Herbal tea is a tasty drink that offers numerous health benefits. Although drinking water is crucial for maintaining hydration, incorporating herbal teas like chamomile or ginger tea into your diet can provide additional benefits, such as antioxidants and essential nutrients.
Additionally, herbal teas have long been a go-to for combating the winter blues and providing comfort, but their popularity extends beyond just their warm and soothing qualities.
In addition to being delicious, herbal teas also boast a range of health benefits and have been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. From fighting various health issues to promoting overall well-being, herbal teas are a beloved drink for good reason.
Agreeing, Nmami Agarwal, a nutritionist, told The Indian Express, “A lot of herbs can be infused together to make a strong and impactful tea. These teas can have a variety of health benefits, such as relaxation and stress relief, improved digestion, deeper sleep, relief from headaches, better heart health, weight loss, and boosted immune system.”
As emphasised by nutritionist Lovneet Batra, if you are facing a specific health concern, the expert recommends trying five herbal teas that may help alleviate the problem.
Chamomile tea
According to nutritionist Batra, if you are experiencing sleep difficulties, chamomile tea may be just what you need. Chamomile tea is known for its special properties that promote faster and deeper sleep.
The tea contains an antioxidant called apigenin, which binds to specific receptors in the brain, promoting feelings of calmness and relaxation. This can help cure insomnia and provide an effective remedy for those struggling with sleep issues.
As suggested by Batra, it is recommended to drink chamomile tea before bedtime for maximum benefits. The tea can be simply prepared by steeping chamomile flowers in hot water for 2-3 minutes, then straining the mixture.
A previous report in Medical News Today (MNT) informs that chamomile tea offers numerous health benefits and is a drink worth incorporating into your routine. The benefits of chamomile tea include:
• Improved sleep
• Reduced anxiety
• Lowered blood sugar levels
• Decreased inflammation
• Relief for common cold symptoms
Ginger tea
Ginger is reportedly a potent superfood on its own, and when transformed into a tea, it becomes a warm and nourishing drink with numerous health benefits. The health benefits of ginger tea include:
• Improved digestion
• Reduced heartburn
• Decreased inflammation
• Enhanced blood circulation
• Boosted immune system
If you often suffer from feelings of nausea, ginger tea may be the solution you need. This is because it contains a compound called 6-gingerol, which helps alleviate nausea.
Additionally, ginger tea can also help relax the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract and provide relief from motion sickness during pregnancy.
Agreeing Agarwal adds, “Ginger contains compounds that can help reduce inflammation and pain, making it useful for conditions such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.”
In fact, Healthline states that two studies reportedly found that ginger was as effective as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, in reducing period pain.
As advised by Batra, it is recommended to drink ginger tea early morning. To make a cup of this tea, simply boil a small piece of ginger root (approximately half an inch) in water for a few minutes, then strain the mixture.
Lemongrass and ginger tea
Lemongrass is recognised for its ability to regulate blood glucose levels through its anti-hyperglycemic properties, as it inhibits the enzymes alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase.
Similarly, ginger can also have anti-diabetic effects by inhibiting alpha-glucosidase and containing beta sesquiphellandrene, which increases insulin sensitivity.
However, Agarwal notes that while lemongrass and ginger tea are effective in reducing blood sugar levels, fenugreek and cinnamon tea may be a more effective alternative.
Lemongrass and ginger tea can be enjoyed in the morning. To prepare the tea, gather some lemongrass stalks and a piece of medium-sized ginger. Boil the ingredients together in water for approximately 10 minutes, then strain the mixture into a cup. Your delicious and healthy tea is now ready to be consumed!
Hibiscus tea
Hibiscus tea is made with the flowers of the hibiscus plant. With a distinctive pink-red colour and tart taste, hibiscus tea not only looks and tastes great, but it also provides numerous health benefits.
Hibiscus tea is also known to have pain-relieving properties that can ease menstrual cramps by relaxing the muscles in the bladder and uterus.
“The tea also contains a variety of compounds that have anti-inflammatory properties, including anthocyanins and flavonoids, which can help to reduce inflammation and pain,” Agarwal said.
