Marcela tea, also known as macela or marcela-do-campo, is indicated to relieve stomach pain, intestinal cramps, anxiety, insomnia, flu and fluid retention.
Marcela, whose scientific name is Achyrocline satureioidesis rich in quercetin, limonene, luteolin and phenolic acids, which are essential oils and phenolic compounds with analgesic, antispasmodic, antiviral and calming properties.
Marcela tea can be prepared using dried flowers or bags, which are sold in supermarkets, health food stores, pharmacies and open-air markets.
Main benefits
The main health benefits of macela tea are:
1. Combat stomach problems
Marcela tea has flavonoids and essential oils with digestive and carminative action, and is therefore recommended to combat problems such as gas and poor digestion.
Furthermore, marcela tea also has antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, helping to reduce stomach pain in cases of gastritis or ulcers.
2. Relieve headache
Because it has excellent amounts of quercetin and luteolin, which are flavonoids with analgesic properties, marcela tea helps relieve headaches. Check out other teas recommended for headaches.
Furthermore, this tea also has a calming effect, helping to reduce headaches caused by anxiety or stress.
3. Improve sleep
Marcela tea contains limonene, an essential oil that acts as a calming and sedative on the central nervous system, promoting relaxation, improving sleep and helping to combat insomnia. See other homemade options for insomnia.
4. Reduce anxiety and stress
Marcela tea has calming and sedative properties that help relax and calm down, relieving agitation, irritability, insomnia, stress and anxiety.
5. Treat colds and flu
Marcela tea helps treat colds and flu as it contains quercetin and galangin, which are flavonoids with antiviral and immunomodulatory action, which work to strengthen the immune system and combat viruses such as rhinovirus and influenza.
6. Balance cholesterol
Because it has antioxidant action, marcela tea protects fat cells against oxidation caused by free radicals, balancing blood cholesterol levels and can therefore help prevent diseases such as atherosclerosis, heart attack and heart failure.
7. Combat menstrual cramps
Marcela tea helps combat menstrual cramps because it contains quercetin, luteolin and 3-O-methylquercetin, which are flavonoids with analgesic and antispasmodic properties that relieve pain and reduce contraction of the uterine muscles. Discover more home remedies that combat menstrual cramps.
8. Help prevent diabetes
Marcela tea has antioxidant properties that protect pancreas cells against damage caused by free radicals, helping to control insulin levels in the blood, making it a great option to help prevent diabetes.
Furthermore, marcela tea also promotes the balance of blood glucose levels, because it inhibits the action of alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase, which are one of the enzymes responsible for digesting carbohydrates.
9. Control diarrhea
Marcela tea helps control diarrhea as it has anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antispasmodic properties, relieving pain and reducing intestinal contractions. Check out other teas recommended for diarrhea.
10. Strengthen the immune system
Marcela tea has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects, which help to strengthen the immune system and help fight infections of the respiratory system, such as flu or colds, for example.
11. Help with skin healing
Marcela tea, when applied in the form of compresses to the skin, can help accelerate the healing of superficial and closed wounds, as it has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiseptic properties.
12. Prevent hair loss
Marcela tea, when applied to the scalp, stimulates capillary blood circulation, preventing hair loss.
Furthermore, when this tea is applied along the hair strands, it has a lightening effect, in addition to having a sun protective action.
13. Help prevent cancer
Because it has a powerful antioxidant and immunomodulatory action, marcela tea can help prevent the onset of cancer, as it fights free radicals and strengthens the immune system.
Does Marcela tea help you lose weight?
Marcela tea can help with weight loss due to its sedative and relaxing action, reducing anxiety and therefore helping with weight loss in people with binge eating.
However, marcela tea does not directly help you lose weight because it does not promote the burning of body fat. To lose weight, it is essential to maintain a healthy diet and practice physical activity regularly. Check out some tips for losing weight.
Marcela tea properties
Marcela tea has antispasmodic, carminative, digestive, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, calming, analgesic, hypocholesterolemic, immunomodulatory and antiviral properties.
How to make Marcela tea
Marcela tea must be prepared using the dried flowers from which the active substances that give it its medicinal properties are extracted.
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon (0.5 to 1.5 g) of dried marcela flowers;
- 1 cup (tea) of water.
Preparation mode:
In a pan, boil the water. After turning off the heat, add the dried marcela flowers to the boiling water, cover the pan and let it rest for 5 minutes. Strain and drink the tea afterwards.
You can drink up to 3 cups of marcela tea per day, for up to 15 days in a row, with a 5-day break before resuming use.
Possible side effects
Consumption of marcela tea can cause dizziness, headache, allergies and contact dermatitis after sun exposure in some people.
Contraindications
Macela tea should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. This tea is also not recommended for children and people with allergies to this plant.
Furthermore, people who use medications such as insulin, antiepileptics, sedatives, hypnotics and anesthetics should only consume marcela tea under the recommendation of a doctor.
