| Rooibos is a plant, Aspalathus linearis, native to the | | | | concrete benefits in terms of prevention of skin |
| West Cape province of South Africa. It is used to | | | | cancer. |
| make a caffeine-free herbal tea, sometimes called | | | | Can drinking rooibos tea prevent skin cancer or other |
| Red Tea, which is often touted for its health | | | | cancers? |
| benefits. In addition to its use as an herbal tea, | | | | There is significant scientific evidence suggesting that |
| rooibos has been used in creams, cosmetics, | | | | antioxidants in rooibos tea could prevent cancer, |
| sunscreen, and other skin care products which are | | | | although the effects of rooibos tea on skin cancer in |
| used topically (applied directly to the skin). A similar | | | | particular have not been studied yet. Skin cancer is |
| plant, honeybush, is related to rooibos and is also | | | | the result of long-term damage caused by ultraviolet |
| used to make a similar tea, often called bush tea. | | | | (UV) radiation. Although only topical use of rooibos |
| Rooibos is frequently marketed for its antioxidants, | | | | has been studied for protecting against UV radiation, |
| which are said to have similar cancer-preventing | | | | there is evidence that drinking rooibos tea can |
| activity to the antioxidants in green tea and other | | | | protect against another form of radiation, gamma |
| tea. Honeybush is often studied alongside rooibos, | | | | rays. |
| and it is also known to contain antioxidants and is | | | | Gamma rays are given off by some radioactive |
| generally thought to have similar properties. Both of | | | | materials, and are one of the most damaging types |
| these plants show promise for preventing skin | | | | of radiation, causing radiation sickness and cancer |
| cancer, as well as other forms of cancer. This article | | | | even when no visible burns are caused. Quite |
| surveys some of the recent scientific studies | | | | remarkably, a study on mice, feeding them rooibos |
| surrounding rooibos, honeybush, skin cancer, and | | | | tea, found that drinking rooibos tea resulted in |
| cancer in general. | | | | significant protection against radiation damage caused |
| Can topical use of rooibos in skin care products | | | | by gamma rays. The study even identified a |
| prevent skin cancer? | | | | particular flavonoid, luteolin, which was found to |
| There is fairly strong evidence from studies on mice | | | | explain this effect, through its action as an |
| that suggests the topical use of rooibos may be | | | | antioxidant. While it is not known whether these |
| useful for preventing skin cancer. A study on mice, | | | | effects would translate to the damage caused by |
| with its results published in 2005, found that extracts | | | | ultraviolet radiation, and whether or not it would |
| of rooibos, honeybush, and green tea strongly | | | | translate into prevention of skin cancer in humans |
| inhibited the formation of skin tumors, when the mice | | | | drinking rooibos, it does show that rooibos contains |
| were exposed to a chemical known to cause skin | | | | potent antioxidants which have the potential to |
| tumors. All extracts showed strong effects, but | | | | prevent cancer caused by some forms of radiation |
| green tea was found to be the most effective. | | | | damage. |
| A more recent study exposed mice to ultraviolet B | | | | In conclusion: |
| (UVB) radiation, in order to replicate the effect of | | | | Rooibos tea is a delicious, caffeine-free beverage |
| sun radiation and sunburn, and studied the degree to | | | | which is safe for regular consumption. Although little is |
| which rooibos and honeybush prevented tumors. The | | | | known about whether drinking rooibos tea could |
| study found that both rooibos and honeybush | | | | actually prevent skin cancer, there is evidence that |
| reduced the rate of tumor formation, and also | | | | doing so can protect against certain kinds of radiation |
| greatly reduced the size of tumors that did form. | | | | damage. There is stronger scientific evidence that the |
| These results suggest that rooibos and honeybush | | | | topical use of rooibos in sunscreens and skin care |
| have benefits in terms of prevention of skin cancer, | | | | products can prevent skin cancer. Rooibos tea also |
| when included in skin care products and sunscreens. | | | | has health benefits beyond those mentioned in this |
| Although these results are promising, human studies | | | | article. Drinking moderate amounts of rooibos tea |
| have not yet been conducted, and little is known | | | | certainly cannot hurt, and is likely a very good idea. |
| about the possible dosing necessary to achieve | | | | |