Can you drink too much herbal tea? Many people would say that we can drink as many herbal tea as we want.
The main concern that people have is caffeine but this type of drink doesn’t have it. However, drinking teas from herbs has a limit, want to know why?
Herbs are medicinal plants that contain active substances. They impact on our organs and health. We could say they act as a medicine but they are weaker than drugs.
Our nature has some powerful plants that can have an effect on us. Learn about the teas that you shouldn’t drink too much.
Different types of teas
You should know which tea you are drinking – fruit or herbal. Although both are generally safe for most people who don’t have special health problems and limitations, you should drink them moderately.
Tea drinking limitations
Consumption of large quantities of fruit teas can bring irritation of the gastric acid because of the fruit acids. The same applies to teas that are made from herbs.
With excessive consumption of herbal teas, you may consume such doses of herb substances that already have therapeutic or adverse effects.
Many medicinal plants are in fact also used for herbal teas and medicinal teas. So it is important that you know which herbs are in your drink.
What happens if you drink too much herbal tea?
Exaggerating with something is never clever and this also applies to teas that have healing properties. I will present to you some herbal teas that you should drink occasionally or in small dosages.
Senna
It is a medicinal plant with laxative effect, which must not be used for longer than a week or two. The longer usage may increase gut inertia problems and constipation may even worse.
We need to increase doses when we get used to it. It will disrupt the electrolyte balance in the body and you could have also other problems.
Nettle
Drinking nettle tea can irritate the stomach, causing a burning sensation on the skin and swelling. It also reduces the secretion of water in sensitive people.
Leaves can be very irritating due to the presence of acetylcholine and histamine. It should not be used in edema or water stagnation as a result of weakened heart and kidney reduced ability to function.
Regarding known pharmacological activity, excessive use of nettle tea interferes with drugs against diabetes and increased or decreased blood pressure.
It increases the effect of tranquilizers because of the inhibitory effect on the central nervous system. It can have an irritant effect on the stomach and the small intestine.
Avoid it in pregnancy
According to folk tradition, it can affect the menstrual cycle and cause abortion. Excessive consumption of this drink can effect on uterine activity. It shouldn’t be used during pregnancy.
You should be careful with excessive drinking of nettle tea when you are breast-feeding. When rinsing the urinary tract you should drink a lot of water.
St. John’s Wort
Tea containing St. John’s wort can reduce the concentration of other drugs in the blood, which are used simultaneously. It means that it can reduce drug functioning.
It affects the decomposition of drugs
It increases the decomposition of other drugs in the body because it increases the level of important metabolic enzymes and transporting proteins. This may last even two weeks after consuming it.
It will have an effect on drugs that are metabolized by the liver enzyme system (various antiviral drugs, digoxin for treating heart failure, theophylline for treating asthma, chronic bronchitis, simvastatin to lower blood fats and other).
It can reduce the effect of taking birth control.
Avoid it if you will sunbath
Hypericin in St. John’s Wort is able to initiate the phototoxic reaction, so sunbathing or irradiation with UV rays isn’t recommended.
Rosemary
Although rosemary has many health benefits, it is not recommendable to overdo with its consumption. People with high blood pressure, taking blood medicines or epilepsy should be the most careful.
Drinking too much of rosemary tea can cause inflammation of the stomach or intestinal mucosa and kidney dysfunction. Diabetics and those with heart failure should be careful also.
Hawthorn
You should be careful with hawthorn because it has an effect on the number of drugs (including drugs for heart, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood). It can change a dose of the existing drug that you are taking.
Consult with your doctor or pharmacist before taking this herb.
Clinical studies reported occasional side effects of hawthorn, but these are mild and transient in nature. These can be digestion problems, headache, dizziness, drowsiness and heart palpitations.
When they occur, consult with a medical expert. Hawthorn tea can be taken only under expert supervision if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
Valerian
Valerian should not be used during pregnancy and lactation. Do not use it if you are taking drugs such as amitriptyline diazepam. You can increase the effects of hypnotics or medicines that regulate mood.
Irritation, headache, or insomnia can be side effects of taking valerian with inappropriate combinations of drugs.
Chamomile
Chamomile can cause allergies for sensitive people.
They can have abdominal cramps, swollen tongue and throat; feeling pressure on the neck, swollen lips and puffy eyes, itchiness, hives, and difficult breathing due to the contraction of bronchi.
They can worsen the allergies
Chamomile tea can worsen any existing allergy. In the past, allergic properties were attributed to the anthecotulid, but chamomile contains very small amount of this substance or not at all.
Today matrikiran is blamed for the allergies of chamomile. Sesquiterpene lactones that are found in the plant are the cause of allergies in many other plants which includes tansy, yarrow, and arnica.
An alpha-methylene group of the lactone ring should be a prerequisite for allergy. The flowers contain anthemic acid and tannin which can cause sickness.
Drink them moderately
Herbal teas can help us in health conditions but they can also have side-effects. Can you drink too much herbal tea?
The answer is yes. You should learn about herbs and teas you are drinking or wanting to try. Herbs have active substances that can have side-effects so you should be careful.
My recommendation is that you learn about each herb you will consume on my site. If you buy herbal tea you should follow the manufacturer’s preparation instructions and dosage.
You should be especially cautious if you have any kind of disease or will become a mother. If you have these conditions; you should know which herb can harm you or cause you side-effects. Take care.
