South Africa is the only place in the world where Rooibos and Honeybush tea grows. These two indigenous treasures have been used by many generations over the centuries as refreshing health drinks or as effective, natural remedies against many aliments.

Rooibos and Honeybush belong to a species of plant called Fynbos, unique to the Western Cape of South Africa. Leaves from these plants are harvested and used to produce health teas which are sometimes blended, resulting in a wonderfully tasty infusion.

Rooibos and Honeybush plants are free from caffeine, preservatives, colourants and additives and possess very little tannin, resulting in a soft, sweet flavour.

Popular Rooibos and Honeybush are now enjoyed globally in more than 30 countries.

• Rooibos is an excellent source of natural anti-oxidants.
• Rooibos is naturally caffeine free, and therefore the ideal relaxing drink for all ages, from babies to the elderly, as well as for expectant and breastfeeding mothers, any time of the day.
• The minerals in Rooibos make it an ideal thirst quencher for athletes to enjoy after a strenuous workout or training session.
• Rooibos contains no colourants, additives or preservatives. It is also naturally caffeine free.
• Rooibos has no kilojoules.
• Rooibos ages well and can be stored for long periods without any deterioration in quality, flavour and taste.
• Rooibos (meaning "red bush") is a fynbos species within the Cape Floral Kingdom, one of only six recognised floral kingdoms of the world.
• Green Rooibos is made from the same plant as traditional Rooibos. The only difference is in the processing. For traditional Rooibos, the green leaves and stems of the plant are crushed and "fermented" before drying. The fermentation step is actually an oxidation process brought about by enzymes and chemicals naturally present in the plant. In the case of green Rooibos, the fermentation process is skipped, and the "green" leaves and stems are dried directly.
• Green Rooibos has even higher levels of antioxidants than traditional Rooibos and demonstrates even higher antioxidant and antimutagenic (cancer-fighting) activities.

ROOIBOS HEALTH RESEARCH

Scientists around the world have been intrigued by Rooibos, and have been doing intensive research to verify the health benefits of Rooibos and understand how the bioactive components in Rooibos interact in living cells. Scientific articles published over the last decade have proven the ability of Rooibos to fight cancer, protect the liver against disease, boost the immune system, relieve allergies and relieve digestive disorders. Some of the scientific studies summarised below show that the beneficial effects of Rooibos have been well documented and established in the international scientific literature.

SUMMARIES OF ROOIBOS HEALTH RESEARCH FINDINGS FROM PEER REVIEWED SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE

Rooibos as an anti-ageing tea and source of antioxidants and cancer-fighting agents

A comprehensive review of Rooibos research was published by the American Botanical Council in 2003. It summarises the scientific evidence that Rooibos (scientific name Aspalathus linearis) is a source of flavonoid antioxidants and protects against cancer, heart disease and stroke.

The numerous studies referenced show that Rooibos contains antioxidants that have positive effects when tested as isolated substances and that the tea as a whole has good antioxidant activity in laboratory tests (in vitro). It lists all the antioxidants identified in Rooibos and confirms that Rooibos is the only known natural source of the antioxidant aspalathin, and also contains the rare antioxidant nothofagin. The review refers to several laboratory studies that have found that Rooibos contains polyphenol antioxidants that are potent free radical scavengers. Free radicals (unstable molecules that have lost an electron) can damage the DNA in cells, leading to cancer, and they can oxidize cholesterol, leading to clogged blood vessels, heart attack, and stroke. Antioxidants can bind to free radicals before the free radicals cause harm.

The work of several investigators captured in this review showed that fermented Rooibos reduced cancer-associated changes in animal cells exposed to the chemical mutagens (cancer-causing substances), and also reduced the cancerous transformation of mouse cells exposed to X-rays. Rats given free access to Rooibos over a period of 21 months also showed much lower age-related lipid peroxidation in the brain compared with rats that drank water.

