Hibiscus is a bushy annual that grows worldwide in the tropics and is cultivated in Europe. It brews up a brilliant red liquor that is tart and delicious. Hibiscus tea has a gentle laxative effect on the body. It is also used for colds that affect the respiratory tract and the stomach to dissolve phlegm. Hibiscus flowers also are used as a diuretic and for disorders of circulation. Aqueous extracts of hibiscus leaves have a relaxing effect on the uterus and should not be used by pregnant women.
