Renowned for its colorful beauty and association with balmy breezes, tropical beaches and swaying palms, Hibiscus flowers have traditionally been used to help reduce fever and provide a mild diuretic and laxative effect.

And, if visions of a beach paradise aren’t enough to do it on their own, a recent study showed that drinking Hibiscus tea may also help to lower blood pressure (the study participants drank 3 cups a day).

The leaves and flowers of Hibiscus are also renowned for their skin-softening properties. They can be ground into a fine powder and mixed with a little water to make a paste which is then used on the skin and as a “shampoo.” In India, the flowers are included in medicated hair oil preparations for preventing hair loss and graying.

Dried Hibiscus flowers impart a lovely ruby color to teas and add a refreshing tartness that tastes great with Spearmint leaves. During hot summer days, serve it chilled over ice with a sprig of fresh mint - add a Hibiscus flower to your hair, and you’ll feel the breeze beckoning...