She also highlights other potential benefits of hibiscus tea, including reducing high blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Moreover, sipping hibiscus tea can also help regulate aldosterone levels, a hormone produced in the adrenal gland that controls the balance of water and salt in the body. Additionally, hibiscus tea acts as a diuretic, reducing bloating.
To enjoy its full benefits, it is recommended to drink hibiscus tea one week before the start of your menstrual cycle. Simply add some hibiscus flowers to boiling water and let the mixture steep for about five minutes. You can then sweeten it to taste and enjoy the delicious and healthful tea.
Tulsi or holy basil tea
Tulsi tea is said to have medicinal properties that can aid in the control of asthma and bronchitis. It enhances the immune system by providing anti-allergic effects in the body.
The tea also helps to protect the bone marrow, which produces red blood cells and white blood cells that help to strengthen the immune system.
Other benefits of tulsi tea, as highlighted by Agarwal, include reducing fever through promoting sweating and decreasing stress and anxiety. However, she states that further research is required to determine if tulsi tea is effective in regulating blood sugar levels.
You can enjoy a refreshing cup of tulsi tea at any time of the day. Simply take 5 to 10 tulsi leaves and place them in a teapot with boiling water. Let the leaves infuse for a few minutes, strain the mixture, and enjoy your tea.
The Department of Health said the rollout would reduce missed days at nursery and school, cut time parents take off work, and save the NHS about £15 million a year. (Representational image: iStock)
CHILDREN in England will be offered a free chickenpox vaccine for the first time from January 2026, the government has announced.
GP practices will give eligible children a combined vaccine for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) as part of the routine childhood vaccination schedule. Around half a million children each year are expected to be protected.
The Department of Health said the rollout would reduce missed days at nursery and school, cut time parents take off work, and save the NHS about £15 million a year. Research estimates chickenpox in childhood leads to £24 million in lost income and productivity annually.
Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock, said: “We’re giving parents the power to protect their children from chickenpox and its serious complications, while keeping them in nursery or the classroom where they belong and preventing parents from scrambling for childcare or having to miss work. This vaccine puts children’s health first and gives working families the support they deserve. As part of our Plan for Change, we want to give every child the best possible start in life, and this rollout will help to do exactly that.”
Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, Deputy Director of Immunisation at the UK Health Security Agency, said: “Most parents probably consider chickenpox to be a common and mild illness, but for some babies, young children and even adults, chickenpox can be very serious, leading to hospital admission and tragically, while rare, it can be fatal. It is excellent news that from next January we will be introducing a vaccine to protect against chickenpox into the NHS routine childhood vaccination programme – helping prevent what is for most a nasty illness and for those who develop severe symptoms, it could be a life saver.”
Amanda Doyle, National Director for Primary Care and Community Services at NHS England, said: “This is a hugely positive moment for families as the NHS gets ready to roll out a vaccine to protect children against chickenpox for the first time, adding to the arsenal of other routine jabs that safeguard against serious illness.”
The eligibility criteria will be set out in clinical guidance, and parents will be contacted by their GP surgery if their child is eligible.
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WHEN broadcaster and journalist Naga Munchetty began speaking openly about her experiences with adenomyosis and debilitating menstrual pain, the response was overwhelming.
Emails and messages poured in from women who had endured years of dismissal, silence and shame when it came to their health. That outpouring became the driving force behind her new book, It’s Probably Nothing, which calls for women to be heard and to advocate for themselves in a medical system that has too often ignored them.
“For so long, so many women haven’t been listened to by the world of medicine,” Munchetty said. “I knew this from my own experience of not being given adequate pain relief, or waiting years for a diagnosis. My motivation was to help women and people who love women to advocate better for women’s health.”
The book blends Munchetty’s personal journey with the voices of other women who have faced similar struggles, alongside expert insights from medical professionals. Its purpose, she said, is clear: to empower people to fight for their health.
“We need to be unafraid of saying how we have been weakened by our symptoms,” the BBC presenter said.
“Too often, we try to keep afloat, keep our head above water, but we don’t want to seem weak. That needs to change.”
