What home-made drink tastes of non-alcoholic apple cider, has its origins in Manchuria, is 2,300 years old, and claims powerful healing effects?
The answer is Kombucha tea.
Kombucha tea is made from black or green tea, sugar, and the magic Kombucha “starter” culture. It is left to ferment in a warm environment for about 10 to 12 days until all the sugar has been converted to a slightly sparkling, refreshing drink, containing vitamins, enzymes, minerals and healthy organic acids.
The culture is “live” and is a symbiotic relationship between candida-friendly yeasts and bacteria. It looks like a creamy pancake and with every new batch of tea, a “baby” culture is produced that can be passed on to others as a starter culture.
So what are the benefits of drinking Kombucha tea regularly?
Kombucha appears to have a general influence on the healthy function of the body. It is claimed to boost your own immune system, detoxify the body, encourage the growth of good flora in the digestive system and balance the metabolism.
Some of the conditions that people have found relief from include:
* Various symptoms of cancer
* Low 'T' cell count
* Arthritis
* Candida
* Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
* ME
* Blood Pressure Problems
* Obesity
* Psoriasis
* Eczema
* PMS
* Poor digestion
* Erratic bowel movements
* Migraine relief
* Poor skin tone
Many of the above conditions are known to improve when the digestive system is purified, helpful bacteria are re-introduced to the body and cells are oxygenated.
Even if you are as fit as a fiddle and regularly drink Kombucha tea, according to Kombucha enthusiasts, other benefits include:
* Increased energy levels
* Better concentration
* Better mood/feeling of wellbeing
Besides drinking the tea it can be applied topically to the skin to make a compress for abscesses and ulcers, a cream for skin disorders and as a hair rinse. It has also been used to treat animals.
Recent studies in Germany have confirmed that Kombucha has in vitro antimicrobial activity, enhances sleep and pain thresholds, and has potent anti-oxidant and immunopotentiating activities. In rodent studies, both male and female mice which drank Kombucha, demonstrated enhanced cognition, decreased appetite and weight and all lived longer natural lives than the controls.
Kombucha tea is a food supplement and not a substitute for healthy eating.
Recommended reading:
Kombucha Tea for Your Health and Healing -
The Kombucha Tea Network available on www.sulis-health.co.uk/kombucha/handbook.shtml
For more information and suppliers of the Kombucha culture go to: www.KombuchaTea.co.uk