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8 benefits of dandelion tea and side effects

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Discover the 8 shocking benefits of dandelion tea and side effects.

What most people find to be an annoying weed, can be a healthy drink and a tasty tea.

Dandelions grow in gardens around the world every spring and last all summer.

Their bright yellow leaves are easy to spot and their seed pods are often used to make wishes.

These herbs offer powerful health benefits when consumed as food or in drinks such as tea.

We’ve put together a list of the health benefits of dandelion tea that will inspire you to brew a cup of this vibrant tea.

Whether you love the light floral flavor or prefer strong tastes like coffee, dandelion tea has something for everyone.

First, learn the health benefits of each type of tea here.

What is dandelion tea?

Dandelion tea is an herbal tea made from various parts of the dandelion plant. It is known as Taraxacum officinale.

There are several different types of dandelion tea depending on whether the tea is made from:

leaves,

flowers

or the roots of the plant.

One of the most common is known as roasted dandelion root tea or “ dandelion coffee ”.

The tea gets its name from the dark color of the roasted root, which resembles coffee beans.

This type of dandelion tea is often used as a coffee substitute.

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Dandelion tea made from flower petals offers a delicate and sweet taste.

Roasted dandelion teas offer a bolder flavor with smoky and toasted notes that are paired with a robust flavor.

Dandelion leaf teas offer an earthy, herbaceous flavor that may have astringent notes.

Health Benefits of Dandelion Tea

1. Contains large amounts of fiber

Dandelion leaves contain high concentrations of fiber, which helps to streamline digestion and improve overall health.

Eating a diet high in fiber can help improve digestive health and relieve intestinal tension.

The dietary fiber in dandelion leaves can also help prevent digestive system problems such as:

irritable bowel syndrome

kidney stones.

2. Rich in vitamin A

Dandelion leaves are full of vitamin A, which can help improve the appearance of your skin. They also reduce inflammation.

Vitamin A is also essential for healthy vision and can prevent serious problems like macular degeneration.

Dandelion tea is known for its cleansing properties

Vitamin A may also ease symptoms of measles, a disease rare in the United States, but which has recently increased in frequency due to anti-vaccination movements.

Taking vitamin A can shorten the duration of symptoms, including:

upset stomach

diarrhea

and fever.

3. Good for bone health

Dandelion root tea contains high amounts of vitamin K, which is known to help strengthen bones.

Studies show that vitamin K, especially K2, may be a better choice than calcium for bone health.

Calcium can cause stiffness in the arteries, which can increase the risk of blood clots.

Vitamin K2 offers the same mineral properties for bone health, with no side effects on heart health.

Drinking dandelion tea helps prevent fractures and breaks in bones that do not have high bone mineral density.

4. Helps target free radicals

Dandelion tea contains antioxidants that fight free radicals – compounds that can cause oxidative stress and damage to healthy cells.

Antioxidants work to remove free radicals from the body, thus protecting against long-term damage.

Free radicals have been linked to a host of health problems, including cancer and premature aging.

5. Benefits of dandelion tea for liver

Dandelion leaf tea can help protect liver function and aid digestion in general.

study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food found that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of dandelion leaves help prevent liver damage in mice caused by unhealthy eating.

Dandelion tea contains vitamin C, which improves the absorption of minerals.

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It also strengthens the immune system and prevents illnesses, including colds and flu.

The antioxidants in this tea also help stimulate bile production, which helps the body to break down and process food.

6. May help fight cancer

Dandelion root tea can cause certain types of cancer cells to die.

study published in Evidence-Based Complementary Alternative Medicine looked at these cancer-fighting properties.

Researchers found that dandelion root extract – when combined with the diabetes drug metformin – could treat human melanoma G361.

7. Benefits of dandelion tea for urinary tract infections

Dandelion tea has natural diuretic properties.

These diuretic properties can also help regulate blood sugar levels. They improve the general state of health.

Consuming dandelion tea can help the body flush out toxins and wastes. This prevents bacterial infections in the urinary tract.

This happens because the healthy compounds in dandelion tea decrease inflammation and the diuretic effect increases urine output.

One study showed that these effects were most pronounced when dandelion was combined with uva ursi, known as bearberry.

8. Dandelion tea for weight loss

Dandelion teas can help speed up weight loss when used in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise program.

Since tea has natural diuretic properties, it helps reduce water weight.