Munchetty’s candour is striking. She describes the shame of being told her excruciating periods were “just normal,” leaving her to feel weak and whiny for struggling.
“You might as well have told me people have heart attacks while I’m having a heart attack,” she said. “Debilitating pain is serious — it may not be lifelimiting, but it is life-impacting.”
Her determination to challenge that culture led to her giving evidence in parliament, contributing to what became a Women and Equalities Committee report, published in December 2024.
The report made headlines for its stark conclusion: medical misogyny exists.
For Munchetty, seeing that phrase in black and white was transformative. “It was almost self-affirming,” she said. “We now know it’s there, so we can challenge it. Women can say: I know my body, I know there’s not enough research, and I am entitled to push for answers.”
The parliamentary report went further than acknowledgement. It called for ring-fenced funding for women’s health hubs, better training for GPs, and greater investment in research into reproductive conditions like adenomyosis and endometriosis.
It highlighted how symptoms are routinely dismissed as “normal,” delaying diagnosis and disrupting women’s careers, education and daily lives. Munchetty wrote in her book — referencing the report — that medical misogyny is not about blaming individual doctors, but about challenging a system built on insufficient research into women’s bodies.
“It gives women the language and the confidence to not just be heard, but to insist on being taken seriously,” she wrote.
Her book also tackles the additional barriers faced by women from minority communities, who may be discouraged by stigma or embarrassment from speaking about menstruation or menopause. To them, Munchetty has a clear message: “You are so much more valuable than you realise. If you don’t prioritise your health, you are lessening your ability to hold up everyone around you.”
Those featured in the book are friends, colleagues, charities and everyday women who contributed their stories, many for the first time. “I was surprised at how many friends are in that book with such powerful experiences,” Munchetty said.
“It told me all the more that we’re not speaking about it, and that it is sadly so very common.”
At a launch event for the book, contributors, family and experts filled the room with what Munchetty describes as an “electric and inspiring atmosphere.”
She said, “It was full of joy, of women who felt safe to speak up and be heard. This is not a whiny book — it’s a positive book. People felt they were part of making things better, part of this women’s health revolution.”
For Munchetty, writing the book was exhausting, but transformative, she said.
“I never thought I’d be an author. I’m a journalist. But this is journalism — facilitating people’s stories to be told powerfully and truthfully. People trusted me, and I’m proud of that.”
And Munchetty’s aim is for the book to be a tool for change: arming women with the language, confidence and strategies to advocate for their health.
“It’s not easy to admit you need help, and it’s not instinctive for women to prioritise themselves,” she said. “But this book will help you do that. It’s the silent friend who has your back and gives you strength.”
It’s Probably Nothing - Critical Conversations on the Women’s Health Crisis is now available in all good bookshops
The Shree Kunj Bihari Vrindavan (UK) Temple has officially launched its project to establish a grand home for Shree Banke Bihari in London.
The inaugural event, held in Harrow from 4 pm, featured devotional chants, the Deep Pragtya ceremony, and a presentation outlining the temple’s vision. Speaking at the gathering, Shalini Bhargava described the planned temple as “a spiritual home promoting bhakti, unity and seva for generations to come.”
Several dignitaries were honoured at the ceremony, including Cllr Anjana Patel, Mayor of Harrow; Anuradha Pandey, Hindi and Cultural Attaché at the High Commission of India; Kamakshi Jani of the Royal Navy; Councillors Janet Mote, Nitin Parikh and Mina Parmar; Krishnaben Pujara, Chairperson of ALL UK; and Truptiben Patel, President of the Hindu Forum of Britain.
Organisers said the launch marks the beginning of a new spiritual and cultural hub for London’s Hindu community, offering a centre for devotion, learning and community service.
Olivia Dunne starred in a viral bubble bath shoot for a new Fanatics series.
The 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model revealed the not-so-glamorous side of filming.
Her TikTok showing behind-the-scenes chaos has gained over 700,000 views.
Fans and family flooded the comments with jokes and questions.
Fanatics partnership and viral moment
Retired gymnast and 2025 SI Swimsuit cover star Olivia Dunne has gone viral again, this time thanks to an unusual shoot for Fanatics.
