Life of Spice
For over 5000 years spices & flowers have been used in religious rituals, cooking, cosmetics, perfumes and in Ayurvedic medicine; treating ailments with the belief that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body and spirit, using herbs & spices.
The spices & flowers used in Trade Roots Organic Chai have many potential therapeutic benefits.
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*Improving digestion
* Relieving flatulence & nausea
*Help strengthen the immune system
*Improve the circulatory & cardiovascular system
* Healing & purifying properties
*Anti-bacterial, anti-fungal & anti-spasmodic
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*Please note, this is not intended as medical advice
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The ancient spice trading routes ran from Africa, throughout Persia to the Mediterranean, Europe to the Americas and East & South East Asia.
This resulted in a global phenomenon so immense that it would change the world forever. Just about every household in the western world has a spice to add to a dish & most of us grow a few in the garden.
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Calendula
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A native to South Western Asia, the oil of Calendula officinalis is used as an anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal and as an anti-tumour agent. It is said to help heal gastric ulcers, congested lymph nodes, wounds and sore throats.
It is an astringent tissue healer and is especially good for the skin.
Calendula flowers are sacred in India and have been used to decorate the statues of Hindu deities since early times.
Cardamom
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One of the very ancient spices. It is native to the forests of the Southern India, where it still grows in the wild. Ancient Egyptians chewed cardamom pods as a tooth cleaner and the Greeks used it as a perfume. It is good for boosting digestive health and helps gastrointestinal issues like indigestion, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and spasms.
Ceylon Cinnamon
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True Cinnamon has anti-viral, anti-septic and anti spasmodic properties. It's also an effective warming stimulant & astringent. Cinnamomum verum, which translates as 'true cinnamon', is native to India,Sri Lanka & Bangladesh.
Cloves
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Cloves act as an antiseptic, anti-fungal, antibacterial, antioxidant,
an analgesic & are an anti-inflammatory.
Their use is recommended to treat coughs, flatulence, inflammation, tooth aches & bronchitis. A native to the Maluku Islands of Indonesia, it is also grown in Pakistan,India, Sri Lanka,Madagascar and Tanzania. Because of the wide spread distribution of growing areas, cloves are available all year round.
Cornflower
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Cornflower can be taken to treat fever, constipation, water retention, chest congestion and is said to be a liver and gallbladder stimulant. It was given to women to treat menstrual disorders and vaginal yeast infections. Cornflower is an annual flowering plant native to Europe. It often grew as a weed in corn crops and so nicknamed "cornflower".
Ginger Root
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Very helpful in relieving nausea, flatulence & motion sickness. Ginger is a herbaceous perennial, where the rhizome or root is widely used as a spice and a medicine. Ginger originated in Southeast Asia dating back about 5000 years. Ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius celebrated its healing powers and to the Romans it was a symbol of wealth and fertility.
Nutmeg
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As a warming digestive, it controls vomiting and relaxes spasms. The earliest known usage of nutmeg is on the island of Pulau Ai in Micronesia around 3,500 years ago. It was traded by Arabs during the Middle Ages, a valuable and expensive spice at the time.
Pepper
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Native to South East Asia & Southern India it has been used & traded since
2000 BCE. Piper nigrum is a perennial woody vine growing up to 4 m, producing long racemes of green berries, that are picked unripened, There are six varieties. Pepper contains antimicrobial compounds that keep food fresh, assist with nutrient absorption and reduce inflammation. It is rich in vitamins, minerals & antioxidants
Rose
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Roses have therapeutic benefits that relax the body, reduce stress and promote healthy skin.Throughout the ages they have been symbols of love, beauty, war, and politics.The rose is, according to fossil evidence is 35 million years old. A genus of 150 species, the Rosa species spread throughout the Northern Hemisphere from the Americas to Africa. The cultivation of roses began around 5,000 years ago in China.
Star Anise
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Star Anise helps improve digestion, alleviate cramps and reduce nausea. It also has anti-fungal & anti-bacterial properties. Consuming star anise tea after meals can help treat digestive ailments such as bloating, gas, indigestion and constipation. Star Anise is native to Southern China and Vietnam. The history of Star anise dates back to 100 B.C.
Tea
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Tea has a long complicated history dating as far back as the last Ice age.
The origins of tea include the northern part of Burma
and Sichuan provinces of China, where tea drinking started around the Yin Dynasty, 3rd century AD, as a medicinal concoction. Europeans started drinking it in the mid 1600's. Today it remains the most popular beverage, world wide. Black tea in particular is a very powerful antioxidant.
Turmeric
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Turmeric has so many different therapeutic benefits. It has anti-inflammatory properties, is good for choleric, is antimicrobial and has carminative actions for digestive disorders. It can be particularly helpful in relieving flatulence, colic & abdominal pain. It is a plant that has a very long history of medicinal use, dating back nearly 4000 years. In the same family as Ginger, Turmeric is a native of India and Southeast Asia.
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