If you have not added Rooibos tea into your life, what are you waiting for? It has a number of beauty benefits that are worth every sip. 

Dr Annique Theron was the first to come across the benefits of Rooibos tea when she gave her allergic baby a warm bottle of Rooibos tea to drink.

It was the only thing that settled her allergic reaction – to even mother’s milk – since her birth. Curious about Rooibos, Dr Theron set out to investigate if there could be more to the tea. 
Since it was difficult to prove her findings as a woman at the time, she struggled and faced great adversity, but couldn’t ignore the miraculous change in her daughter’s health and was dogged in her pursuit to scientifically explore and verify Rooibos’ healing properties. 
Adele du Toit, spokesperson for the SA Rooibos Council says today Rooibos is one of the most popular beverages consumed globally thanks to Dr Theron’s discovery.
 
Her tenacious and never-give-up attitude has created a booming industry, which has not only contributed to a healthier lifestyle for millions of people but continues to create opportunities for countless of commercial sectors while boosting the country’s coffers by an estimated R500 million per annum.”  

“Since Dr Theron’s discovery, countless South African women have come to rely on the rare and unique herb for almost every ailment under the sun. Whether it’s having to soothe sunburn, calm a colicky baby, deal with breakouts or breakups, Rooibos has been at the top of nearly every women’s go-to remedy,” remarks du Toit.

If you did not already know here are some reasons why you should make sipping some Rooibos tea part of your daily routine:

1. Rooibos helps keep skin healthy
  • Rooibos is rich in alpha hydroxy and zinc – both important nutrients for healthy skin. 
  • Alpha hydroxy not only reduces the signs of ageing but also revitalizes the skin.
  • Zinc heals wounds, protects against UV rays and has anti-inflammatory properties, which could alleviate acne, pimples, and sunburn. 
  • Drinking and/or applying Rooibos tea to your skin will improve the skin in the most natural way.
2. It promotes shiny hair
  • Helps prevent hair loss as its active ingredients help remove dead skin cells that block hair follicles and prevent hair from growing. 
  • Rooibos contains minerals such as zinc, calcium, copper, and potassium which are essential for hair growth.
  • Polyphenols (antioxidants) contained in Rooibos promote shiny and soft hair. 
You can prepare your own Rooibos tea rinse at home by steeping the tea for about 30 minutes in boiled water. Once cooled, pour tea over freshly washed or conditioned hair or simply spray it on. Allow tea to sit for 20 minutes before rinsing.

3. Heals the body from within
  • Antioxidants in Rooibos, namely aspalathin and nothofagin have anti-inflammatory properties, which assists in preventing cardiovascular disease.
  • Antiviral properties of these antioxidants boost the immune system. 
  • Aspalathin also has a hypoglycemic effect on the body that helps balance blood sugar and improves insulin resistance, which may help prevent one from developing type 2 diabetes.
4. Helps relieve Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms
  • The antispasmodic agents found in Rooibos help ease stomach aches and pains and aids digestion by smoothing out the muscles in the gut. 
  • If you suffer from IBS, try drinking a cup of Rooibos about half an hour before a meal to get the most out of this effect.  
5. Aids breathing
  • Rooibos tea will help you breathe easier as it’s a bronchodilator (a substance that dilates the bronchi and bronchioles in lungs to increase airflow). 
  • Many researchers also believe the tea could alleviate the symptoms of asthma.
6. Improves blood flow
  • Chrysoeriols is a flavonoid contained in Rooibos which aids in blood circulation and has also been linked to reducing cholesterol.
“Between the process of brewing to the pouring of the pot, to sipping the hot beverage, tea encourages one to slow down and take a moment to reflect. No matter the issue, a cup of (Rooibos we would argue) tea can solve nearly any problem,” says du Toit.