Greek mountain tea promotes digestion and has a mood-enhancing effect. It stimulates cognitive functions and is therefore not only recommended in folk medicine for depression, but also for dementia and ADHD (in adults). In addition, the Greek mountain tea tastes very good.
Greek mountain tea, an old household remedy from Greece
Greek mountain tea – sometimes called shepherd’s tea or Greek verbena – has been drunk in Greece for many centuries, if not millennia. In folk medicine there, it is used as a home remedy for digestive problems (e.g. flatulence), pain, flu, and colds.
Greek mountain tea was drunk by Greek shepherds for a long time at the end of a busy day. Because the tea is said to have a mood-enhancing, stress-relieving, gently stimulating, and relaxing effect.
Greek mountain tea for depression, ADS, and dementia
In recent years, researchers have discovered that the tea actually has antidepressant effects and can also improve cognitive functions and could therefore be a helpful drink for depression and ADHD, as well as for dementia and its prevention.
Also of interest is a study (see below) that showed that Greek mountain tea (or extracts from it) could act as a stomach protector just as well as the acid blocker ranitidine.
Greek mountain tea is also called verbena
Greek mountain tea is made from plants of the Sideritis genus. Sideritis grows in the mountainous regions of Greece from an altitude of 1,000 meters. The flowering plant is used for mountain tea, mostly Sideritis scardica. It is also called verbena.
Sideritis scardica is now only rarely found in nature and is therefore a protected species. It has long been cultivated for Greek mountain tea, so it no longer comes from the wild collections.
Other Sideritis species (for which no German names are often known) used for Greek mountain tea are:
- Sideritis pindou
- Sideritis raeseri
- Sideritis Euboea
- Sideritis perfoliata
Many Sideritis species also grow in other southern European regions, above all in the Balkans, in Turkey, and partly also on the Canary Islands.
The preparation of Greek mountain tea
Traditionally, the Greek mountain tea is prepared with boiling water, in which the dried plant is added (5 g per 300 ml of water) and left to steep for 5 minutes. The tea is then served with a little honey and possibly lemon juice and drunk hot. In summer, however, mountain tea also tastes great as iced tea.
Another approach recommends placing the parts of the plant in boiling water that is only about 80 degrees hot and letting them steep for 5 to 10 minutes.
If you buy Greek mountain tea in a filter bag, it is best prepared according to the manufacturer’s recommendations on the packaging.
This is what Greek mountain tea tastes like
The taste of Greek mountain tea is light, aromatic, and spicy with a slight sweetness. If you let it steep longer, the aroma becomes a bit earthy. The tea is easy to digest and promotes burping when you feel full.
How often and how much should you drink Greek mountain tea per day?
It is often advised to drink a cup (150 ml each) of Greek mountain tea two to three times a day. Experience reports show, however, that quantity of 1 to 2 liters per day has the desired antidepressant effect, although these quantities should really be drunk regularly and daily over a longer period of several weeks to months.
When buying Greek mountain tea, look for organic quality
It is best to buy organic tea, as conventional tea can be contaminated with pesticides, which can also apply to Greek mountain tea.
The Greek mountain tea has these effects
The Greek mountain tea or the tea from Sideritis is said to have the following effects and properties, some of which have now been proven with the scientific studies listed below:
- antimicrobial
- anti ulcerative (against ulcers)
- antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
- antispasmodic
- decongestant and pain reliever
- carminative
- mood-enhancing and antidepressant
- relaxing
- revitalizes cognitive functions
These effects can be attributed to the secondary plant substances of the Sideritis plant, such as terpenes, flavonoids, essential oils, iridoids, coumarins, lignans, sterols, and many more.
Has an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect
An in vitro study in 2005 showed an antioxidant effect that was attributed to the flavones contained in Greek mountain tea (Gabrieli et al.). Three years later, proof of a simultaneous anti-inflammatory effect of Greek mountain tea was also discovered (Charami et al.). In the abstract of the study, one read that these results confirm the usefulness of the folk medicinal use of tea in chronic inflammatory diseases.
In 2013, Danesi et al. the antioxidant effect of the conventional tea plant Camellia sinensis (black and green tea) with that of Greek mountain tea. Although the Greek mountain tea – according to the researchers – had a lower concentration of antioxidants than the conventional tea, its antioxidant effect was absolutely comparable.
Greek mountain tea for children, pregnant and breastfeeding women
The statement that Greek mountain tea could possibly be helpful with ADHD automatically leads to the assumption that it is an ideal tea for children who are affected. But that is not the case so far. Apparently, there are no studies that have examined the use of tea in children and adolescents, so it is officially only recommended for adults and older people
The same applies to pregnant and breastfeeding women. Again, there are no studies that would show that the tea would be safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Greek mountain tea in naturopathy
Since the corresponding studies on Greek mountain tea have so far mostly been carried out with mice and rats and/or with extracts, but not with the liquid tea as a drink, you do not rely solely on Greek mountain tea for the symptoms mentioned, but integrate it into a holistic one Prevention or therapy program – together with the right diet, lots of exercises, enough sleep and an optimal supply of vital substances.