Benefits
Several studies have found that Hibiscus flowers have high vitamin C as well as possessing chemicals that lower blood pressure.1 In blind tests hibiscus flower tea worked just as well as prescription drugs in about 4 weeks for those with moderate to high blood pressure.2 The fruit acids present in the Hibiscus flower have proven to be a mild laxative decreasing spams in the stomach whilst also having an antibiotic action that helps rid the intestine of worms and foreign bacteria. Other tests have revealed that Hibiscus could have the ability to reduce the absorption of alcohol and help with alcohol poisoning.34
Folklore and history
There seems to be a correlation throughout the world between the Hibiscus flower and feminine energy. In Hawaii if the woman wears a Hibiscus flower over her left ear it signifies that she is in a relationship, whereas wearing the flower over the right ear means that she is available or open to a relationship.
In India the Hibiscus Flower is traditionally used as an offering to goddesses and traditional Southern Indian iconography of the Goddess Kali features Hibiscus flowers heavily. A variation in Greek mythology shows Hibiscus being a potent symbol of beauty where the god Adonis is transformed into a Hibiscus flower and then fought over by the goddesses Aphrodite and Persephone.
Traditional use
From Hawaii to Egypt and China, the Hibiscus flower has been incorporated into cultural, medicinal and magical areas of life. Since this flower has stretched far and wide, with possible origins being difficult to pin down, there are many different traditional medical applications within Africa, India and China. The Egyptians and Sudanese used Hibiscus flowers, most notably the calyx, to make a red tea that would have been used for treating problems of the nervous system and heart. In other parts of Africa the same tea concoction was used to treat coughs, colds, sore throats, increase appetite and to heal wounds and abscesses. Ayurvedic medicine concludes that the flower can be made up into a paste that will help keep the scalp moist, stop hair falling out and give hair a healthy lustre. While this is the most common use of Hibiscus in Ayurvedic medicine, another prominent Hibiscus remedy is to help regulate the menstrual cycle and in anti-fertility treatments.
Typical use
Hibiscus Tea
1 - 2 teaspoons per cup of boiling water, steep for 3 - 10 minutes depending on taste.
Hibiscus Flower Powder
Can be added to smoothies, water or encapsulated.
Recommended use: Upto 1 teaspoon daily.
Hibiscus Flower Powder can also be used topically in natural hair and skincare products.
Constituents
delphinidin, esculetin, cyaniding, gossypetin, anthocyanin, glycoside hibiscin. Flvones: quercetin-3-diglucoside, quercetin-3,7-diglucoside, cyaniding-3,5-diglucoside, quercetin-3-sophorotrioside, kaempferol-3xylosylglucoside, cyaniding-3-sophoroside-5-glucoside. Other constituents are cyclopeptide alkaloid, cyanidin chloride, hentriacontane, riboflavin, ascorbic acid, thiamine, taraxeryl acetate, β-sitosterol , cyclicacids sterculic and malvalic acids.
Precautions
Hibiscus must not be consumed by pregnant women as it stimulates uterine contractions.
Please consult your healthcare practitioner if you are taking prescription medication for diabetes or hypertension (high blood pressure).
Hibiscus may affect blood sugar levels, making blood sugar control difficult during and after surgery. Stop using Hibiscus at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
