As much as I love herbal teas for all the ways they support my health, they can sometimes be really lacking in the flavor department!

That’s why I enjoy hibiscus tea so much – it checks all the boxes:

• supports the menstrual cycle during our reproductive and mid-life years.
• tastes delicious on its own or with additions (like honey or just a few ice cubes).
• easy to find and affordable.

So, today’s post is all about how this beautiful flower can helps us when it comes to alleviating hot flashes, supporting healthy weight, improving high blood pressure and much more.

Let’s go!

TOP BENEFITS OF DRINKING HIBISCUS TEA

1. Natural Anti-Inflammatory

Chronic inflammation is particularly problematic because it can exacerbate the natural hormonal changes that occur in our bodies every month.

Everything from hot flashes, weight gain, sleep problems, achy joints, dry skin or thinning hair is affected by inflammation.

The good news is antioxidant-rich foods, like hibiscus, are great for lowering inflammation.

So, what makes hibiscus particularly helpful for inflammation?

Well, it has to do with its high anthocyanin content.

Anthocyanins give hibiscus its deep, red color and they also protect the body from the side effects of toxins, an unhealthy diet, and overall stress.

2. May Soothe Hot Flashes

In Ayurvedic medicine, hot flashes are a sign of pitta imbalance.

This is because when there’s an excess of pitta in the body, that’s when we overheat and struggle to regain balance.

Pitta can accumulate during any phase of life and during menopause specifically, it contributes to hot flashes (as well as irritability, impatience and achy joints).

So Ayurveda relies on refrigerant (aka cooling) herbs to balance out the excess pitta. Hibiscus happens to be a cooling herb and as such, it may help to relieve hot flashes and other pitta-related symptoms.

In addition, Herbal Academy’s website states: “Because it literally lowers the body temperature, it can be a big help not only in hot weather but in “personal summers” (also known as menopause-related hot flashes).”

3. May Support Weight Loss

Some studies suggest that hibiscus helps with weight loss and with preventing obesity.

In fact, one human study shows that taking hibiscus extract for 12 weeks reduces body weight, BMI, body fat, waist-to-hip ratio and levels of fat in the blood.

Another animal study shows that obese mice that take hibiscus extracts have significant reductions in body weight gain.

Now, it’s important to note that both studies used hibiscus extracts.

This means the doses were quite concentrated and exceeded what you’d get from drinking hibiscus tea daily.

But, what’s important to note here is that the hibiscus plant contains natural compounds that are associated with supporting a healthy weight.

4. May Support Liver Health

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, then you’ve heard me say that you can’t regulate your hormones without a healthy liver.

When it comes to hibiscus, animal studies show that it can:

• prevent the accumulation of fat in the liver (source).
• reduce markers of liver damage in chemically- or diet-induced liver injury models (source).
• increase or restore activity of liver-related enzymes and improve liver metabolic/antioxidant function (source).

So, by supporting the liver’s metabolic and detoxification capacity, hibiscus may make it easier for your liver to work more efficiently.

5. May Improve Depressive Mood

Emerging research points to a link between oxidative stress – an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants -and depressive symptoms (1, 2).

Hibiscus is naturally rich in flavonoids, a group of compounds that have been shown to help reduce oxidative stress and support overall mood balance.

In fact, a large U.S. cross-sectional study of nearly 10,000 adults found that those who consumed more flavonoid-rich foods had fewer depressive symptoms. Interestingly, the association was significant in women but not in men.

Now, this doesn’t mean hibiscus replaces prescribed antidepressants or therapy.

But enjoying hibiscus tea regularly may offer gentle, natural support that allows you to feel a bit more calm, grounded, and uplifted.

6. May Regulate Blood Pressure and Support Heart Health

According to the American Heart Association, the risk factors for heart disease in women tend to go up during menopause.

And one of those risk factors is high blood pressure, which tends to go up during menopause (if we’re not prioritizing healthy diet and lifestyle).

