Linden tea: what is it for, how is it used and when is the best time to consume it?

He linden It is an immense, leafy tree, very green in summer, very yellow in autumn. The famous avenue Berlin Unter den Linden (Under the lime trees) is an example of such beauty, but not the only one.

These trees, which can live up to 1,000 years, are highly prized in many cities. Its heart-shaped leaves and yellow flowers are used to prepare medicinal infusions with a pleasant, sweet and floral flavor, and without caffeine.

It is common for tea bags to also contain some of the inner bark of the tree. In fact, there is evidence that the flowers, leaves and bark Lime trees have been used medicinally for hundreds of years throughout the world.

The Nutrition and Pharmacy portal details its composition: for every 100 grams of lime flowers and leaves you need to count 0.55 grams of fibre, 0.2 of fat and 0.2 of protein. Plus 10 milligrams of sodium, 16 of potassium, 3 of phosphorus, 0.17 of iron, 3 of calcium.

What is lime tea used for?

According to a study by the University of Michigan published on its website, the active ingredients of lime essential oil are flavonoids and glycosides. Linden tea has traditionally been used to relieve gastrointestinal disorders and nervous tension.

Although linden tea is sold in bags in any supermarket, anyone who has a tree nearby can prepare it from its dried flowers or leaves.

How to make linden tea with a tree

• For a cup of tea:
• Place between 2 and 4 tablespoons of dried flowers or leaves (or mixture) in a teapot.
• Pour 95° water over it (boil the water and let it sit for a minute before adding it to the teapot) and let it sit for 15 minutes.
• Strain into a cup and drink hot or cold.

It is recommended to treat anxiety, insomnia, low blood pressure, flu and colds, allergies, muscle tension, inflammation, vomiting and excessive sweating.

Although there is not much scientific evidence on these effects, there is a cultural and popular heritage that supports its use to alleviate elevated mood and its physical and psychological consequences.

Linden tea: be careful with excesses

The specialized healthcare site Foro Med clarifies on its website that organizations such as the Food and Drug Federation (FDA) of United States of America They consider oral use of lime safe if done sensibly.

But they detail it Excessive consumption of herbal tea is not recommended because its active ingredients act on the central nervous system. And they warn against its consumption in cases of pregnancy, breastfeeding and cardiovascular diseases. In these cases it is necessary to consult your doctor.

Nutrition and Pharmacy offers additional benefits of lime tea on its site. It is guaranteed to be a diuretic and, therefore, effective for losing weight and as a detoxifier.

It is highlighted that it is also an antioxidant thanks to the action of its flavonoids, it contains fibers that promote digestion, relieves stress, lowers fever Thanks to the increase in sweating it relaxes the muscles (this helps to lower blood pressure), it is sedative, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory.

What time to drink lime tea?

Thanks to its sedative and muscle relaxant properties, it is suggests drinking lime tea in the evening before going to sleep. A good cuppa will induce sleep and provide muscle relaxation.

But since lime is also used as a digestive or to relieve colds and fevers, it can also be taken at other times. The important thing is to control the type of activities that will be carried out next. Don’t drink lime tea if you later drive a car or operate delicate machinery. The problem isn’t time, it’s the sedative effect that it produces.