[Annemieke]

I don't drink normal tea or coffee. Redbush seems to trigger my tendency to stomach cramps sometimes. I don't drink more than 4 cups a day, with honey and milk.

[kp2171]

When it comes down to personal experience, go with that.

Redbush isn't widely cited for inducing stomach problems... but there is nothing like listening to your own, unique body.

Doesn't matter if it helps calm other while irritating you... it just matters what it does to you. So the general pop gets a spasmic reprieve. You don't. Welcome to humanity. What works for others irritates you.

It happens.

[herballist]

Don't put milk in it, the casein will stop you absorbing all the great health benefits. Try the green rooibos with lemon. Rooibos and lemon combine to make one hell of a good alkalizing drink for maximum health :)

Besides, milk in rooibos tastes icky..

[cazort]

Rooibos has a number of medicinal properties, and unfortunately, they haven't been thoroughly studied scientifically. There's some evidence it acts as a bronchodilator, and several of my friends have verified this, saying it helps their asthma. It also seems to have effects (generally thought to be positive) on the immune system. I have collected some of this information together on a page on rooibos. The point though: rooibos has significant medicinal properties, and it may have undesirable effects in some people.

However, no substance is universally good for you, and each person has a unique body chemistry: what is good for one person isn't necessarily going to be good for another. A few people I know (it's rare) have told me that rooibos gives them a headache.

If it upsets your stomach, cut back, or stop drinking it. I have never had a problem with rooibos, but I've also never had more than 2 cups of it a day. If you like rooibos and want to keep drinking it, just cut back. Most of the scientific work on rooibos has studied dosages close to drinking a single cup, so you may just be overloading your body if you're drinking 4 cups every day. You may also try looking into green rooibos, which is to red rooibos what green tea is to black tea. Personally, I find green tea much gentler on the stomach than black tea, so it seems likely that you might find green rooibos to be gentler on your stomach.

If you really like herbal tea (as I do), you may also want to experiment with other herbal teas. There are so many great options out there that are caffeine-free. It's best to practice moderation, and diversify your diet and use of beverages and herbs. Your body will probably feel better if you mix up the herb teas that you drink, instead of drinking the same thing every time.

Good luck!