The brand announced its new digital series, Explained by Livvy Dunne, where the influencer takes on complex topics in a playful style. The launch video showed Dunne in a bubble bath—similar in style to Margot Robbie’s cameo in The Big Short—but with a twist: the tub was set up in the middle of a football field.
On Tuesday, Dunne gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at the shoot on TikTok. The clip, which has already attracted more than 700,000 views, showed her sitting in the bath for hours while production staff worked around her to keep her covered with bubbles.
“I sat there for 3 hours😭 @Fanatics #fanatics #football #sports #rosebowl #sportsbetting,” she wrote in the caption.
The video was set to the viral “Jet2 Advert” soundtrack, often used to highlight chaotic twists during seemingly relaxing moments.
Fan and family reactions
The post quickly filled with light-hearted comments. Her sister Julz joked: “I can feel the bath water comments from miles away,” to which Dunne replied, “2021 all over again.”
Others joined in with their own humour, including:
“Did they warm the water up at least?”
“And my mom said bubble technician was a job with no future.”
“Football and bubble baths are the best things in life.”
Fanatics Betting and Gaming’s Chief Marketing Officer, Selena Kalvaria, said:
“As a disruptor brand, Fanatics Sportsbook is rewriting the category playbook. By working with a cultural force like Livvy, we’re telling our story in a way that expands our reach with existing betting audiences—and speaks to new ones, too.”
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Bhaktivedanta Manor hosts grand Janmashtami festival amid record crowds
Tens of thousands of devotees gathered at Bhaktivedanta Manor, Watford over the weekend for the annual Sri Krishna Janmashtami festival, one of the most important dates in the Hindu calendar.
The celebrations began on Saturday (16) and continued throughout Sunday (17) , with organisers estimating that more than 50,000 visitors attended across the two days. The programme included darshan of Sri Sri Radha-Gokulananda, devotional singing, thought-provoking dramas, dance performances, exhibitions, and talks. Visitors also enjoyed a vibrant festival bazaar, a food court offering Indian delicacies, children’s activities, and free vegetarian meals (prasadam) served throughout the day.
Bhaktivedanta Manor hosts grand Janmashtami festival amid record crowds
At the New Gokul Farm, devotees had the chance to feed and worship cows and oxen, while young people engaged with the Pandava Sena youth group. The popular Radharani Café served freshly prepared dishes, and the Farm Shop offered organic produce grown on site. Special shuttle bus and park-and-ride services ensured smooth access for visitors from Stanmore and Harrow & Wealdstone stations.
Saturday’s celebrations were briefly disrupted when an administrative error led to more tickets being released than the temple site could safely accommodate. This forced organisers to cancel entry between 3pm and 4pm and caused traffic congestion in the area.
In a statement, the temple apologised for the “serious and regrettable mistake” and assured devotees that stronger safeguards are being introduced to prevent a repeat.
Bhaktivedanta Manor hosts grand Janmashtami festival amid record crowds
Temple President Her Grace Visakha Dasi reflected that “Janmashtami 2025 at Bhaktivedanta Manor was unique. Alongside devotional exhibits, powerful dramas, insightful talks, and delicious prasadam, we also got an unexpected glimpse of how extraordinarily popular the Manor is. Due to an administrative error, too many free tickets were released, which led to traffic jams. We won’t let that happen again, but it showed us that we may need more days to allow eager pilgrims to celebrate Janmashtami with us.”
The festival was supported by more than 1,000 volunteers, who dedicated countless hours to ensure the event’s success. Despite Saturday’s disruption, Sunday’s programme ran smoothly and was described by many attendees as “an atmosphere saturated with bhakti and optimism.”
Bhaktivedanta Manor hosts grand Janmashtami festival amid record crowds
Distinguished guests included the Indian High Commissioner Mr. Vikram Doraiswamy and the Chief Constable of Hertfordshire, Andy Prophet, who joined devotees in marking the occasion.
Bhaktivedanta Manor, donated by Beatles star George Harrison in 1973, is now one of Europe’s most significant Hindu temples, attracting worshippers from across the UK and beyond.