Luckily, blood pressure regulation is one area where hibiscus tea absolutely shines! For example:

• A scientific review of hibiscus also revealed that it is “used in at least 10 countries worldwide in the treatment of hypertension and hyperlipidemia with no reported adverse events or side effects.”
• A very small study published in the Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice suggests that hibiscus tea may be more effective than hydrochlorothiazide (a blood pressure drug). Plus, consuming hibiscus didn’t results in electrolyte imbalance, which is a common side effect of hydrochlorothiazide.
• Other studies show that hibiscus tea’s ability to regulate blood pressure also works for diabetic patients (3, 4).

HOW TO MAKE HIBISCUS TEA

Ingredients

1 – 2 tsp dried hibiscus (the more hibiscus you use, the stronger the tea)

1 cup boiling water

Instructions

1. Boil water and then remove from heat.
2. Add the water and tea into a tea maker.
3. Allow to steep for at least 15 minutes (personally I prefer to do at least an hour for this tea and all other herbal teas)
4. Drink it plain if you like the tartness. Otherwise, sweeten with some raw honey.
5. You can also squeeze some fresh lemon or orange juice for a mild citrus flavor.

NOTE: you can find hibiscus tea (usually in tea bags) in many health stores. My favorite way to make it is with this loose leaf hibiscus from Worldwide Botanicals (sold on Amazon). It’s the best-tasting hibiscus I’ve had!

FAQs ABOUT HIBISCUS

Does hibiscus tea lower estrogen levels?

Hibiscus supports the liver, which is necessary for detoxing excess estrogen (and other hormones). Therefore, drinking hibiscus tea can help to lower estrogen levels naturally.

What helps hot flashes during menopause?

Aside from hibiscus, using sage for hot flashes may also be helpful. In addition, consuming an anti-inflammatory diet that is rich in fruits, veggies, unprocessed grains, nut, seeds, and clean animal products (grass-fed, pasture-raised) can be very helpful during menopause.

Furthermore, essential oils like peppermint, geranium, jasmine and many others are often used as natural remedies for hot flashes. For more on essential oils and recipes you can use, read these posts:

• Essential Oils for Menopause: 11 Best Oils For Relief and How To Use Them
• The Only Essential Oil Roller Recipe For Hot Flashes You’ll Ever Need
• DIY Essential Oil Spray For Hot Flashes: 5 Recipes To Use

What are the side effects of drinking hibiscus tea?

If you’re taking a diuretic to control blood pressure, such as hydrochlorothiazide, then you should not drink hibiscus tea. Studies show that hibiscus may interact negatively with that drug.

In addition, some research shows that hibiscus is toxic in very high amounts. 

But we’re talking about amounts that far exceed the recommended 3 cups per day. 

As long as you don’t exceed the recommended 3 cups per day, you can consume hibiscus regularly.

Is hibiscus tea caffeine free?

Yes, hibiscus is caffeine free because it comes from a different species of plant (compared to black or green teas).

Is it good to drink hibiscus tea at night?

Since hibiscus is caffeine free I personally don’t mind drinking it at night. Plus, hibiscus regulates blood pressure and having healthy blood pressure levels may actually improve sleep quality.

IN SUMMARY

From the liver to blood pressure and hot flashes, hibiscus tea supports various organs and processes in the body that impact women’s health.

As with all natural remedies, the key to getting results from hibiscus is to be consistent and find ways to make it part of your daily routine.

This can look like:

• enjoying it as a refreshing and hydrating drink after your workout (I like to add ice – tastes amazing!).
• drinking a warm cup after dinner to unwind (especially during the cold months).
• combining it with other herbs and spices (like cinnamon or mint – I haven’t tried either but I’ve seen videos and articles from others who enjoy this).

Enjoy!!

Related Posts:

How to Go Through Menopause Naturally: 7 Steps To Start Using Today

Best Menopause Supplements Without Black Cohosh

Herbs for Menopause Weight Gain (+ Best Supplement Recommendations)

How to Use Matcha Green Tea for Hormone Balance

Best Drinks for Hormone Balance: 7 Drinks and Recipes That Provide Relief

6 Herbs That Balance Hormones (That You’re Probably Not Using)

7 Amazing Benefits and Uses of Sage Leaf For Menopause