Hibiscus Tea Side Effects

HIBISCUS TEA SIDE EFFECTS: INTRO

Hibiscus tea is an infusion that utilizes the calyx of the flower, infused/steeped in water as the primary ingredient. The particular strain of hibiscus that is medicinal is Hibiscus sabdariffa.  It is known to have a vast amount of natural benefits associated with it, and many of these benefits can be considered Hibiscus Tea Side Effects.  The best way to reduce or even prevent negative side effects is to consume the tea in moderate quantities and ensure that it doesn’t interact with any prescription medications that you are currently taking.  I will cover the main Hibiscus Tea Side Effects in this post.

Discover how to lose pounds with my related post, Hibiscus Tea Weight Loss

HIBISCUS TEA SIDE EFFECTS: TOP 10 LIST

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I highly recommend speaking with a healthcare professional prior to ingesting any forms of herbal tea.  This includes hibiscus tea.  This specific tea is considered safe, but as you can see below, it may interact with prescription medications or other conditions.  Your doctor can advise you to give you the best information to fit your personal needs.

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Hibiscus tea is a popular worldwide tea because of all of its health benefits.  It does have several potential side effects.  These Hibiscus Tea Side Effects are not all negative; many of them are actually positive for a majority of the population.  Below I will include a list of what you can do to prevent negative side effects of Hibiscus Tea.  Please don’t let this list scare you; herbal tea is actually considered to be one of the safest versions of tea. I drink it on a regular basis and feel safe while doing so because of how safe it is.  Here is a list of the Top 10 Hibiscus Tea Side Effects:

 Low Blood Pressure

Hibiscus tea can lower blood pressure.  If you are already have a lower blood pressure, you would want to be aware of this side effect. Knowing this, you should reduce your intake of the tea to prevent a blood pressure that is lower than what is good for you.  If you are taking medications to lower your blood pressure, make sure to speak with your healthcare professiona and consume the tea in moderate amounts.

If you would like to learn more about this (usually positive) effect, check out my related post titled, Hibiscus Tea Blood Pressure.

Digestion

Hibiscus tea improves digestion and bowel movements for a majority of the population.  It is often conceived as a mild laxative and diuretic. Improved digestion helps your body eliminate waste more efficiently, which leads to better overall health. However, I would not substitute laxatives with herbal tea. Doing so can lead to discomfort and issues in the bowels.  Gas, bloating, and mild stomach cramps are some symptoms to recognize if you are drinking too much tea.

Estrogen

Hibiscus tea may slightly lower estrogen levels in the body. The estrogen levels may drop lower than wanted and may also interact with birth control.  If you are on birth control, you should speak with your doctor and never consume in huge quantities.

Fertility and Pregnancy

Hibiscus tea, as previously stated, lowers estrogen levels. Lower estrogen levels can have a negative effect on fertility and the ability to reproduce. There aren’t any studies related to how this affects the fetus, but according to an article by the International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, it may increase the risk of going into labor too early.

Interaction with Prescription Medications

Hibiscus tea may cause complications when taken along with some prescription medications including cancer medications. The National Cancer Institute states that you should avoid hibiscus tea if you are undergoing radiation or chemotherapy.

Hibiscus tea can interact with some medications. Besides interacting with the cancer drugs mentioned above, it can nullify the effects of anti-malaria drugs, and it boosts the effects of anti-viral medications. Hibiscus tea changes processing of some of the anti-inflammatory drugs are by your body. It is recommended that you wait 2 hours after taking anti-inflammatory medications to drink hibiscus tea.

Hibiscus Tea Side Effects: Dizziness

Being dizzy is also another side effect that can occur after drinking hibiscus tea .  Hibiscus tea can cause some consumers to feel light-headed, sleepy, and dizzy after drinking it.  It is because in some individuals hibiscus tea can have a different impact on blood flow. It is best to make sure that you do not have any of these side effects before driving or operation heavy machinery.

 Minerals

Hibiscus tea contains a great deal of antioxidants and minerals, but one doctor warns that you should not consume more than one quart of hibiscus tea a day. Due to the acidic nature of the beverage, aluminum content, and manganese content, you should abstain from drinking over this amount.

 Improved Liver Health

You may be wondering why improved liver health is considered a Hibiscus Tea Side Effect. This is prime example of a benefit that, without limits, could become a bad thing. You can’t forget that too much of a good thing can become a bad thing.  Hibiscus tea may promote liver health and help reduce fatty liver in overweight patients, but in high doses, the tea can actually have the opposite effect. The tea can actually become toxic to the liver if the consumer is not careful about watching how much they drink.

Allergy

Many forms of herbal tea have the potential to cause allergic reactions.  Hibiscus tea has a low potential to be an allergen for some people. This can develop as hay fever, itchy eyes, watery nose after drinking the tea.

Reduced Blood Sugar

Hibiscus tea is known to lower blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes and have low-uncontrolled blood sugar, you may want to steer clear of this specific tea. WebMD warns that due to hibiscus tea affecting blood sugar levels, anyone having surgery should avoid drinking the tea at least two weeks prior to a scheduled surgery so that their blood sugar levels can controlled without complications.

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How to Avoid Hibiscus Tea Side Effects

You can avoid almost all of these Hibiscus Tea Side Effects by following a few simple rules:

1. Speak with your doctor or healthcare professional prior to consuming hibiscus tea
2. Always consume in moderate amounts
3. Avoid consuming Hibiscus Tea if you have certain medical conditions such as low blood pressure

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HIBISCUS TEA SIDE EFFECTS: CONCLUSION

Western medicine has just begun to study the benefits and side effects of Hibiscus sabdariffa. So much is still yet to be learned about how it interacts with medications and conditions in a clinical way. Be sure to take this tea in moderation and only if you are a healthy adult who has already checked with your doctor about its use.

Looking for something else to read?  Discover my favorite Hibiscus Tea Recipe post.

Hibiscus Tea Side Effects: Comments

Have you experienced any of these Hibiscus Tea Side Effects?  What about other side effects?  Please share your stories with the HTH Community by posting a comment below.  I read all of the comments and appreciate it!