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Winter is in full swing. With it come those cold days and colder nights that we (especially fellow Canadians) know so well. Dressing up warmly is key. None of us want to get sick, right? Cold and flu season is always tied to the colder weather and we should do everything we can to protect ourselves from infection.

Dressing up warmly isn’t the only thing we can do to protect ourselves though. Often, people take vitamin supplements and the like to boost their immune systems. Today though we’re going to talk about a way to boost your immune: Lapacho tea.

Also known as Pau D’arco and Taheebo, Lapacho tea has been shown to be an extremely powerful immune system booster. The herbal tea is filled with antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties. In addition, it is also a strong expectorant, making it useful not only in preventing but treating chest congestion and other respiratory problems. Some people use the expectorant qualities to alleviate smoker’s cough as well.  For those of you who are considering the tea as a preventative health drink, it also contains antioxidants. Lapacho tea in general can be an extremely powerful and effective health drink.

Unfortunately, Lapacho tea is a very difficult tea to acquire, as it is a rather obscure strain of tea that is almost impossible to grow in North America. Normally Lapacho tea is grown in continental South America, as well as the Dominican Republic and Haiti. It is made from the inner bark of the Tabebuia tree, which grows naturally only in extremely warm and wet climates.

Herbal Infusions is one of the few places to sell Lapacho Tea commercially, particularly in the Greater Toronto Area. Our Lapacho tea is mixed with vanilla, and a hint of fresh citrus, giving it a mild, slightly nutty, smooth and creamy taste. Unmixed Lapacho has a taste that has been described as a bit harsh. We highly recommend Herbal Infusions’s blend, as we have improved the flavour of the drink for a more natural palette.

WIth such a miracle drink, there is one disclaimer. Lapacho can have natural blood-thinning effects. Tea is the most diluted form of taking it, however, so there should be no issue with most people. Generally it is recommended to drink no more than 3 cups of Lapacho tea a day. If you are taking any form of blood thinner, contact your doctor to make sure you have the green light on Lapacho tea.

For more information, head on over to http://www.paudarco.org/

If you’d like to get your hands on some Lapacho tea, you can visit Herbal Infusions in-store at 404 Adelaide Street West or visit the online store at http://www.herbalinfusions.ca/store/?page_id=4&shopp_pid=68