Omija-cha, or Magnolia Berry tea is a traditional Korean tea made from dried magnolia berries. Omija means five flavors that are pungency, saltiness, bitterness, sourness, and sweetness. The tea can be made by boiling dried magnolia berries in water over low heat and then adding honey. Alternatively, to make Magnolia Berry tea, ground Magnolia Berry seeds can be added to the cold water.
There are over 200 types of magnolias in the world. Magnolia Officinalis, is one type that is also known as magnolia houpo or bark magnolia. The bark is rich in two neolignans that are believed to be responsible for properties of medicine such as honokiol and magnolol. Also, magnolia houpo is a native of China and has been a supplement of Chinese traditional medicine for thousands of years.
How To Make Magnolia Berry Tea?
Ingredients:
- Schisandra Berry – 10g (0.35 Ounces)
- Water – 1L/1 Quart
- Honey Or Sugar – For Taste (Optional)
- Korean/Asian Pear – Peeled and Fresh (Optional)
Procedure:
- Soak the dried omija in cold water overnight.
- Strain the berries and discard them while keeping the liquid.
- Now add a little sugar or honey if you prefer.
- You can add pieces of Korean/Asian pear if you prefer.
Note: You can refrigerate the tea and serve it cold too.
Health Benefits of Magnolia Berry
Skin Health
Magnolia Berry is a great addition to your skincare routine as it not only contains antioxidants but also an adaptogen. Such properties in Magnolia Berry can protect your skin against allergies, sun damage, pollution, environmental stress, temperature extremes, etc.
The anti-inflammatory properties of Magnolia Berry have made it beneficial in reducing symptoms of swelling dermatitis. Anyone with inflamed skin due to stress or acne could probably benefit from the Magnolia Berry morning tea.
Anti-Stress And Stress Management
Historically, adaptogenic herbs like Magnolia Berry have been used to manage stress. It is because of the positive effects of herbs on the adrenal system health. The adrenal glands are responsible for producing stress-response and stress hormones mediators such as cortisol.
By suppressing the excessive secretion and production of molecular chaperones, nitric oxide, and cortisol, Magnolia Berry helps to stabilize the levels of stress-associated compounds in the blood. As a result, it keeps the negative effects of stress such as low energy levels, brain fog, and fatigue at bay.
Fight Fatigue/Improve Mental Clarity
Magnolia Berry can fight physical and mental fatigue. It is the ability to reduce the deleterious effects of the stress response such as lethargy and weakness. It helps to promote mental clarity. Additionally, studies in rats, magnolia berries have been effective in treating memory impairment.
Magnolia Berry improves coordination, attention span, and concentration while making it an attractive supplement for artists, surgeons, students, and athletes to handle fatigue.
Helps Improve Mood And Sleep
How to sleep better without popping a pill? Magnolia Berry helps reduce anxious feelings and even improves mood. A study in mice verified the effect of Magnolia Berry extracts in mediating levels of powerful neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, which play an important role in the stress conditions in the brain.
The positive effects of Magnolia Berry on the brain have also affected this powerful herb in the therapeutic prevention of various neurological and psychological disorders including anxiety and depression.
Improve Immunity
There are negative effects of stress on the immune system. It is no surprise that Magnolia Berry, a stress-solving superstar, has tremendously beneficial effects on the immune system. Adaptogens like Magnolia Berry inhibit the stress response so that the immune resources of the body can fight infections and pathogens. The use of Magnolia Berry can make you healthy, happy and boost your immune system.
Anti-Aging And Longevity
By limiting the buildup of harmful free radicals, Magnolia Berry provides a health benefit by protecting the skin cells from DNA damage. Magnolia Berry can act as a powerful anti-aging agent by fighting wrinkles, age-related pigmentation, sun damage, etc.
When it comes to eliminating cellular damage, the antioxidant power in Magnolia Berry does not stop. The accumulation of free radicals in the body accelerates the aging in the body systems. Therefore, Magnolia Berry’s protective effect on the integrity of the cell extends beyond the skin into the tissue of the body.
