Sideritis tea - Bulgaria's treasure

#The unique Bulgarian herb – Mursalski tea

Every Bulgarian has heard of the remarkable Mursalski tea and the countless health benefits it brings. And probably everyone has tried it! But why is this herb so unique?

#Characteristics

MURSALSKI TEA (Sideritis) is also known as "Pirin", "Trigrad", "Alibotush" and "Shar Planina tea". 

Its Latin name is “Sideritis scardica”. Interestingly, the species epithet scardica comes from the ancient name "Scardus" – the Latin name of the Shar Mountains, where the plant was found and described by the Göttingen botanist August Grisebach.

#Mursalski tea – a Balkan endemic

Mursalski tea is a Balkan ENDEMIC. It is considered one of the wonders of the Rhodopes because of its incomparable healing power. It is a herb said to be magical and to cure everything.

Mursalitsa Peak lies in the Rhodopes. Legend has it that Mursalski tea grows on the spot where Orpheus's tears fell as he searched for his beloved Eurydice. In that place one of the most healing herbs in nature appeared.

Endemics are biological species found only in a limited area (range) – a geographical region, mountain, body of water, country or other administrative unit.

Balkan endemics are plants or animals found only on the Balkan Peninsula.

#Distribution of the medicinal herb

Mursalski tea is strictly endemic to the Balkan Peninsula. In Bulgaria it grows in Central and Southern Pirin, the Mursalitsa section of the Rhodopes, Rzhana Mountain and Slavyanka Mountain (Alibotush). It is found at altitudes of 1,400 to 2,200 metres.

The plant can also be seen in some mountains in Greece, North Macedonia and Albania. In our southern neighbour, as well as in Macedonia, the medicinal herb is known simply as mountain tea. A curious fact is that Macedonia is a major producer and exporter of the herb and has been supplying markets in Western Europe and the USA for years.

It is important to note that it is listed in the Red Data Book of Bulgaria. Thanks to cultivated plantations of the herb in recent years, however, it can still be found in pharmacies, in an online herb shop or in other shops around the country, which is truly valuable. 

#Botanical characteristics of Shar Planina tea

This is a perennial herbaceous plant of the mint family (Lamiaceae), which often grows up to 50 cm tall. 

The leaves are opposite, sessile or with short stalks, linear-elliptic to linear-lanceolate. 

The flowers are yellowish. They are neatly arranged in whorls in the axils of lemon-yellow membranous bracts, forming spike-like inflorescences, most often lemon-yellow in colour. 

The calyx is tubular-bell-shaped and shallowly 5-lobed, the corolla is two-lipped, and there are 4 stamens.

#Chemical properties of mountain tea

The remarkable medicinal properties of Mursalski tea are due to the flavonoids it contains and 22 elements of the periodic table, including iron, copper, cobalt, selenium, zinc, potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium and others, as well as essential oils and tannins.

Thanks to its high content of flavonoids, it has repeatedly been shown over the years to have antibacterial and antioxidant action.

#Which part of Mursalski tea is used for medicinal purposes

For medicinal purposes, the aerial part of the herb is used, harvested during flowering in the months of June and July.

#Medicinal properties

Mursalski tea is much loved by all Bulgarians because it acts as:

• an expectorant
• an anti-inflammatory 
• and a soothing agent for inflamed mucous membranes. 

The herb is also very helpful with all kinds of 

• cough
• bronchitis
• bronchial asthma 
• and others.

Years ago, the properties of the plant were thoroughly studied at the Institute of Botany of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS). 

It was found to have a beneficial effect on liver and a number of other conditions. 

If you open an old herb book, you will notice that Mursalski tea is recommended for emphysema, angina, sore throat and other health problems.

#Even more astonishing is that the herb slows down ageing!

Even Japanese scientists were fascinated by this remarkable plant. While studying the longevity of people living in the Rhodope Mountains, they even offered to fund the cultivation of the medicinal plant in our country. This did not happen, however, because a little later Bulgarians cultivated the herb themselves and took on the serious task of growing it in plantations.

#Use and dosage of the medicinal herb

#Taken as a tea

The usual way to take the Balkan wonder is to boil three tablespoons of it in one litre of water for three minutes. The resulting decoction is drunk as follows: one wine glass before meals, three times a day, instead of water.

#Taking Mursalski tea as a tincture

As a herbal extract – a tincture – the herb has its strongest and most beneficial effect on our health.

The recommended daily dose is 20–30 drops dissolved in a glass of water, 3 times a day.

#Herbal tincture of Mursalski tea

💧 The herbal tincture "MURSALSKI TEA" is beneficial for:

- the lungs 

- the respiratory system 

- the kidneys and bladder 

- the liver 

- and the pancreas

- as well as the immune system

Long-term research on the effect of Mursalski tea on the human body shows that the herb has a strong antioxidant action, due to the zinc it contains; that is, it clears toxic substances from the human body and strengthens the immune system.

#Are there any side effects

And something you didn't expect to hear – an overdose of this mountain wonder is almost impossible, since the percentage of active substances in it is only 7%. This is really good news, given that however beneficial the other herbs we know may be, they can sometimes be toxic when taken with medicines or used for a long time.

Likewise, no side effects from long-term use of the tea are known. This undoubtedly means you can enjoy it with peace of mind and drink it at any time, especially on cold winter days.

It's worth it!

#Nature – the source of life

When we are out in nature we are happy; it has the gift of bestowing peace, calm and, above all, health.

Happily, Bulgaria can offer plenty of both! That is what you call both a natural and a national treasure.

The treasure of Bulgaria – Mursalski tea.

The plant acts as:

• an expectorant
• an anti-inflammatory
• and a soothing agent for inflamed mucous membranes

It is recommended for all kinds of cough, bronchitis, bronchial asthma and others.

Best of all, you don't need to have any health problem at all to drink tea made from this remarkable herb. It is suitable at any time of year and has an incomparable taste and aroma.

If you haven't tried it yet, don't wait any longer!