for medicinal purposes in the Middle East and Asia.  It is also known for its relaxing aroma and snow white flowers.  Jasmine tea and jasmine green tea are consumed all around the world and thought to have many health benefits and medicinal uses.  Researchers have become interested in plants believed to have medicinal properties and have started to investigate the accuracy of these beliefs.  Jasmine is one of the plants that are being researched and there have been some promising findings and myths that have been shattered. 

                First, jasmine tea was thought to prevent upper gastrointestinal cancer.  In a recent retrospective epidemiological study, researchers found the consumption of jasmine tea did not reduce one’s risk of getting upper gastrointestinal cancer [1].  On the other hand, another study found that rats who ate jasmine tea had lower blood and liver LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) than rats who did not consume the tea [2].  In other words, jasmine tea may have cholesterol reducing abilities but further studies on humans need to be done before such a conclusion can be made.  Finally, the jasmine plant has been found to cure diarrhea and stomach pain [3].  Researchers used ground twigs and leaves of the plant and studied their pharmacological compounds to decipher their medicinal uses.  Then they were used on mice to see if it was effective [3].  Although, this study has bright findings additional research is also needed to decide if jasmine plant can safely be used to relieve stomach pain and cure diarrhea.

                Herbs and plants have been used for centuries as antidotes for the ill, but scientists have only recently started to look at the effectiveness and safety of these remedies.  Hopefully, soon researchers will identify safe, natural treatments which people can use instead of chemically manufactured medicines.

 

1.            Gao, Y., et al., Jasmine tea consumption and upper gastrointestinal cancer in China. Cancer Causes and Control, 2009. 20(10): p. 1997-2007.

2.            Basu, A. and E. Lucas, Mechanisms and effects of green tea on cardiovascular health. Nutrition reviews, 2007. 65(8): p. 361-375.

3.            Jia, Q., et al., Anti-diarrhoea and analgesic activities of the methanol extract and its fractions of Jasminum amplexicaule Buch.-Ham. (Oleaceae). Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2008. 119(2): p. 299-304.