Primrose Road

Last week, I ordered some Vanilla Rooibos tea (which I became addicted to thanks to The Coffee House in Lincoln, Nebraska). My 40 bags o'tea -- plus samples of other flavors like raspberry and honey -- were just delivered to my door. Amusingly (or maybe laughably), the package included a two-page, double-sided handout detailing the health benefits -- not evaluated by the FDA and not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any diseases! -- of Rooibos tea, including: * Reducing the risk of tooth decay; * "Extraordinary anti-allergenic properties which inhibit the release of histamines on exposure to allergens, so reducing the symptoms of hay fever"; * Lowering blood pressure and serving "anti-thrombotic" functions; * Treating the symptoms of "colic, diverticulitis, diarrhea, vomiting, indigestion, and irritable bowel syndrome"; * Easing pain from prostate inflammation and ovarian cysts; * "A well trusted remedy for many skin conditions ... such as eczema, acne, psoriasis and [diaper] rash"; * Relieving itchy scalp. The package also includes a brochure for Rooibos-based skin products, including a "regenerating tissue oil." Excellent.