HEALTH RISKS OF DRINKING HIBISCUS TEA

Hibiscus tea is made from Hibiscus sabdariffa -- a subtropical and topical flowering plant. Its flowers are
used for medicinal purpose, making edible products and flavoring herbal beverages. Consuming hibiscus
may impart some benefit such as stimulating weight loss, strengthening the immune system by providing
vitamin C and antioxidants, reducing the intensity of hot flashes and solving dandruff and acne problems.
Despite the benefits, hibiscus tea may have hazardous side effects.
Health Risk
Before adding hibiscus tea to your diet, consult your doctor about any preexisting health condition you
may have. According to the Bastyr Center for Natural Health at the University of Pennsylvania, hibiscus
tea may open and expand your blood vessels, which may increase your risk for heart disease. Drinking
hibiscus tea daily may drop your systolic blood pressure by 7.2 points on average. Avoid drinking hibiscus
tea if you are taking medication for hypertension and low blood pressure.
Pregnancy Risk
Research conducted at the Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology in India on
pregnancy and fertility showed that hibiscus tea has estrogenic qualities. Excess hibiscus interferes with
female fertility and childbearing. It reduces the level of estrogen especially in women. Hibiscus tea
contains polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are associated with cancer and birth defects. Expectant
mothers should avoid hibiscus tea.
Drug Interaction Risk
Hibiscus can interact with some medications. It has anticancer effects when taken with other anticancer
agents and an additive effect when taken with antiviral agents. It decreases antimalarial efficacy of drugs
such as chloroquine and quinine and alters some inflammatory agents processed by your body such as
acetaminophen. If you are taking anti-inflammatory drugs, wait for at least two hours to consume hibiscus
tea to avoid adverse side effects.
Hallucinatory Effects
A sense of feeling intoxicated and hallucination are common side effects of hibiscus tea. The tea has can
impair your focus and concentration. When engaging in activities that demand full alertness such as
operating machinery or driving, avoid drinking hibiscus tea.
LINK
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/risks-drinking-hibiscus-tea-9953.html

Source: By JLPC, CC-BY-SA-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Introduction
Amazing as hibiscus tea is, there are some risks that are associated with drinking hibiscus tea that
you probably did not know about. These risks include low blood pressure, possible drug interactions,
and even a potential risk to pregnancy. As such is the case, hibiscus tea should only be taken after
consultation from a physician or medical practitioner.

This hub offers a detailed summary of these health risks of hibiscus tea.
1. Risk of low blood pressure
If you suffer from low blood pressure, then it would be best to avoid hibiscus tea. This is because
hibiscus tea is known to be capable of reducing blood pressure. For people with low blood pressure,
drinking hibiscus tea could be potentially dangerous since it would lower their blood pressure even
further and put the person at risk.
2. Risk of drug interaction of hibiscus tea with medication
Hibiscus tea is known to interact negatively with the following medication.
Cancer medication: The presence of anti-cancer agents in hibiscus tea could cause a potential health
risk if hibiscus tea is taken with cancer medication.
Anti-inflammatory and pain medication: hibiscus tea has agents that interact negatively with anti-
inflammatory and pain medication.
Anti-malarial medication: Hibiscus tea reduces the efficacy of malaria medication
Medication to alter blood pressure: Hibiscus tea lowers blood pressure and should not be taken
together with medication that alter blood pressure.
Hormonal pills: Hibiscus tea can alter estrogen levels in women and this could cause negative
interactions with hormonal medication such as birth control pills.
If you are taking any of the above medication, you should consult your doctor before you take the
hibiscus tea. In fact, if you are on any medication whatsoever, consult your doctor on the possible
interactions of the medication with hibiscus tea, just to be on the safe side.
3. Hibiscus tea, Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
During pregnancy and breastfeeding, it is advisable to avoid drinking hibiscus tea. Hibiscus tea may
cause hormonal imbalances in the body thereby posing a potential threat to the pregnancy. In
particular, consumption of hibiscus tea has been found to cause a significant increase in the levels of
estrogen.
These hormonal imbalances can trigger a miscarriage or premature births. To avoid a potential
miscarriage it is best to avoid hibiscus tea during pregnancy.
In addition, the is a possibility of hibiscus tea causing birth defects in unborn babies. This is due to
compounds known as polycyclic hydrocarbons in the tea.
The effect of hibiscus tea during breastfeeding is not well documented but to be safe, you may want
to avoid it while breastfeeding.

4. Hibiscus tea causes Hormonal Changes and infertility in Women
As mentioned above, hibiscus tea alters the amount of estrogen in women. Taking hibiscus tea
frequently may cause hormonal changes in women and this may affect their menstrual cycle and
pregnancy.
The effects could trickle down to conception and fertility in women. Hormonal imbalances may
prevent a woman form conceiving or even cause miscarriage after conception. Further studies and
research have shown that prolonged use of hibiscus may actually cause infertility in women. In
addition, the presence of Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the hibiscus flower may cause result in
cancer and birth defects.
5. Hibiscus tea causes Hallucinations
For some, drinking hibiscus tea leaves an hallucinating effect that may affect balance and
coordination. The effect is more profound in persons drinking it for the first time. If you intend to
operate heavy machinery or drive, it is advisable not to drink hibiscus tea. If you have already drank
the tea, then give it at least two hours before operating machinery or driving just to be on the safe
side.
6. Allergic reactions
For some, hibiscus tea may trigger some allergic reactions including itchy eyes and skin, fever,
stuffed sinuses and formation of hives. In case of such allergic reactions, discontinue using the
hibiscus tea and consult your doctor.
Summary and recommendations
Much research is yet to be done on the hibiscus tea so I urge caution while enjoying this tisane. if
you are on medication avoid drinking hibiscus tea or consult your doctor on any possible
interactions.
For women, avoid hibiscus tea if you are planning for a baby, are pregnant or are breastfeeding. The
chances of a miscarriage or birth defect in your baby are a possibility.
Women on hormonal therapy, or taking birth control pills might as well postpone the pleasure of
hbiscus tea due to its effect on hormonal balance.
If you intend to do work that requires dexterity like operating a patient or you have to operate some
heavy machinery or drive a motor vehicle, then it is best you keep off the hibiscus tea. Or you carry
out your activity after at least two hours.
For those suffering from hypertension (high blood pressure) or hypotension (low blood pressure)
and you are taking medication on the same then avoid hibiscus tea as well. For those with
hypotension, avoid hibiscus tea whether or not you are on medication.
Link
http://cuttler.hubpages.com/hub/Hibiscus-Tea-Side-Effects-and-Health-Risks-of-Hibiscus-Tea