Hippocrates father of modern medicine spoke of this tea!
Years ago I was doubled over with female pains when a kind elderly co-worker working as a cook in the kitchen where I was employed promised me that when he went home to Greece he would go up into the mountains and pick me Sheppard's Tea and cure me of my problems. I was astounded to find such a kind soul, who not only kept his word, he steeped the tea in a kitchen pot months later. I continued to drink this tea and my problems subsided. I know we are all different, and I can only share my experience with you.
I'm feel strongly that there has to be some truth to the benefits of this tea when we learn that Hippocrates, the Greek philosopher, the father of modern medicine spoke of Mountain Tea and its benefits of healing the immune system as well as the respiratory system on the island of Kos around 400 BCE.
Greek Mountain Tea or Sheppard's Tea comes from a plant called the Sideritis plant which grows at high elevations in the mountains in Greece. Elevations at over 3,000 feet. Consumption of this tea dates back to ancient times and is still loved by the Greek population for its health benefits and its pleasant flavour.
I have since found it not only fascinating, however, validating to learn that the elderly cook from a restaurant in Toronto during the 1980's knew how to cure me of female problems with this tea. A study in The Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture1 has found that Greek mountain tea is as potent as green tea (Camellia sinensis) at inducing cellular antioxidant defenses and preventing oxidative stress. Although the mountain tea extract had a lower phenolic concentration and total antioxidant capacity than green tea in the study, their cellular antioxidant effects were similar due to comparable bioavailability.
When I traveled to Greece in 2019, I fell in love with the culture, the people and most of all the wonderful experience of the beautiful fragrance of pots of flowers and herbs growing everywhere. If you ever want to try Greek Mountain tea you can find it at L&L Teas (LnLTeas.com) where they blend many beautiful herbal teas. I can only tell you that my experience with Greek Mountain Tea left a life long memory for me, only to be backed up by studies decades later, confirming what Hippocrates and the ancient Greeks knew centuries ago! For whatever reason you enjoy your tea, its always fun to read a good story when sipping on that comforting goodness. Just thought I'd share this one with you all today.