Rooibos Tea for Dogs - Immune System Health, Cancer Inhibitor, Allergy Mediator

Aspalathus Linearis, common name Rooibos, also known as Red Bush or African Red Tea is an indigenous plant of South Africa - found in the Cedarburg region, north-west of Capetown. 

Rooibos is actually an herbal plant. The needle-like leaves and stems are harvested, crushed, fermented and dried. The plant has been used to make tea for hundreds of years.  Rooibos became a commercially grown crop in the 1930’s.

When the dried leaves are steeped they result in a rich red-colour tea that has numerous, proven health benefits. The USDA (US Department of Agriculture) has confirmed that red rooibus tea can reduce cancer, heart disease, slows aging as well as possessing other health benefits…I will provide an extensive list of benefits below.

Rooibus tea is just as beneficial for dogs as it is for humans. The tea is naturally caffeine free (caffeine is not good for dogs) and is low in tannin and free of oxalic acid - so unless your dog is suffering from iron deficiency (rooibos may slow down the absorption of iron) it is safe for your dog.
 
Below we will look at:

1. The nutritional value of rooibos tea;
2. The Health Benefits;
3. How to add rooibos to your dog's daily diet;
4. How combining the tea with a little cinnamon can help with your dog's oral care;
5. How to use the tea topically to treat skin disorders due to allergies.

Nutritional Value

Rooibos tea is:

• Rich in minerals - calcium, copper, fluoride, iron, manganese, magnesium, potassium, sodium, zinc.
• Rich in -  the anti-inflammatory flavinoid quercetin. Quercetin is a powerful, natural  antihistamine!
  
• Rich in vitamin C.
• Rich in alpha hydroxy acids (AHA);
• Rich in antioxidants - approximately 37 types of antioxidants which is about 50% more antioxidants than green tea!

Health Benefits

Rooibos tea offers an impressive list of health benefits: 

• Allergy fighting - the tea contains anti-allergy properties and can be real aid in treating allergies and related skin problems, asthma, etc.
• Anti-inflammatory
• Anti-viral
• Anxiety calming - naturally calming and relaxing the tea can help relieve anxiety and relax your dog
• Anti-spasmodic - as the tea is rich in anti-spasmodic agents it can help ease a sore stomach; 
• Bone health promoting - as it is rich in the bone building minerals calcium, manganese and fluoride
• Cancer fighting - anti-mutagenic
• Circulation enhancing - promotes good blood circulation and works to prevent hemorrhaging
• Good for skin - the AHA facilitates the healthy growth and maintenance of skin
•  If your dog suffers from aliments of the skin such as itchiness and hot spots due to allergies the tea can really help to alleviate both discomfort and the inflammation of the skin

• Heart health supporting - helps prevents heart disease
• Immune System boosting - the antioxidants  also give the immune system a healthy boost
• Slows Aging - the abundant antioxidants slow down the aging process

How To Add Rooibos to Your Dog’s Daily Diet

Once a day I add the tea to each of my dogs' meals. You can brew the tea fresh on a daily basis or brew it and store in the refrigerator for use of the span of a couple of days. 

I always add the juice of one freshly squeezed lemon to the rooibos tea. Lemon is naturally anti-bacterial, anti-viral, immune-system boosting, a digestive aid and liver cleanser. Lemons contain bioflavonoids, calcium, citric acid, limonene, magnesium and vitamin C as well as other health promoting substances. Combined with rooibos tea the health benefits are multiplied. Lemon offers an amazing array of health benefits for your dog - you can read more here.

You can fill a bowl with rooibos tea and leave it next to your dog’s water bowl.

Your dog can choose when he/she wants to have a sip! You can leave the tea plain, or add some cinnamon (instructions and benefits noted below) or add fresh squeezed lemon and/or a drop or two of Manuka Honey, or other organic honey.

Just make sure that your dog always has fresh, plain water as well. Although I add rooibus tea to my dogs' evening meal they also have a bowl of he tea beside their water bowl.

