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What precautions should be taken using herbal teas?

Herbal teas are not recommended in the case of individual sensitivity to their components, also when herbal teas are used not according to the instruction of use or in unreasonably high amounts.
Some herbs are not recommended for pregnant or nursing women and small children or dosage should differ.

People having diseases should consult their doctor before use of herbal teas, because of a possible interaction of medicines, anaesthetics and contraceptives with plant substances. A doctor should be informed about use of herbal teas when prescribing drugs for a patient.

These precautions should be taken not only in case of herbal teas, but also for far more spread drinks, e.g. black or green tea, coffee, etc.

Which herbal teas may improve digestion?

Such teas include blends for every day: „Aromatic“ (with different aromatic plants), Herbal Tea „For Every Day“ (with mint), drink „Coffee without Coffee“ (made of roasted wild chicory and dandelion roots).

If flatulence occurs, it is recommended to use herbs, which decrease formation of gasses (e.g. Herbal Tea No. 43 is made with them).

A tea with herbs stimulating secretion of gastric juice and function of liver and pancreas is useful in case of diminished gastric acidity (craving sour flavours) (e.g. Herbal Tea No. 51).

If gastric acidity is increased or even heartburn occurs or ulcer is diagnosed, a herbal tea is recommended, which includes herbs calming down increased secretion of gastric juice and inflammation of mucosa (e.g. Herbal Tea No. 27). Persons with above mentioned problems can profit from use of such herbal tea against hyperacidity if they take it before meal or before other tea.

Troubles of digestion may be related with diseases of digestive glands, e.g. decreased function of liver due to hepatitis or intoxication, results of chronic pancreatitis, other. A doctor should be consulted for diagnosis. Herbal Tea No. 5 developed by Jadvyga Balvočiūtė contains herbs, which improve liver function and facilitate the flow of bile; Herbal Tea No.8 is made with herbs useful in case of chronic pancreatitis. Herbal Tea No. 52 includes herbs used in the treatment of cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder) and cholangitis (inflammation of the bile ducts).

Herbal Tea No. 46 is made with herbs, which stimulate function of liver, pancreas and stomach, bowel peristalsis and enhances removal of toxins from the body.

How many blends with medicinal herbs may be used during the same period of time?

It is recommended to use not more than two blends at the same time. Professionals may consult whether two different teas may be combined. If two teas are consumed, it is better to take a second herbal tea after a break of 15 minutes.

What is Chaga mushroom?

It is a sterile (i.e. non-fecund) stage of a parasitic mushroom of birch, called also Conk trunk rot of birch or Inonotus obliquus f. Sterilis or Fungus betulinus in Latin. It has been mainly used in folk medicine of the northern part of Europe (Baltic countries, Poland, Finland, Karelia region of Russia); the European areal of this mushroom is wider, but it does not reach however southern boundaries of birches, on which Chaga grows. Chaga is also harvested in Siberia and well known in Chinese medicine. This mushroom has been included in the Official Pharmacopeoa of the Soviet Union (11th edition in Moscow in 1987, p. 389) and Chaga and its preparations (e.g. Befunginum) have been used as official medications in Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus and Russia before. At present Chaga circulates in the market as a herb or raw material for production of extracts, which have a status of food supplements.

It is thought that main activity of Chaga is related with pigments of a complex structure, which gives a colloidal solution in water. It presents a complex of active phenolic aldehydes, polyphenols, oxyphenolic-carboxylic acids and their quinines. The mushroom contains also micronutrients, which serve as activators for a number of enzymes and are important for leucopoiesis. Besides, Chaga contains different organic acids, pterins, triterpenes, sterines, polysaccharides, etc. Some active substances of Chaga, like betulin, are translocated to the fungus from a birch host.

Traditionally Chaga is known as adaptogen, tonic, natural pain reliever, gastrointestinal normalizer, remedy against inflammation and internal tumours (e.g. against early stages of stomach and lung cancer). It is thought that antitumour and anti-inflammatory effects of Chaga are due to its immuno-modulating activity on cells. Studies of Yoo Kyoung Park and others (2004) showed that extracts of Chaga protect human lymphocytes DNA against oxidative damage. In folk medicine, Chaga has been used also as a symptomatic remedy in the treatment of gastric ulcers, gastritis, gastrointestinal atonic and hypomotility disorders. Decoction of Chaga has been used for treatment of hypertension and diabetes (maximal hypoglycaemic action 90-180 minutes after use). Also external preparations of Chaga are used in dermatology.

One of popular methods to prepare an infusion of Chaga is the following: a dried mushroom is prepared with boiled or distilled water of room temperature in a proportion: 1 part of mushroom and 5 parts of water. The mushroom is washed well, poured with water and left for about 4 hours, until it becomes tenderer. Then it is filtered and the same water and mushroom are used further. Mushroom is crushed, ground or minced. The water is warmed up (the temperature should not exceed 50°C) and poured over the crushed mushroom; it is left covered for 48 hours at a room temperature, then filtered and kept in a refrigerator. It s recommended to consume a prepared infusion during 3-4 days. It is taken up to 3 cups a day for a period from 1 month to 5 months. E.g. in case of gastric ulcers, one tablespoon is taken thrice a day, 30 min. before meal.

Infusion of Chaga is not toxic, but sometimes allergic reactions may occur. According to Russian authors, infusion of Chaga is not advised for patients with retention of fluids in the body or infusions should be made more concentrated and lower volumes should be given. Chaga is contraindicated for patients treated with penicillin (antagonistic action) or when glucose is given intravenously. Contraindications include also chronic diarrhoea and chronic colitis.

Increased irritability of vegetative nervous system may be observed if Chaga is used for a very long period of time or in high dosages, e.g. 3 or more cups a day of infusion 1:5 making a break of 7-10 days every 3-5 months. (Chaga has been used to complement a prolonged immunosuppressive therapy of oncological problems). According to Russian literature, these symptoms disappear after cancellation of preparation or after decreasing in a dose. Dietary modifications are advised during such treatment too (food without preserves, smoked or spicy products; limited consumption of meat and fats of animal origin and no alcohol, etc.).

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