Dandelion tea is a natural diuretic

The antioxidants in dandelion leaves, dandelion flowers, and dandelion root extract also help speed up metabolism and improve fat burning.

Replacing sugary drinks with dandelion tea can also help reduce calories.

You still get a sweet and delicious flavor without the extra calories that can add up to the pounds.

The flavor of dandelion tea is also more exciting than that of plain water, so it’s easier to stay hydrated and stick to your diet.

Side effects of dandelion tea

If you are allergic to ragweed, you may also have an allergic reaction to dandelion tea.

Avoid drinking this herbal tea if you are allergic to dandelion or related plants including daisies and chrysanthemums.

Stop use immediately and contact a healthcare practitioner if you experience symptoms, including:

a rash

breathing difficulties

and an itchy throat.

Drugs interactions

Dandelions can inhibit the absorption of certain antibiotics, effectively decreasing the effectiveness of drugs.

If you are taking antibiotics, including Cipro and norfloxacin, talk to your health care provider before taking dandelion.

Dandelion can also interfere with certain diuretics and cause other side effects.

Dandelion tea is naturally caffeine-free

The main thing to watch out for is the potassium content.

Some diuretics contain potassium which when taken with dandelion herbal tea can reach unhealthy levels in the human body.

If you are taking any medication, always talk to your doctor before using any herbal or herbal teas.

Significantly increasing the consumption of dandelion tea in conjunction with medications for the liver may also decrease the effectiveness of these medications.

Consume this tea in moderation and check that the tea does not interact with your medications.

How to make dandelion tea

The process of brewing dandelion tea differs depending on the type of dandelion tea you are brewing.

In general, dandelion tea should be brewed using hot water or boiling water.

It is also better to use:

loose leaves,

fresh flowers

or dried roots rather than tea bags.

Leaves and flowers should steep for about 5-10 minutes, while roots are best 6-8 minutes.

Sunny and bright dandelion tea

Dandelion herbal tea is a delicious herbal tea that can bring sunshine to your world.

Vibrant flowers look gorgeous when infused in hot water and provide endless health benefits.

You can also opt for dandelion leaf or root teas if you prefer stronger flavors.

Pour yourself a delicious cup of dandelion tea and soak up the health benefits.

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9 Benefits of strawberries and side effects

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7 Benefits of Epazote and side effects

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Discover the 7 shocking health benefits of Epazote and side effects.

Epazote, also known as paico or acahualillo, is a widely used medicinal plant, as its essential oils contain vermifuge, antibiotic, digestive properties, and strengthen the immune system.

This plant, whose scientific name is Chenopodium Ambrosioides, grows spontaneously in lands that surround the houses, it has elongated leaves of different sizes and dark green, its flowers are small and whitish.

 

Epazote can be bought in certain markets or health food stores, in its natural form, in dehydrated leaves, or essential oil.

Because it is considered a plant with a degree of toxicity, it should preferably be used under the guidance of a health professional, in addition to the use of tea from its leaves instead of essential oil, since it contains a higher concentration of potentially toxic substances.

Health Benefits of Epazote

Although epazote is a plant that is widely used in traditional medicine, it has few studies that confirm its properties in the body.

Despite this, several investigations have been carried out with this plant in animals, concluding that it has effects such as:

1. Eliminate intestinal parasites

This is one of the most popular uses of epazote and, according to some human studies, the use of this plant has a strong action against different intestinal parasites, such as worms and tapeworms.

This action seems to be related to the main active substance in epazote, ascaridol, which is similar in efficacy to some antiparasitic drugs, such as Albendazole.

2. Benefits of epazote for immune system

According to research carried out in animals, the use of epazote extract seems to be able to regulate the production of some cells important for the body’s defense, such as macrophages and lymphocytes, strengthening the immune system.

The mixture of epazote leaves with milk is popularly used to help in the treatment of respiratory diseases, such as bronchitis and tuberculosis, due to the union of the strengthening effects of the immune system and expectorants that these substances possess.

3. Benefits of epazote for inflammation

Another common use of epazote is in the relief of inflammation, mainly joint problems, such as osteoarthritis. Additionally, the plant also helps relieve pain from inflammation.

This analgesic action was observed in the use of the alcoholic extract of the plant, which seems to act on the NMDA receptors.

