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Many herbs have well establish health giving properties and one of the simplest ways to obtain the benefits is to add boiling water to the plant material releasing the natural active ingredients. Herbal teas are widely used across Europe and are becoming increasingly popular in this country. Now the benefits are being recognised in the stressful environment of a British Prison.
The Independent reports that Prison inmates began asking the prison pharmacy for herbal teas several years ago because they found that the teas promoted relaxation and a good night's sleep. Now the practice is spreading, a prison service spokesperson is quoted as saying that the teas were proving "very popular" and that at Downview women's prison in Surrey they have almost replaced sedatives as a way of helping women to sleep.
"they are proving a good alternative to sedatives and prescription drugs which can become addictive" she confirmed.
Teas containing valerian are amongst those being used in the prisons, a choice which does not surprise Ned Reiter, President of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists who says "The use of plants to treat conditions has been confirmed by medical research. And we know there are properties in valerian root which have a mildly sedative affect. So it makes sense for them to be used in this way in prisons."
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