The review authors conclude that Rooibos appears to be safe and free of adverse side effects and "may help protect against free radical damage," which can lead to cancer, heart attack, and stroke. Reference for Rooibos research review article: Herbalgram, 59, 34 - 45 (2003)

Rooibos and cancer research

Animal studies have proven that Rooibos slows down skin cancer, inhibits the development of liver cancer and combats cancer of the oesophagus. Studies at South Africa's Medical Research Councils shows that Rooibos reduces cancer-associated changes in animal cells by protecting cells against DNA damage, or mutagenesis.

• In 2003 a team of South African researchers from several universities and research institutions published a comprehensive study that confirmed that ability of Rooibos and Honeybush teas to protect the liver against oxidative damage and mutagenesis (a change in the cell that may lead to cancer). Reference for supporting scientific article: Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry, 51, 8113 - 8119 (2003)
• Rooibos and Honeybush teas protect against some forms of chemically induced liver cancers in rats. This study was published in 2003, based on a collaborative study between researchers at South Africa's Medical Research Council and other research organisations. Reference for supporting scientific article: Mutation Research 558, 145 - 154 (2004)
• The ability of South African herbal teas (Rooibos and Honeybush extracts) to act as "chemopreventors" in skin cancer was also highlighted in an article published in 2005, once again as the result of the work of a South African research team. They showed that topical (external) application of the tea fractions significantly suppressed tumour growth in mice with skin cancer, when using processed and unprocessed Rooibos and Honeybush.Reference for supporting scientific article: Cancer Letters, 224, 193 - 202 (2005) Rooibos as a treatment for stomach cramps and diarrhoea

Acknowledging that Rooibos is widely used to treat gastrointestinal upsets, researchers in Pakistan, Canada and Germany joined forces to explore the mechanism of this effect of Rooibos. Their results, published in 2006, explain the biochemistry of how the flavonoids and other active ingredients in Rooibos achieve this calming effect on the digestive system and concludes that it is justified to use Rooibos for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, such as gut spasms and . Reference for supporting scientific article: Basic and Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, 99, 365 - 373 (2006)

Rooibos recommended as a treatment for respiratory disease

Based on a study published in 2006, researchers at the Aga Khan University Medical College in Pakistan found a sound basis for the wide medicinal use of Rooibos. They found that chrysoeriol, one of the bio-active components of Rooibos, acted effectively as a bronchodilator, with an associated effect on lowering blood pressure and relieving spasms. They also state in the article that chrysoeriol is already known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antimicrobial, antiviral and free radical scavenging abilities. Reference for supporting scientific article: European Journal of Nutrition, 45, 463 - 469 (2006)

Rooibos protecting against liver disease Researchers and Slovakia and Japan agreed that Rooibos is a safe and effective treatment to protect the liver (hepatoprotector) in patients with liver disease, mostly because Rooibos is such a rich source of natural antioxidants. They published their results and made this recommendation in 2003, based on a study of the effect of Rooibos on the antioxidant status of the liver in a rat study. Reference for supporting scientific article: Physiol. Res. 53, 515 - 521 (2003) Rooibos and Honeybush: Protective partners

A review of the bioactivity of South African herbal teas, published by researchers at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Centre on Aging in Washington DC in 2003, confirms that Rooibos and Honeybush differ in composition, but share potentially beneficial activities in laboratory studies. Several animal model studies are quoted showing that both herbal teas possess potent antioxidant and immune-boosting components, and that both can protect against cancer-causing chemicals. Reference for research review article: Phytotherapy Research, 21, 1 - 16 (2007)

Current and future research

In 2007 a team of South African researchers, led by Dr Jeanine Marnewick from the Antioxidant Research Group at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in South Africa, launched a pioneering clinical study to explore the role of Rooibos in protecting against heart disease. Preliminary results are expected towards the end of 2008.

Extensive anecdotal evidence suggests that Rooibos has other beneficial effects not yet fully verified or understood by science. Some claim that bathing the skin in lukewarm Rooibos is an effective way to treat conditions such as eczema, rashes and sunburn. In South Africa Rooibos is widely used as a drink for babies suffering from colic and allergies. Therefore researchers are now also working towards a better understanding of the anti-allergic and immune-boosting effects of Rooibos. There is also a huge future potential to explore the potential of Rooibos to combat HIV.