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Evidence Based


HONEYBUSH TEA: BENEFITS AND SIDE EFFECTS

Medically reviewed by Natalie Olsen, R.D., L.D., ACSM EP-C — By Ariane Lang,
BSc, MBA on May 19, 2020
 * What it is
 * Benefits
 * Side effects & precautions
 * Bottom line

Honeybush tea — also known as Heuningbos, bergtee, or mountain tea — is an
herbal infusion from South Africa (1Trusted Source).

The tea is made by steeping dry honeybush leaves in boiling water, and it has
gained worldwide popularity due to its several medicinal and therapeutic
properties.

This article reviews the potential benefits and downsides of drinking honeybush
tea.

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WHAT IS HONEYBUSH TEA?

Honeybush, or Cyclopia spp., is a shrub that grows in the Eastern and Western
Cape regions of South Africa.

It’s closely related to rooibos, as both plants belong to the Fabaceae family
(2).

There are about 23 different Cyclopia species. Honeybush tea is made primarily
from Cyclopia intermedia (3Trusted Source, 4Trusted Source).

This woody plant can grow up to 10 feet (3 meters) high. It has pale yellow
flowers with a characteristic sweet, honey-like scent and taste, which is where
the tea gets its name from (2, 5Trusted Source).

That said, honeybush tea isn’t just another sweet-tasting tea. It’s also
caffeine-free, nutritious, and contains very small amounts of a variety of
minerals, including calcium, iron, and zinc, as well as beneficial plant
compounds that have antioxidant activity (4Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source).

You may enjoy a warm cup of this tea as part of your nighttime routine, or pour
it into an ice-filled glass to make iced tea.

> Summary
> 
> Honeybush tea is a naturally sweet tea indigenous to South Africa. It’s
> caffeine-free with a honey-like aroma and taste.


POTENTIAL BENEFITS

Honeybush tea has been used to treat multiple ailments since the beginning of
the 19th century. Most of its potential health effects are linked to its
antioxidant content (4Trusted Source).


RICH IN ANTIOXIDANTS

Antioxidants are beneficial plant compounds that help prevent or reduce cellular
damage caused by oxidative stress (7Trusted Source).

Honeybush tea is rich in a group of antioxidants called polyphenols, namely
xanthones and flavanones (6Trusted Source, 8Trusted Source, 9Trusted Source).

The main type of xanthone in honeybush extract is mangiferin, while the primary
flavanones are hesperidin and isokuranetin (6Trusted Source).

Both mangiferin and hesperidin are attributed with potent anti-inflammatory and
cancer-fighting effects. It’s likely that these compounds are responsible for
most of the tea’s presumed benefits (10Trusted Source, 11Trusted Source,
12Trusted Source).


MAY HAVE ANTIDIABETIC PROPERTIES

Diabetes is one of the most common global diseases, affecting more than 400
million people worldwide (5Trusted Source).

It’s broadly classified into type 1 and type 2 diabetes, both of which are
characterized by high blood sugar levels due to impaired pancreatic function.
This can be due to reduced insulin production or low insulin secretion and
insulin resistance.

Research supports that honeybush tea’s polyphenols may help prevent, manage, and
treat type 2 diabetes.

Test-tube and animal studies investigating the antidiabetic effects of
mangiferin show that it may help lower blood sugar levels by stimulating insulin
secretion and promoting the regeneration of damaged pancreatic cells (5Trusted
Source, 6Trusted Source, 11Trusted Source).

As for hesperidin, animal studies suggest that it helps lower blood sugar levels
by regulating key enzymes involved in sugar metabolism, as well as by protecting
the pancreas from oxidative damage (5Trusted Source, 13Trusted Source).

It’s also worth noting that both mangiferin and hesperidin may help prevent the
progression of diabetes-related complications, such as kidney and nerve damage
(5Trusted Source, 11Trusted Source).


MAY IMPROVE BONE HEALTH

Honeybush tea may benefit bone metabolism by affecting bone cells called
osteoclasts and osteoblasts.

Through bone resorption, osteoclasts break down bone tissue to release minerals
into the bloodstream. In contrast, osteoblasts form new bone through bone
synthesis. When bone loss exceeds formation, the risk of bone diseases like
arthritis and osteoporosis is increased (3Trusted Source).

Fortunately, test-tube studies suggest that mangiferin and hesperidin, which are
both found in honeybush tea, may benefit bone metabolism.

First, mangiferin inhibits osteoclast formation, which in turn reduces the
breakdown of bone tissue. Second, hesperidin promotes bone recovery by
protecting osteoblasts from oxidative damage (3Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source,
11Trusted Source, 13Trusted Source, 14Trusted Source).

Therefore, honeybush tea may potentially protect your bones.


MAY HAVE CANCER-FIGHTING PROPERTIES

Certain compounds in honeybush tea may also offer cancer-fighting properties.