Daily Dosage Based On Dog’s Weight

• 1-10 lbs - less than 1/4 cup, 1-3 times per day
• 10-20 lbs - 1/4 cup, 1-3 times per day
• 20-50 lbs - 1/4-1/2 cup, 1-3 times per day
• 50-100 lbs - 1/2-1 cup, 1-3 times per day
• Over 100 lbs - up to 1 cup 3 times per day

By adding a little cinnamon to the rooibos tea you increase the health benefit...

Cinnamon has quite an extensive list of beneficial properties for oral care…it is an:

• Anti-inflammatory;
• Anti-microbial (fights bacteria, fungi, etc.)
• Anti-septic;
• Mild anesthetic;
• Helps dissolve food particles and aids in the digestion of food. 

 By adding a little cinnamon to the tea your dogs receives the benefits of rooibos as well as an oral rinse!

Maximum dosage of Cinnamon per Day

• Large Dogs - ½ tsp a day;
• Medium Dogs - ¼ tsp a day;
• Small Dogs - 1/8 tsp a day.

 

Use Rooibos Tea Topically to Treat Itching, Rashes and Hot Spots due to Allergies

As Roobois tea contains anti-allergy properties it is excellent for topical use in treating skin problems due to allergies. In addition the AHA fin the tea facilitates the healthy growth and maintenance of skin. Below you will find a recipe for:

1. A soothing rinse;
2. A foot soak for itchy and or irritated paws;
3. A simple salve for irritated skin.

Soothing Rinse

You will need the following:

• 2 tea bags of Rooibos Tea (also known as Red Bush Tea)
• .Optional ingredient, 1 fresh lemon

Place the tea bags in hot water and allow to steep for 15 minutes;

• Remove the tea bags and allow the resulting ‘tea’ to cool;
• Squeeze the lemon and add the resulting juice to the tea;
• Then use the tea as a conditioning, soothing rinse…you do not have to rinse the ‘tea’ off of your dog after application.

Foot Soak for Sore, Irritated Paws

If your dog or cat is suffering from allergies and/or resulting yeast infections of the paw (i.e. candida), or has come into contact with poisonous and/or toxic substances - giving your dog or cat a foot soak is very important to reduce discomfort, help treat the symptoms, remove harmful residue and stop your dog’s or cat’s need to lick and chew his/her paws. Toxins left on the paws can migrate into the dogs blood stream, and over time increase your dog's toxic load, compromise his/her immune system and trigger the development of cancer.

The most effective way to remove toxins (road salt, herbicides, fertilizers or pesticides) from your dog’s paws is to provide your dog with a 30 second foot soak. Depending on the size of your dog, you can do afoot soak in the bowl or basin, sink, bathtub, shower or in a small children’s pool. If you would like to see additional recipes for herbal foot soaks to alleviate sore, irritated paws you can read this article 'Natural, Herbal Remedies for Dogs, Cats with Sore, Irritated Paws'.

You will need the following:

• Rooibos Tea  - one or more bags of tea depending on the size of the tub;
• Optional ingredient, 1 to 2 fresh lemons.

Place the tea bags in hot water and allow to steep for 15 minutes;

• Remove the tea bags and allow the resulting ‘tea’ to cool then add to the water in the soaking tub, or you can use the tea to warm the water in the tub - just always make sure that the resulting liquid for the soak is only warm or room temperature - never hot.
• Depending on the size of the tub - take 1 to 2 fresh lemons, squeeze for the juice and then add the juice to the cooled tea;
• Now you can soak your dog's or cat's paws... 
• It is important to note that dunking/placing your dog’s or cat’s paws in the soaking solution is not as effective as soaking the paw for 30 seconds. After the soak just pat your dog’s or cat’s paws dry - do not rub them dry as rubbing can cause irritation.

Soothing Salve

You can apply the dry rooibos tea powder to the spots directly using one of these options:

• Open the tea bag and remove the tea powder, mix with a little 100% aloe vera juice or gel, apply;
• Soak the tea bag in hot water, allow to cool and place the cooled tea bag against the irritated skin;
• Soak the tea bag in hot water, allow to cool, open the tea bag and place the damp tea powder directly on the irritated skin.  

Cautions

• None

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Article and graphics by Karen Rosenfeld