Herbal Tea Can Alleviate Depression New Study Suggests

Feb. 9, 2011 - PRLog -- A study published in the New Scientist shows that inflammations can cause depression, memory loss and lethargic behavior.  According to Andrew Miller of Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia,  "There are an awful lot of people going around with chronically raised inflammatory responses, it seems likely that they will be suffering some effects."

Many people with depression don't even realize that inflammation can be the culprit, or that they are suffering from inflammations, which can be caused by toxins, pollutants, disease, even stress. According to the report, inflammations release a signaling molecule called cytokines. Although cytokines are too large to pass freely through the blood-brain barrier, the magazine reports, recent studies have shown that they can through other areas. "Cytokines can interact with virtually every pathway relevant to depression," says Miller.

Sarah Richards, herbalist and founder of http://www.homegrownherbandtea.com, is not surprised by the report. "What strikes me about the report is how depression can have physical causes that we're not addressing. We're so quick to assume mental problems have mental sources and physical problems physical, when the truth is they are both intertwined."

Richards sees herbal tea as providing that link. Medicinal tea has played a central role in health and well being for centuries. "Tea does two things," she says. "It provides medicinal compounds to address the physical source of disease, but it also provides a soothing mental engagement with your health."

Richards believes that people prone to inflammations whether from genetic tendencies, pollutants or stress - should make it a habit of drinking known anti-inflammatory compounds, but also they should reduce the environment where inflammations flourish. "Inflammations like acidity. People who suffer from inflammations and consequently depression need to drink a tea that balances the body's ph levels as well as their mood."

Her Inflama-tea can be found in the wellness section of http://www.homegrownherbandtea.com

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Homegrown Herb and Tea is an herbal tea apothecary located in Portland, Maine and online at http://www.homegrownherbandtea.com. We serve wellness tea, Ayurvedic teas and specialty teas.