Hibiscus: a beautiful cooling powerhouse with hidden health benefits

Hibiscus Sabdariffa. A beautiful sub-tropical flowering plant from the mallow family. There are a lot of plants called Hibiscus but not all are interchangeable with this particular plant.

Energetics

Cooling
moistening

Actions/properties

Demulcent
diuretic
hypotensive
antioxidant rich
antimicrobial
immunomodulating
modulates inflammation,
immunostimulant
edible/nourishing

What do you think of when you see this beautiful flower? Summer? Warm weather? Paradise?

For me it’s usually a sign that summer is coming (or already here). Hibiscus isn’t just beautiful and delicious, it has a lot to offer too.

Cultivated for use for more than 6000 yrs, it’s been around and used for centures.

A person holding 2 hands full of calyces.

The hibiscus most of us use in herbalism isn’t really the plant’s flower, but the sepals. These are all called the calyx. They are the outside green leaf part that encompasses and protects the flower as a bud.

Many parts of the world use most or all parts of the plant. But in the US, we primarily use the calyx.

Hibiscus boasts a beautiful deep red color, thanks to the pigments that deliver a powerful antioxidant punch.

Antimicrobial Properties

Susun Weed, a well-known and respected herbalist from New York, uses hibiscus as a prevention and treatment for urinary tract and bladder infections, because of it’s antibacterial properties.

As a hypotensive

Studies find hibiscus has reduced triglycerides and systolic blood pressure in folks diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes & mild hypertension.¹ And it’s been used to help normalize high blood pressure and to support heart health.

Many of these benefits regarding hypertension have come with long term and consistent use.

Hibiscus Cooling Effects

Hibiscus tea is a delicious caffeine-free drink that perfectly suits hot summer days. It has a tart and sour flavor with a touch of sweetness that quenches thirst and cools the body. You can sweeten it with honey or lemonade to perfectly suit your taste.

For an extra refreshing twist, I love it mixed with peppermint for a cool summer tea.

The cooling properties can provide relief from various hot conditions and soothe irritated skin. You can use a cool hibiscus tea compress on hot rashes or sunburned skin. And some find it helpful for soothing heated gut issues too.

Demulcent/Moisturizing Effects

The moisturizing effects of hibiscus are soothing to the lungs by coating the mucus membranes. As a result, it can be particularly beneficial during times when skies are smoky due to fires because it can help soothe the irritated tissues.

This demulcent property, along with the cooling effect, may also aid in reducing inflammation in the various mucus membranes throughout your body, including nasal passages, lungs, and the lining of your digestive system.

Hibiscus’ Nutrition

Hibiscus is a nutritional powerhouse! It contains vitamin C, known for immune support, and B-carotene, which converts to vitamin A, important for vision and cell health. It also boasts minerals like calcium for bone health and iron, which can be particularly helpful for those with anemia.

Hibiscus leaves are generally high in iron and B-carotene. The seeds, on the other hand, are a good source of healthy fats, protein, and minerals like potassium, calcium, and magnesium.

Using Hibiscus

You can use hibiscus in a number of different ways.

Packed with nutrients, hibiscus leaves make a great addition to a cool summer salad.

As a tea or infusion is always my first go to.

A cold Hibiscus infusion makes a wonderfully cooling summer drink on it’s own.

Or use it to create other summer treats.

For an adult drink, chill and add some to a nice sparkling wine.

Mix it with other tasty herbs like peppermint, rose, or a citrus like lemon or lime, among others. Be creative and test it with raspberries, strawberries or maybe even blueberries for a nice summer drink.

You can make a nice simple syrup using a hibiscus infusion.

Or infuse it in honey or make a jam using the calyx alone or with a touch of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, ginger or lemon juice to add a different flavor.

Precautions

There are a few precautions to the use of hibiscus. There’s no recommended dosing limitations, due to its nutritive content.

Here are a few recommended precautions related to the use of hibiscus:

First, don’t take an acetaminophen 3 hours either side of using hibiscus, because of its increased elimination rate of the acetaminophen.

Second, use caution when using an antihypertensive drugs as it may decrease the bio-availability of the chloroquine. It’s always advisable to be cautious against taking any herb that may decrease high blood pressure when you’re taking a drug to lower your high blood pressure.

And third, as always pregnant and nursing women are always cautioned against using herbs, unless they have been specifically deemed safe or unless they are working with a professional who is knowledgeable about both.

Have you thought about trying hibiscus tea? It’s a beautiful drink and is awesome for the summer months.

This summer when it gets really hot, try making a sun tea using hibiscus instead of the bagged teas from the store. Then get creative and mix it with some berries or some fizzy water and create your own favorite summer drink. Then shoot me an email and tell me what you think.

Asgary, Sedigheh, Rasool Soltani, Mohsen Zolghadr, Mahtab Keshvari, and Nizal Sarrafzadegan. “Evaluation of the Effects of Hibiscus (Hibiscus Sabdariffa L.) on Oxidative Stress and Serum Levels of Lipids, Insulin and Hs-CRP in Adult Patients with Metabolic Syndrome: A Double-blind Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial.” Journal of complementary & integrative medicine 13, no. 2 (2016): doi:10.1515/jcim-2015-0030. ↩︎