Lemon Myrtle Tea
A native bushfood from the subtropical rainforest of Queensland. Lemon Myrtle has a delicious creamy lemon lime flavour when infused.
Lemon Myrtle is without a doubt the most popular of Australia’s native herbs, with its fresh fragrance of creamy lemon and lime. It complements so many culinary delights, from fish and chicken to ice cream or sorbet, and now loose leaf tea!
Lemon Myrtle Tea Benefits
1. Lemon Myrtle is a powerful Antimicrobial
Antimicrobials kill and/or stop the growth of microorganisms and are commonly used in medicines to stop or inhibit the growth of dangerous microorganisms in the body - an essential tool in controlling or fighting infections.
We know that the citral in Lemon Myrtle is exceptionally pure, and this results in antimicrobial properties so strong that undiluted lemon myrtle oils can be considered toxic.
This is not a worry with lemon myrtle teas, and infusions as the concentration of oils released from the brewed leaves are entirely safe and provide a much lighter way to help fight infections.
2. Lemon Myrtle is Antibiotic
The same properties that make Lemon Myrtle antimicrobial also make it antibiotic - used to treat and prevent bacterial infections. The oils released in Lemon Myrtle teas and infusions are safely antibiotic and frequently used worldwide to help boost the immune system.
3. Lemon Myrtle is Antiseptic
The third part of the antimicrobial property trifecta from Lemon Myrtle is the fact that it is antiseptic. Whilst antibiotics help with the control of bacterial infections within the body, antiseptics work their bacteria-fighting magic on the skin's surface. Lemon Myrtle oils are commonly used as a natural antiseptic for skin infections and the like, and adding a few leaves to wash water can have a much softer but still beneficial effect. Infusions can also be gargled to use these antiseptic properties to relieve a sore throat.
4. Lemon Myrtle is Antiviral
Viral infections are very different from bacterial infections, but Lemon Myrtle oils and leaves have been widely used to treat both. Antivirals attack viruses, either helping to prevent them from taking hold in the body or to cause them to die more quickly, and natural health advocates have used infusions made from Lemon Myrtle to complement this process.
5. Lemon Myrtle is Anti-inflammatory
One of the more famous properties of Lemon Myrtle is that it is anti-inflammatory and therefore frequently used in the treatment of congestion and reduction of mucus. By helping to reduce inflammation, Lemon Myrtle can help with dull pain and discomfort caused by inflammation without the use of painkillers and steroids.
6. Lemon Myrtle is high in Antioxidants.
Antioxidants are used to inhibit oxidisation in the body. This helps prevent the production of free radicals, which are known to damage cells in the body. These compounds exist naturally in many foods and plants, and Lemon Myrtle is most famous for its high antioxidant content. Another plant famously very high in antioxidants is green tea, which makes the combination of Lemon Myrtle and green tea a powerful and strong antioxidant one - an excellent reason to add a cup a day to your daily health routine.
7. Lemon Myrtle is very high in Vitamin C
The concentration and purity of citral in Lemon Myrtle leaves and oils result in high levels of Vitamin C - a critical vitamin essential for the repair of tissue in the body and the production of enzymes that help the immune system function. Another well-known benefit of Vitamin C is that it aids iron absorption into the body, which helps with healing and tissue and muscle regrowth.
So, we can see that aside from its use in flavouring and scenting teas and infusions, Lemon Myrtle has many essential properties that lend itself to being part of your daily health routine and the fight against infections, as well as providing a boost to your body's immune system and ability to heal.
