We’re kicking off our Six-Part Series: Teas for Good Health, Hydration, and Vitality!  

See what we discovered about echinacea, ginger, chamomile, hibiscus and rosehips, green tea, and oolong tea, along with tips on how you can enjoy the benefits of each.   

From the British “cuppa” to the yerba mate of South America, humans have been cultivating, consuming, and celebrating teas and herbal infusions (called tisanes) for centuries. Today, tea and tisane’s potential health and wellness benefits are gaining popularity…but are they worth all the hype they’re getting?  

As lovers of healthy living, we decided to do a little digging into the potential wellness benefits to see if they were worth adding to our daily routine. (Spoiler alert: the results were pleasing)

Echinacea 

Modern science has confirmed what North American natives already knew: echinacea is a powerhouse for supporting wellbeing. Here are a few of the impressive health benefits of echinacea tea. We also included some simple instructions on how you can enjoy this hydrating beverage. (It has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties plus it’s sugar-free and caffeine-free). 

1. Echinacea may bolster your immune system. 

If you’re aiming to bypass cold and flu season, echinacea tea may be your key. Though it’s not completely understood, evidence suggests that echinacea tea may help prevent colds and the flu by boosting the production of white blood cells (which help fight infections and viruses). Already under the weather? Echinacea tea may also help shorten the duration of cold and flu symptoms.      

2. Echinacea may reduce excess inflammation.

Inflammation is your immune system’s natural way of healing your tissues from damage. It also protects your body from outside invaders like toxins, viruses, and bacteria. While short-term and localized inflammation (known as acute inflammation) is vital for maintaining your health, unresolved inflammation that spreads throughout the body (known as chronic inflammation) may cause damage to your organs or tissues. 

Echinacea tea may help reduce inflammation and promote healthy cellular regeneration (especially when combined with healthy lifestyle habits). 

3. Echinacea may alleviate anxiety.  

Echinacea may offer positive support to your mood state. Early research shows that echinacea may help support those with anxiety. Research shows that it promotes a sense of calmness, reduces tension, and down-regulates the physical effects of stress and anxiety, like elevated blood pressure.  

How to Prepare Echinacea Tea

Echinacea is available in teabags or as loose tea. It’s typically enjoyed after steeping in boiling water for up to 15 minutes. 

While echinacea is considered safe for most people, check with your doctor if you are currently taking medications or have any kind of health condition. Echinacea is not recommended during pregnancy or nursing, or for those with a known allergy to mums, ragweed, marigolds, or daisies.