Research and Rooibos
The therapeutic value of rooibos tea has been recognized for centuries in South Africa, where both the indigenous Khoi-Khoi tribe and colonial settlers drank it to treat a wide array of illnesses ranging from nervousness, headaches, indigestion and allergies to minor skin problems. Recently many studies have validated these traditional uses of rooibos tea, showing that rooibos is high in antioxidants, which have many health benefits including the potential to prevent the mutation that may lead to cancer.

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Antioxidants protect the body from a variety of illnesses caused by free radicals, a natural product of metabolism. In moderate quantities, free radicals play an important role in destroying invasive viral or bacterial cells. But when left unchecked, free radicals attack healthy cells and can impair the immune system, leading to chronic conditions and diseases like arthritis, cancer and heart disease. Free radical damage is also believed to be the basis of the aging process.

High levels of free radicals can be kept in healthy balance with antioxidants, some of which are known as flavanoids. Studies have shown that rooibos contains amongst others the following key flavanoids - quercetin, luteolin, rutin and aspalathin. Aspalathin is unique to rooibos and one of the most potent antioxidants in the flavonoid family. Following are many conditions and illnesses in which the antioxidants in rooibos play a positive role in affecting overall heath. ^1,2,3

Preventing cancer
Japanese research from 1993 shows that rooibos suppressed malignant cell changes in vitro for two reasons. First, rooibos contains natural antioxidants, which protect against the creation of mutated genes. Second, rooibos specifically quercetin, a flavonoid shown to act as an anticarcinogen to a variety of cancer cell types, including cancer of the breast, colon, ovary and leukemia as well as squamous cell, edometrial and gastric cancer. ⁴

Anti-spasmodic properties
Quercetin and luteolin possess strong antispasmodic properties, which helps explain the positive effect when rooibos is given to babies with colic, a disorder often caused by stomach or abdominal spasms. ^5,6,7,8

Reducing inflammation
Quercetin is a strong, natural anti-inflammatory agent. Its ability to reduce inflammation in the airways and prevent the release of histamine suggests it may be useful in relieving asthma and possibly hay fever and sinusitis. It appears to block allergic reactions to pollen as well. ^9,10 Because of its anti-inflammatory properties it?s also useful in nonbacterial prostatitis and prostadynia (PD). ¹¹

Immune system support
Researchers in Japan indicated that Rooibos tea extract may facilitate the antigen specific antibody production through selective augmentation of IL-2 generation both in vitro and in vivo. Rooibos tea intake may thus be of value in the prophylaxis of the disease involving a severe defect in Th1 immune response such as cancer, allergies AIDS and other infections. ¹²

Controlling diabetes and blood glucose levels
Luteolin, quercetin and rutin, inhibit aldose reductase considered to be a target enzyme for pharmacological control of diabetic complications. Rooibos also contains pinitol, which possesses hypoglycemic anti-diabetic properties. ^5,6,7

Lowering cholesterol levels
Quercetin prevents the oxidation of vitamin E in LDL and regenerates already oxidized vitamin E. Quercetin thus prevents the increase of LDL cholesterol. ^5,6,7

Lowering blood pressure
Rooibos also contains the flavonoids orientin, iso-orientin, vitex and iso-vitexin, which may lower blood pressure. ^5,6,7

Regulating circulation
Rutin enhances the stability and permeability of capillary arteries, which explains the positive effects of rooibos when used to relieve tired legs, cramps and various circulatory disorders. ^5,6,7

Caring for skin
Rooibos has many uses in skin care. Flavonoids in rooibos possess antibacterial and antifungal properties, explaining the beneficial effects when a rooibos solution is used as face wash. The alpha-hydroxy acid in rooibos is an important ingredient of beauty creams and therapeutic preparations for dermatological diseases. ^5,6,7

Maintaining liver health
In vitro research conducted in Japan proved hepatoprotective and anticirrhotic effect of rooibos. Rooibos tea significantly suppressed the increase in plasma activities of aminotransferases (ALT, AST), alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin concentrations, which are considered markers of liver functional state. ¹³

Maintaining brain function
In vitro studies in Japan show that rooibos suppresses age-related brain deterioration. ¹⁴

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