The Amazing Health Benefits of Allspice Tea

Allspice was initially used for its culinary virtues, but it was soon discovered that it also has some medicinal properties which mainly target the digestive system, but are not restricted to it. Allspice was traditionally used for relieving nausea, bloating, flatulence, diarrhea and abdominal cramps, but there are some scientific studies that demonstrate its potential benefit for those suffering, for example, from prostate cancer.

Composition and properties

Allspice contains eugenol (an excellent local anesthetic and antiseptic, scientifically proven to be effective in dental care), caryophyllene (an efficient antidepressant and anxiolytic), and quercetin (a powerful antioxidant), as well as a significant amount of dietary fibers (21.6 g/100 g – 86%DV) and many useful vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin C (39.2 mg/100 g – 65%DV), niacin (2.9 mg/100 g – 14%DV), vitamin B6 (0.2 mg/100 g – 10%DV), manganese (2.9 mg/100 g – 147%DV), calcium (661 mg/100 g – 66%DV), iron (7.1 mg/100 g – 39%DV), magnesium (135 mg/100 g – 34%DV), potassium (1044 mg /100 g – 30%DV) and copper (0.6 mg/100 g – 28%DV).

Scientific studies

A study published in Carcinogenesis in 2013 demonstrated that ericifolin – eugenol 5-O-β-(6′-galloylglucopyranoside) – has antiproliferative, pro-apoptosis and anti-androgen receptor transcription properties. The results of the study “demonstrate a potential use of aqueous allspice extract and ericifolin against prostate cancer.”

A study published in Current Drug Targets in 2012 concluded that “new characterization of novel compounds such as ericifolin from the aqueous extract of allspice berries show potent anti-prostate cancer and anti-breast cancer properties that can be verified in vitro as well as in vivo.”

A study published in Bioscience, Biotechnology and Biochemistry in 2007 showed that “anti-histone acetyltransferase activity from allspice extracts inhibits androgen receptor-dependent prostate cancer cell growth.”

Uses and preparation

• Depression, anxiety
• Headache, toothache, muscular pain, joint pain
• Dental caries
• Allergies
• Nausea
• Bacterial, viral and fungal infections
• Cough, bronchitis
• High blood pressure
• Menorrhagia, menopause
• Fever
• Diabetes
• Arthritis
• Slow digestion, vomiting, bloating, flatulence, diarrhea, abdominal cramps
• Obesity

Add 1-2 teaspoons of dried fruits in a cup of hot boiled water and let steep for 10-20 minutes.

When used in culinary preparations, make sure it is freshly ground and add it towards the end of the cooking process.

Precautions

Allspice in contraindicated two weeks before surgery (because it can slow blood clotting) and also for those suffering from duodenal ulcer, gastroesofagian reflux, spastic colitis, ulcerative colitis or diverticulitis.

Allspice should be consumed with precautions by those that take medications that also slow clotting, such as aspirin, clopidogrel, diclofenac, ibuprofen, naproxen, dalteparin, enoxaparin, heparin and warfarin.