Test-tube and animal studies suggest that antioxidants in the tea may help
destroy cancerous cells, protect against cancer-promoting toxins, and inhibit
the development of certain types of cancer (15Trusted Source, 16Trusted Source,
17Trusted Source).

Among these antioxidants, mangiferin seems to have the strongest anticancer
potential, as it may inhibit the initiation, promotion, and spread of cancer
cells (11Trusted Source, 18Trusted Source).

However, it’s worth noting that fermentation — a process common in tea
production — may lower tea’s antioxidant content (although this depends on the
type of tea and fermentation process), thus reducing its protective effect
(15Trusted Source, 16Trusted Source, 17Trusted Source).

For example, one study in rats found that unfermented honeybush tea reduced
total esophageal cancer size by 94%, compared with 74% observed with a fermented
version (16Trusted Source).

While research on the tea’s cancer-fighting properties is promising, human
studies are needed.


MAY BOOST SKIN HEALTH

Both drinking honeybush tea and topically applying a honeybush tea extract may
improve skin health.

Research suggests that the extract could possess anti-aging properties. It’s
believed to protect skin cells from oxidation caused by ultraviolet (UV)
radiation, in turn reducing wrinkles and improving skin elasticity and hydration
(19Trusted Source, 20Trusted Source, 21, 22Trusted Source).

One 12-week study in 120 people with crow’s feet wrinkles showed that receiving
daily supplements of the extract significantly improved global skin wrinkle
grade, compared with a control group (20Trusted Source).

Additionally, animal studies show that the extract may help reduce skin
thickening and signs of sunburn, such as skin reddening and peeling (21,
22Trusted Source).


OTHER POTENTIAL BENEFITS

Honeybush tea may provide additional health benefits, including:

 * Anti-obesity potential. Antioxidants in honeybush tea may inhibit fat
   accumulation in young fat cells. It may also lower the fat content in mature
   fat cells by stimulating fat breakdown (23Trusted Source, 24Trusted Source,
   25Trusted Source).
 * Relief of menopausal symptoms. The tea’s isoflavone content, some of which is
   considered phytoestrogens — compounds that mimic the effect of the female
   hormone estrogen in the body, may help alleviate menopausal symptoms
   (5Trusted Source, 9Trusted Source).
 * Immune system support. Test-tube studies suggest that mangiferin may enhance
   macrophage activity — a type of white blood cell that sweeps up and digests
   foreign bodies (6Trusted Source).
 * Alleviated respiratory symptoms. Honeybush tea has traditionally been used as
   a tonic for colds, influenza, mucus buildup, and pulmonic tuberculosis due to
   its expectorant potential (1Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source, 9Trusted
   Source).

While these benefits may seem promising, most of the research focuses on the
plant’s antioxidants and concentrated extracts rather than the tea itself. It’s
unclear how much of these compounds a cup of tea may hold and whether drinking
it would offer the same benefits.

> summary
> 
> The antioxidants in honeybush tea grant it a wide range of health benefits,
> including improved bone and skin health, as well as antidiabetic and
> anticancer properties.

SIDE EFFECTS AND PRECAUTIONS

There are currently no reported side effects of drinking honeybush tea.

That said, there have been reports of microbial contamination during the
fermentation process — though steeping the tea in at least 140°F (60°C) water
should ensure its safety for consumption (6Trusted Source).

Additionally, it’s best to consult your health care provider before drinking the
tea, as it may interact with drug-metabolizing enzymes and affect the
therapeutic window of drugs. It may also affect the bioavailability of other
dietary antioxidants (8Trusted Source).

Lastly, given the lack of research on its side effects, pregnant and
breastfeeding women should avoid drinking it.

> Summary
> 
> There are currently no known side effects of drinking honeybush tea. However,
> it may interfere with drug-metabolizing enzymes and alter drugs’ effects.


THE BOTTOM LINE

Honeybush tea is a caffeine-free herbal infusion similar to rooibos tea. It has
been used for its medicinal properties for centuries.

Its antioxidants — namely mangiferin and hesperidin — confer it a variety of
health benefits, including antidiabetic and cancer-fighting properties, as well
as improved bone and skin health.

While there are currently no reported side effects of the tea, it may interfere
with the metabolism of certain drugs. Thus, be sure to consult your healthcare
provider before trying it out.

You may enjoy a warm cup of this honey-tasting tea on cold days, or an iced
version during the summer.



Last medically reviewed on May 19, 2020


HOW WE REVIEWED THIS ARTICLE:

History

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our
articles when new information becomes available.

Current Version

May 19, 2020

Written By

Ariane Lang

Edited By

Daney Helgadóttir

Medically Reviewed By

Natalie Olsen, RD, LD, ACSM EP-C

Copy Edited By

Christina Guzik, BA, MBA

Share this article


Medically reviewed by Natalie Olsen, R.D., L.D., ACSM EP-C — By Ariane Lang,
BSc, MBA on May 19, 2020


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Green tea is touted to be one of the healthiest beverages on the planet. This
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