4. Benefits of epazote for digestion

Although there are no studies that prove the action of this plant on poor digestion, this is one of the popular uses in which it is used the most.

According to its use, epazote tea can be taken after large meals, to improve digestion, as it could be able to increase gastric juice production.

5. Benefits of epazote for  blood pressure

In Morocco, epazote is frequently used to help treat high blood pressure and, according to studies in mice, this property is due to the stimulation of type 2 muscarinic receptors in the heart that slightly decrease the heart rate. , in addition to relaxing the heart muscle.

6. Combat bacterial, viral, and fungal infections

Both the use of epazote extract and essential oil has shown a powerful antimicrobial action that is capable of eliminating various types of bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

7. Avoid osteoporosis

In some investigations carried out in laboratory mice, the use of the hydroalcoholic extract of epazote was able to prevent the loss of bone density and can be applied to prevent the onset of osteoporosis, especially in women who are close to entering menopause.

Is epazote used to treat coronavirus?

study carried out in 2020 by the Oswaldo Cruz Institute, confirmed the hypothesis that the flavonoids present in epazote may be able to prevent the replication of the new coronavirus, accelerating the recovery and cure of COVID-19.

However, the study was conducted on a computer model and has not been tested in a laboratory, nor living organisms.

For this reason, the dose necessary for treatment is not known, nor are the possible side effects.

For this reason, no health organ recommends the use of epazote as a treatment for COVID-19 until new studies are carried out.

How to use epazote

The most common way to take advantage of the properties of this plant is by infusing its leaves, preparing a tea:

Epazote tea: place a cup of the fresh plant with the seeds in boiling water and let it rest for 10 minutes. Afterward, strain and drink a cup up to 3 times a day.

In addition to infusion, another popular way to use epazote is an essential oil, however, its use must be guided by a naturopath, psychotherapist, or a health professional with experience in the use of medicinal plants.

How to Make epazote tea

Ingredients
8 large stems and leaves of fresh epazote
2 quarts boiling water

Procedure

  • Add epazote to boiling water and let simmer for 2 minutes.
  • ove from heat and let steep for another 3 minutes.
  • Strain and serve.
Side effects of epazote

Side effects of epazote include irritation of the skin and mucous membranes, headache, vomiting, nausea, palpitations, damage to the liver or kidneys, visual disturbances, and seizures, in case of doses higher than recommended or for a time. longer than 3 days in a row.

Is epazote abortifacient?

In high doses, the properties of epazote can act by altering the contractility of the body’s muscles; For this reason, it can have an abortive effect in certain people, not advising its use in pregnant women.

Contraindications

Epazote is contraindicated in pregnant women and children under 2 years of age.

This medicinal herb can be toxic, requiring a medical indication to establish the recommended dose

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Contraindications and side effects of Trazodone

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Discover the Contraindications and side effects of Trazodone.

Trazodone is used in a wide variety of disorders, although it is an antidepressant.

Being depression one of the most prevalent mental disorders worldwide and one of the major causes of disability, its treatment is a matter that the scientific community has taken into account for many years.

The suffering it generates requires sometimes immediate attention since it is one of the disorders with the highest risk of suicide and that generates the most pain both for the person and for those around him.

The treatment of depression is carried out from different areas, one of them being psychopharmacology.

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One of the drugs used in the treatment of depression is trazodone, which we are going to talk about in this article.

Trazodone: what type of substance is it?

Trazodone is a psychotropic drug classified within antidepressants, substances that generate a neurochemical change at the brain level, causing alterations in the levels of certain neurotransmitters, specifically serotonin.

Among antidepressants, it is part and is the main representative of the group of serotonin-2A antagonists and reuptake inhibitors or SARIs, a type of atypical antidepressant.

This drug was designed in Italy in 1966 under the assumption that depression could be based on the existence of low thresholds regarding the perception of pain and suffering, being the product of the lack of integration of aversive experiences.

Trazodone has proven to be an efficient and effective drug in the treatment of depression, reducing passivity and inactivity, as well as the discomfort and suffering associated with said ailment, and facilitating an increase in mood.

However, in addition to this, it also has an anxiolytic and tranquilizing action.

This substance is considered a second-generation antidepressant, along with specific serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), with which it shares part of its mechanism of action, and different dual antidepressants.

Trazodone is sometimes considered to be dual as it has two different effects, although they focus on the same neurotransmission system, compared to the rest, and in addition to an antidepressant effect, it also has calming effects.

