Sweet osmanthus whose flowering is much celebrated in Chinese cities such as Hangzhou, Guilin, and Suzhou, is more than an ornamental plant. This beautiful shrub has been cultivated in China for 2,500 years today and it is being used in the said country as an ingredient in herbal medicine, as well as flavoring for wine, sweets, and tea. Aside from these uses, one of the most expensive perfumes in the world is produced from the sweet-smelling Osmanthus flowers which are considered rare and precious in the modern perfume industry.
Characteristics of the Osmanthus Plant
Osmanthus Fragrans, also known as sweet osmanthus, sweet olive, tea olive, and fragrant olive, is an evergreen shrub that is cultivated as an ornamental plant. This species is native to Asia and is associated with the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival. It can grow to 3 to 12 m tall and is famous for its fragrant flowers which smell like ripe peaches or apricots. The small flowers are white, yellow, or yellow-orange in color and they bloom from June to August. Sweet Osmanthus is a hermaphrodite plant which means it has both male and female organs. It has leaves with an entire or finely toothed margin and bears purple-black fruits which contain a single hard-shelled seed.
Modern Medicinal Value of Osmanthus Tea
Sweet Osmanthus, when made into tea, can relax the body and the mind. This drink which is known to have anti-inflammatory and antibiotic effects can help prevent some types of bacterial infections, relieve the body from fatigue, and lowers the amount of toxins in the body. Its other benefits include the following:
- It may help maintain eye health
Osmanthus tea has the potential to improve one’s eyesight since it contains neo beta carotene and trans alpha carotene which are essentially converted to vitamin A, a retinoid that maintains the cornea and is essential in keeping the eye healthy.
- It may give relief to patients with arthritis
Osmanthus is a natural anti-inflammatory that may ease arthritis and arthritis pain. It can also help prevent thrombocytosis, a complication of arthritis that can lead to strokes and heart attacks.
- It is rich in vitamin B-3
This herb is a good source of vitamin B-3 or niacin that is essential in keeping the nervous system, the digestive system, and the skin healthy.
- It may improve blood circulation
Many people take good blood circulation for granted without realizing that it is one of the most important functions in the body since it supplies the much-need oxygen to the brain and other organs. If the blood flow is reduced, it can cause numbness and tingling. In worse cases, it can lead to tissue damage and nerve damage. As previously mentioned Osmanthus is a good source of vitamin B-3 which helps improve circulation and suppresses inflammation.
- It may help prevent weight gain
Osmanthus tea can help prevent weight gain since it reduces the activity of chemicals in the brain that makes one feel hungry and increases the activity of chemicals that suppress appetite.
- It helps fight the aging process
Osmanthus tea can help fight oxidative stress (which can cause premature aging and bring damage to cells) because of its powerful antioxidants and its ability to relax the mind as well as improve brain function. Not only can that, drinking this tea on a regular basis help ensure healthy and young-looking skin.
The Osmanthus herb is precious not only because of its popularity in the perfume industry, but all because of its healing benefits. So click here to make a purchase and start your journey to a healthy lifestyle now.
