Health Benefits Of Hibiscus

Hibiscus is used for making ayurvedic and herbal medicines. Ayurveda uses hibiscus parts like leaves, flowers and roots to cure headaches, swelling, menstrual cramps, hair care, colds, venereal disease, encourage short term infertility and stimulate menstruation. It is also used as a laxative. People use the hibiscus flowers to make chutneys, soups and curries. Let’s take a look at the ways in which hibiscus can improve your health.
1. Lowers Cholesterol: According to research, hibiscus can lower cholesterol levels. Artery clogging cholesterol can up your risk of heart disease but animal studies have shown that hibiscus flower extracts taken orally might be able to lower total cholesterol levels by as much as twenty two percent. Moreover, it also increases levels of HDL cholesterol. It is thought that saponins present in hibiscus bind to cholesterol and prevent its absorption in the body.
2. Aids Weight Loss: Hibiscus is quite beneficial for weight loss. Being loaded with nutrients, flavonoids and various minerals, hibiscus lowers the body’s absorption of fats and carbohydrates. This in turn can help you lose weight.Apart from that it also contains high concentrations of antioxidants that aid weight loss by boosting metabolism. Also, being diuretic in nature, this herb helps shed water weight.
3. Help Treat Depression: Some of the key polyphenols found within the hibiscus plant have been shown to display a protective effect on the brain, while also increasing blood flow. As a result its supplementation has been shown to improve mood and reduce depressive symptoms.
While this research is still in its early stages, it does suggest that hibiscus flower may offer a natural additional to some of our more traditional depression treatments, while also acting as a potent mood enhancer.
4. Cures Fever, Constipation, and Cold Cures: Since ancient times, hibiscus has been used in different cultures as a remedy for treating various conditions.  Egyptians used the hibiscus tea for lowering the temperature of the body, treating nerve and heart diseases, and the best use was as a diuretic. Due to the cooling effects of hibiscus tea, fever can also be reduced. In other parts of the world such as Africa, the parts of the plant were used in the treatment of liver disease, symptoms of cold and constipation. Hibiscus flowers have been popularized as a healthy flower and also used as a medicine in menopause treatment. The pulp or juice made from these leaves can treat skin wounds. This is one of the most know hibiscus tea benefits around the world.
5. Improves Hair Growth: Crushed leaves of hibiscus have been used as a soapy paste to clean hair. It is supposed to strengthen hair and promote healthy hair growth.  Now, scientific studies have also found that hibiscus leaf extracts can promote hair growth. So if you’re looking for thick beautiful tresses try shampooing with hibiscus leaves.
6. Lowers Blood Sugar: Hibiscus tea is a wonderful option if you’re worried about your blood sugar levels. High blood sugar can affect the functioning of your nerves, eyes, and kidneys and increase your chances of getting heart disease too. But research has discovered that taking a hibiscus flower extract orally for twenty one days reduced blood glucose levels by forty one to forty six percent.
7. Boosts Immune System: Immune system is actually the body’s defense against all sorts of diseases. According to research, extracts of hibiscus flowers may be able to encourage cells which fight infection. So to strengthen the natural defenses of your body try a cup of hibiscus tea.
8. Beneficial For Hair: Hibiscus plant consists of good amount of Vitamin C and minerals. Polyphenol compounds in the leaves of this plant have been known to contain anti-inflammatory properties. Flowers are supposed to cure ailments such as loss of hair, cough, and graying of hair. For natural hair treatment with hibiscus, the flowers are dried, ground to fine powder, and mixed with some water to apply on the scalp.
9. Fights Hair Loss: If you are worried about hair loss, hibiscus can help fight it. Being rich in vitamins A and C as well as amino acids, hibiscus helps to combat hair loss and induce hair growth. It also cures dandruff, prevents split ends and prevents premature graying.
10. Boosts liver health: Research has shown that hibiscus may promote liver health and help keep it working efficiently. Further research is however required to know how hibiscus tea affects liver health in humans.
11. Heals Wounds: A cup of hibiscus tea just might be able to help heal any wounds or nicks that you have. Hibiscus flower extract, when taken orally, was found to quicken wound healing, and lead to faster skin growth in rats when compared to controls who were not given the hibiscus extract.
12. Can Protect Against Skin Cancer: Exposure to the harmful UV rays of the sun and certain harmful chemicals are known to promote skin cancer. But hibiscus might have a protective effect. According to a research, the topical application of hibiscus extract before exposure to UV rays and the toxic chemical benzoyl peroxide was able to partly restore levels of protective enzymes which prevent cellular damage.
13. Can Treat Head Lice: Hibiscus flower helps to remove head lice. You would be surprised to know that hair loss that occurs due to thyroid problems can also be prevented to some extent if you consume a cup of healthy hibiscus tea or apply a smooth hibiscus paste on the scalp. To prevent premature graying of hair, parts of hibiscus plant can stimulate the production of the blood and ensure that vital nutrients reach the hair follicles.