How does it work? Mechanism of action of the drug

As we have indicated previously, trazodone is classified as SARI, having a somewhat special mechanism of action among the rest of antidepressants.

Trazodone acts at the serotonergic system level (like most antidepressants) in two specific ways.

In the first place, this substance produces a blockage of brain serotonin reuptake, in such a way that said neurotransmitter remains in the synaptic space for a longer time.

This supposes that it has an agonist effect on the synthesis and maintenance of serotonin at the brain level, it increases its levels (which are decreased during the depression and this is something that correlates with the decrease in the mood).

The aforementioned mechanism of action is the one used by SSRIs, which is why these and trazodone are related and sometimes the latter is included among the first.

However, trazodone has a second effect that differentiates it from other drugs, and that seems contrary to the previous mechanism of action.

And it is also that it acts as an antagonist of serotonin 5-HT2A receptors, preventing or hindering these receptors from being activated.

This second aspect is what makes trazodone have a slightly different profile and effects than other antidepressants.

Regarding its interaction with other neurotransmitter systems, it does not present great anticholinergic effects, something that has made this drug a better option than tricyclics (although the doses must also be regulated) in patients with cerebrovascular and cardiac pathology and dementias.

However, it must be taken into account that it can generate arrhythmias.

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It also has a minor effect on the adrenergic (blocking some receptors) and histaminergic systems, something that can lead to the generation of side effects.

Main indications

The main indication for trazodone is obviously, as an antidepressant that it is, major depression. Its effectiveness is also high in those depressions that appear together with anxiety symptoms.

Its clinical utility has also been observed in other disorders in which there are components of anxiety or that are based on it, such as generalized anxiety disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, or bulimia.

In addition to this, it has also been observed to be useful for the treatment of substance addictions, being a good alternative for patients with withdrawal syndrome to benzodiazepines, and in the treatment of alcoholism (including the presence of delirium tremens).

Another of its indications is insomnia, which is effectively reduced by increasing sleep time without greatly affecting the deep sleep phase.

Although in general, most antidepressants can have the presence of erectile dysfunction or ejaculation problems as a side effect, this effect does not usually occur in trazodone, which seems to generate an increase in libido and is even used as a treatment indicated in erectile dysfunction.

Finally, trazodone has been applied (largely for its relaxing properties) in some cases of schizophrenia, motor problems such as Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, the presence of manic episodes in bipolar disorder, and the behavioral disorders of Alzheimer’s. although a greater amount of study is required regarding the latter.

On a medical level, it has also been used as a sedative in HIV-infected patients and diabetic neuropathies, as well as in other disorders that cause pain such as fibromyalgia. It has a very slight effect at the level of muscle relaxant.

Side effects and contraindications

Trazodone is a very useful drug that has been used in multiple pathologies and disorders, both mental and medical.

However, it can have undesirable consequences in the form of side effects and is even contraindicated in some situations and pathologies.

Secondary symptoms, sedation, and fatigue, the presence of headaches, nausea, and vomiting, gastric disturbances (diarrhea or constipation), appetite disturbances, sweating, tremors (which may lead to seizures in some cases), are common. ringing, numbness, and vision problems.

In some cases, it can also cause chest and muscle pain, altered consciousness, breathing problems, and arrhythmias. Like other antidepressants, trazodone can also contribute to the genesis of suicidal ideation in the first moments of use.

Although, unlike other antidepressants, it does not seem to generate contributes to improving cases of erectile dysfunction or ejaculatory problems, the use of trazodone has been observed and associated with the appearance of priapism, erections that do not disappear on their own. alone and that cause pain to those who suffer from them (which may require urgent and even surgical treatment).

Although it is sometimes used in dementias and has a lower risk than tricyclics of generating heart problems, it requires a high degree of caution in its use and dosage carefully prescribed by the doctor, since it can generate arrhythmias.

It is contraindicated in patients who have just suffered a heart attack, as well as in those with liver or kidney disease.

Caution should be exercised in subjects with bipolarity because if the medication is not regulated, the consumption of trazodone can cause a shift from depressive to manic phase.

It is also contraindicated in people who have suffered from priapism or have Peyronie’s disease.

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Finally, it must be taken into account that trazodone can be excreted in breast milk and transmitted through the placenta so that pregnant and lactating women have contraindicated its use.

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