Medicinal Uses of Yerba Mate

Yerba mate or ilex paraguariensis is an herb native to Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Yerba tea has been used since the early 16th century as a beverage and remedy for lack of energy and fatigue. The natives also believed that drinking yerba tea induced a sense of exhilaration and high spirits.

Among the constituents in yerba are caffeic acid, flavonoids, polyphenols, theobromine, theophylline and tannins. It also contains nutrients such as amino acids, manganese, magnesium, potassium and other vitamins and minerals.

Yerba is now taken as an energy drink or stimulant and an alternative to coffee as a "pick me up" drink. It helps improve alertness, relieve stress and is used as an herbal remedy for burnout and fatigue.

Yerba may assist in weight loss and weight management. Based on a study on mice that were given a high fat diet followed with yerba extract, it was found that yerba helped in preventing obesity. A separate study was carried out on 47 overweighed adults for 45 days. They were given yerba combined with damiana and guarana. The result showed that there was significant weight loss among the volunteers.

Some other studies indicate that yerba has antioxidant properties and the ability to strengthen the immune system. Drinking yerba tea helps fight free radicals and may reduce the risk of diseases such as cancer.

Based on a study on rats, yerba extract was able to improve blood flow to the heart. It may help humans reduce the risk of blockage in the coronary artery. Yerba can also be used as a natural remedy to increase HDL or good cholesterol levels and lower LDL or bad cholesterol levels.

Yerba is also used as a home remedy for respiratory and digestive problems. As a natural diuretic, yerba helps increase urine flow and the removal of toxins and reduces the risk of water retention.

The traditional way of making and drinking yerba mate tea is to brew the leaves in a special cup called mate gourd cup and then sipping the tea through a straw called a bombilla. Cold water is added to the dried leaves in the cup to soften them and to release the enzymes. How water is then added to it. The leaves are left inside the gourd and the beverage is sipped using the straw.

Yerba is now available in tea bags as well as dried, toasted and crushed loose leaf. What you need to do is steep a tea bag for about 3 minutes and drink it hot or cold. In addition, yerba mate extract is also sold as yerba supplement and available in capsules, tinctures and tablets.

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