The use of Magnolia Berry helps to keep your cells youthful, healthy, and positively radiant inside out with antioxidant power.
Powerful Anti-Inflammatory
As if the antioxidant power wasn’t enough, the health benefits of Magnolia Berry are further enhanced by one of its essential health-protective properties such as its ability to fight inflammation. Free radical scavenging plays a role in limiting the inflammatory response of the body to certain environmental stressors. To keep inflammation a bay, Magnolia Berry can work its natural magic on complex and fundamental interdependent parts of the body.
An amount of health inflammation is essential to ward off disease-causing bacteria, long-term excessive inflammatory responses mediated by an overactive immune system can wreak havoc on the body. As a result, it leads to a variety of health issues such as poor skin health, asthma, cancer, and a host of unwanted conditions and diseases.
The use of Magnolia Berry Tea in daily life can reduce the production of inflammatory mediators, thereby combating the detrimental impact on the body.
Cancer Prevention
When it comes to fighting cancer, the antioxidant power of Magnolia Berry seems to steal the show. Magnolia Berry puts up the stiff competition with the potent combination of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant forces. It has been shown to control the release of leukocytes which in turn prevents carcinogenesis.
Lignans, special compounds, are isolated from Magnolia Berry. There is evidence in the literature suggesting that the unique compounds demonstrate the suppressive effects on cells of cancer in humans. Hence, Magnolia Berry Tea is worth trying to help prevent cancer.
Anti-Asthma
Some research has also suggested that Magnolia Berry Tea may play in soothing asthma through effects of anti-inflammatory and antioxidants. It suppresses the levels of inflammatory compounds that are involved in the pathogenesis of asthma.
Additionally, the herb acts as a natural expectorant which means it helps to clear the mucus from the lungs.
Prevents Symptoms Of Menopause
For cardiovascular problems caused after menopause, Magnolia Berry is a traditional treatment for the increase of blood flow and improvement of blood vessels and their health. It prevents the symptoms of menopause by balancing the hormones in the body and supports adrenal glands.
Depression
Various research on mice has concluded that Magnolia Berry produces an antidepressant effect. According to the studies, the berry is primarily beneficial for high cortisol stress-induced depression.
Russian natives loved Magnolia Berry for the mental clarity and pure energy it offers. Unlike caffeine, it provides non-stimulating energy that helps you focus through antioxidant and adaptogenic qualities.
Dosage Of Magnolia Berries
The traditional dosage recommendations vary but they remain the most reliable source of dosage of Magnolia Berries for medicinal usage.
- If you consume dried fruits, try not to exceed 3 grams per day. Also, try to eat powdered fruit with meals once a day.
- If you are using the dried fruit extract in the form of liquid, the weight to volume ratio should be 1:20. Mix 10 drops with 150ml water and drink twice a day.
Since there are very few formal dosage studies on magnolia berries, before you start using it in daily life, consult your doctor, nutritionist, or dietician.
Precautions of Magnolia Berry Dosage
- The excessive dose may cause nausea, decreased appetite, heartburn, headache, indigestion, chest pain, and rash.
- During lactation and pregnancy, try to avoid using magnolia berries.
- If you are suffering from epilepsy, peptic ulcers, high blood pressure, or even fever, then avoid the use of Magnolia Berry.
- Those who have gallstones should not be using magnolia berries.
Magnolia Berry Tea – Why One Should Use It
The use of Magnolia Berry tea and just herbs date back to ancient times in Asia and Russia. There might be a thousand reasons why one should use Magnolia Berry Tea but due to its healing properties, it makes a perfect fit for those who want to enjoy a morning or evening tea. Instead of consuming caffeine through coffee or herbal teas, Magnolia Berry Tea can be a great way of escaping your stressful day.
Everything comes with advantages but if it is consumed excessively, it can become a health hazard. If you consume Magnolia Berry tea excessively, then you might be losing your appetite, getting nausea, headache, rash, etc. Also, pregnant women should avoid using Magnolia Berry Tea. So, before you start using Magnolia Berry Tea, consult your doctor to make sure it is safe to use.