Sideritis.info

Greek Mountain Tea

Considering its spread in the Mediterranean and the Balkan Peninsula, it is almost surprising that Greek mountain tea is only now beginning its triumphant advance in the medical field. Already in ancient times people knew about the effects of the tasty tea plant also known as Greek verbena.

Traditionally, Greek mountain tea was used to improve psychological balance, to increase mental strength and to prevent age-related problems. The herbal miracle product, with more than 100 different subspecies, grows in the Mediterranean area at altitudes of over 1,000 meters.

The botanical name Sideritis is derived from the Greek sideros = iron. It is generally believed that the herb was used to heal wounds caused by iron weapons and that is how it got its name. The plant belongs to the mint family (the flower reminds of an upper and lower lip); characteristic features are the golden yellow flowers and the grey felt-like leaves.

Greek mountain tea contains, inter alia, essential oils, flavonoids, (water-soluble plant dyes, some are good antioxidants), phenylethanoids, (they regulate the cell function and serve as radical scavengers), and phenolic acids (they have antibacterial and anticarcinogenic effects).

Greek mountain tea within the scope of science

Today, the results of numerous researches provide the scientific basis that its use is indicated for many so-called civilization diseases. In particular, it is worth mentioning the promising results of the Alzheimer’s researcher Prof. Dr. Jens Pahnke, initially achieved with experiments on mice affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Numerous positive feedbacks from his patients suggest that the active ingredients of the Sideritis plant produce similar positive effects in humans.
 
At the same time, the Greek mountain tea is not only used in the number one widespread disease, Alzheimer’s. In 2010, a private research institute in Germany registered a patent for extracts of the Sideritis plant as a serotonin reuptake inhibitor in the treatment of depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, panic attacks, eating, attention and hyperactivity disorders.

To summarize, according to current scientific knowledge, the treatment with Sideritis extracts is indicated for

As a precaution, or for treatment purposes, it is generally recommended to obtain one litre of tasty tea from the Sideritis plant. The IBAM Research Institute refers to an alcoholic extract of the plant; it is not mentioned if pure tea achieves the same result.

But attention! Of the more than 100 subspecies, only the species Sideritis scardica has come into the focus of science and has showed positive results. For many teas, it is not clear which subspecies is provided, but the right choice is crucial for successful treatment. The so-called wild collections can also be considered critical as the purity of the tea could possibly suffer and wild resources could be damaged.

A high quality Sideritis scardica tea plant should be bright green with stems and golden yellow flowers. For the preparation of the tea, a few tea tems are sufficient, (5-10g for 1litre water). Put them in cold water, bring them to a quick boil and then let them brew for 10-15 minutes.

For a longer use and exact dosage, it is recommended in any case to use an extract from the Sideritis scardica plant. There are numerous providers of high-quality, organically grown, Sideritis scardica plants, (sources of supply).