Daily hacks: How to use rooibos as part of your holiday first-aid kit

In our 'Daily hacks' series, we bring you the latest beauty and home tips, trends and tricks to transform your life and save you money.


We are approaching the time during the festive season when most people dash off on vacation to spend some quality time with their loved ones for the Christmas holidays.

It is always a great idea to ensure that you have everything you might need in case of an emergency, including a well-stocked first-aid kit.

Rooibos tea has many great health benefits, but it can also be used to start up fires, cure sun burn and sun damage caused by the sun, and help you sleep if you struggle from insomnia.

Here ae a few more things which you can use rooibos tea for on your vacation:

Start up a fire

Teabags are excellent for starting up a fire in any emergency if you do not have all the necessary tools needed to start up a fire because the dried up tea leaves in the teabags are highly combustible.

fire
Campfire. Picture: iStock

Hydration

When it is super hot, your body can easily dehydrate, especially if you have not been drinking liquids regularly.

Rooibos tea helps to regulate your body temperature when it is too hot, and can help you hydrate quickly as it contains polyphenol antioxidants, including flavonoids and phenolic acids that are potent free radical scavengers and has purported benefits for accelerated rehydration.

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Rehydrating with a cup of rooibos tea. Picture: iStock

Insomnia

Having too much fun with your family over vacation can mess with your sleeping pattern, and have you staying up late at night because you are struggling to fall asleep.

If you’re struggling to sleep, a cup of rooibos tea before bedtime can provide a calming effect to help you slip into slumber.

insomnia
Struggling to sleep on vacation. Picture: iStock

ALSO READ: Daily hacks: Tips to pack your luggage for the holidays like a pro

Cure illnesses

Nothing sucks more than feeling ill when you are on vacation and you cannot enjoy your time away to the fullest because you are feeling ill and need to nurse yourself to feeling better.

If you’re experiencing nausea, indigestion or bloating, drinking rooibos tea may help to ease symptoms. The tea contains antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties that help to reduce inflammation. Its anti-spasmodic compounds help to ease tummy aches and pains by activating potassium ions in the body.

insomnia
Feeling sick in bed on vacation. Picture: iStock

Skin damage from environmental factors

Being on vacation often means spending most of your days having fun in the sun, which can aggravate your skin and pre-existing skin conditions.

Research shows that rooibos tea can soothe skin irritations and help improve dermatological conditions, such as eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis, due to the high level of flavonoids, which encourages the body to destroy unwanted pathogens.

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Sunburn on vacation. Picture: iStock

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