The Herb Stop Blog
Top 4 Health Benefits of Hibiscus | Incredible Science Backed-Research on Hibiscus
The hibiscus, also known as roselle, is a beautiful, large flowering plant that thrives in subtropical and tropical regions. While its stunning looks alone make it a delight, we’re excited to share its many unique (and well-researched!) health benefits in this article.
Keep reading to learn all about the top four health benefits that hibiscus flowers offer and how you can incorporate hibiscus into your day-to-day routine to support your body and encourage these benefits.
1. Hibiscus is Loaded with Antioxidants
According to the Cleveland Clinic, hibiscus is packed with antioxidants like vitamin C, beta-carotene, and anthocyanin.
Antioxidants are known to fight back and even destroy harmful molecules (free radicals) in the body. Over time, free radicals damage cells, contributing to diseases like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
One study demonstrated that people with Marfan syndrome, which affects the heart and connective tissue, experienced reduced oxidative stress and higher antioxidant levels in the blood when taking a hibiscus extract.
Another study on animals indicated that hibiscus extract protected against cell damage!
2. May Promote Lower Blood Pressure
Herbalists have been using hibiscus to promote lower blood pressure for centuries, and ongoing scientific research has been backing this up, specifically with studies looking into the effects of drinking hibiscus tea.
High blood pressure can cause many adverse effects on the body, such as burden the circulatory system and may cause strokes. High blood pressure can also create extra strain on your heart, weakening it over time. A weaker heart may increase the risk of heart disease, making a healthy blood pressure level an important goal for many of us to look into (of course, always consult with your doctor first to see where your blood pressure is at currently and their recommendations!)
In terms of the research, the results are very promising!
A 2015 review of five studies on blood pressure and hibiscus tea found that hibiscus tea reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
In addition, a small study focusing on 46 individuals with high blood pressure found that those drinking hibiscus tea experienced a larger decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels compared to the placebo group.
Even more impressive, in this study, Hibiscus was shown to have equal efficacy as a popular ACE inhibitor medication, Lisinopril!
3. May Encourage Weight Loss
Several scientific studies have found that hibiscus may promote weight loss.
For example, one animal study found that hibiscus extract may reduce appetite and body weight by preventing fat cell accumulation.
Another 12-week study monitored patients who were overweight. The group that took hibiscus extract experienced reductions in body fat, body weight, body mass index, and waist-to-hip ratio in just 12 weeks! This study also concluded that hibiscus extracts “had a metabolic-regulating and liver-protecting potential,” which is very exciting!
Regarding weight loss benefits, the Cleveland Clinic notes that studies assessing hibiscus’ effect on weight loss used hibiscus extract (a more concentrated form), so you may want to consider adding an extract or capsule in addition to or instead of hibiscus tea if you are looking to encourage these benefits.
4. May Promote Liver Health
The liver is a powerful organ that produces proteins, filters toxins, secretes bile, and breaks down fat – all critical functions for our health and well-being.
An exciting aspect of hibiscus research is that multiple studies have shown that hibiscus may improve liver health and function.
A 2022 study reported that hibiscus extract helped improve fatty liver disease in animals.
Interestingly, a 2014 study of 19 people experienced improved liver steatosis (fat accumulation in the liver, which may lead to liver failure) when participants took hibiscus extract for as little as 12 weeks.
The Cleveland Clinic also concludes that hibiscus helps to keep the liver healthy, particularly in more concentrated forms like extracts. It even stated that hibiscus demonstrated anti-cancer activity in liver cells during lab research!
How To Add Hibiscus To Your Life
Interested in adding this powerful herb to your life? Here are a few of our favorite hibiscus remedies.
Hibiscus Teas
Hibiscus gives the tea a tart and lightly sweet, cranberry taste with earthy notes. Here are a couple of our favorite hibiscus teas:
- Hibiscus Tea: A lovely tea made from organic hibiscus flower. With its beautiful cherry red color and tart flavor, you’ll find yourself coming back for more of this vitamin-rich drink.
- Tropical Hibiscus Herb & Fruit Tea: Regardless of the time of year, you’ll love this calming, tropical tea packed with hibiscus, rosehips, strawberries, lemongrass, apple pieces, and orange peel.
- Unwind Tea: Need a fabulous tea to soothe your mind and body as you take a load off at the end of the day? Our Unwind Tea has calming peppermint, lemon balm, cranberries, hibiscus, and more to create the ultimate calming tea.
- Orange Grove Vanilla Herb & Fruit Tea: This naturally caffeine-free tea has a delightful creamy orange flavor from the lovely combination of hibiscus, apple pieces, rosehips, sunflower petals, and more!
- Throat Therapy Tea: Sore throat? This licorice root, raspberry leaf, hibiscus, and cinnamon bark tea is packed with herbs that soothe the throat and promote relief.
Hibiscus Remedies
For a quicker and more potent hibiscus boost, try these out:
- Hibiscus Capsules: These impressive capsules support improved cardiovascular health, healthy blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and much more! With their rich antioxidant properties, hibiscus capsules are a great way to add a boost of these protective antioxidants to your diet.
- All C-Ing Power Shake: Looking to add vitamin C to your diet? This powerful shake blend contains hibiscus along with punchy rosehips and citrus fruits. It’s nice, tart, and perfect to add to your morning smoothie or plain water.
- Pressure Eaz Capsules: Combining hibiscus flower with hawthorn, these capsules are an excellent choice for those concerned with high blood pressure, cellular damage from free radicals, and cardiovascular health.
- Nature’s Electrolytes Mix - Pineapple Coconut: This tasty electrolyte mix is infused with coconut water, hibiscus flower, pineapple juice powder, coconut palm sugar, and Himalayan salt to provide the ultimate refreshing and rejuvenating blend. Subtly tangy, sweet, and tropical tasting.
We hope this article inspires you to try hibiscus! It has many amazing, purported health benefits and is far MORE than just a pretty flower.
Well Wishes,
Herbalist Natalie & Herbalist Leilah