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We’re doing something wrong because, as a nation, we spend twice what other comparable countries spend on healthcare, but we have the lowest life expectancy. Worse, we have the highest infant mortality rates.

Our medical system is expensive, slow, inefficient, and at times miserably incompetent. It’s not me saying this, I’m just passing along news from a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Today, I’d like to get back to nature. I’m going to share the best teas for various health concerns. Teas are gentle, but they contain powerful natural compounds that man has relied on for centuries.

If you have a medical condition, please make sure to consult your pharmacist, health practitioner, local herbalist or acupuncturist on this subject.

The teas I mention below are sold as commercially prepared teabags or you can easily make them yourself.

If you want help with cancer and immunity:

Many good animal studies prove that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a polyphenol found in green tea, can slow down the growth of many cancers, including pancreatic cancer. Angiogenesis slows.

If you have chronic infections or cancer, talk to your oncologist about taking this supplement because timing is important if you’re on chemo.

If you want help remembering:

Gotu kola is for your brain, baby! It boosts memory and helps with age-related cognitive decline.

I have my own refreshing recipe for Mint Hibiscus Memory Tea with gotu kola. I show you how to make this tea in a video on my website. Watch at suzycohen.com/hibiscus-tea.

If you want to sleep:

Lavender tea is the best option. It works like prescribed tranquilizers, meaning it activates your natural sleep hormone called GABA. Rose petals can do the same thing!

I crawled out of bed one night in my jammies to make Lavender Rose Sleep Tea. To learn how, watch at suzycohen.com/lavender-rose-tea.

If you have diabetes or want to lower blood pressure:

Rooibos tea is excellent at cleaning capillaries, and there are many of these tiny capillaries that feed your retina. I think the tea is great for both blood pressure and vision.

Rooibos has no caffeine. It contains chrysoeriol, which helps reduce blood pressure.

You might also consider goldenseal or dandelion, two of Mother Nature’s best diuretics.

If you want to relieve nausea:

Ginger tea is easy to make, and it also does not have caffeine. It contains numerous biologically active compounds, including gingerols, which act like medicine in the body.

Just grate fresh ginger into some water and simmer it for a few minutes. It’s also a potent anti-inflammatory for joint health.

For allergies and sinus problems:

The herb stinging nettles is a very common, natural way to deal with allergies. It’s a natural antihistamine and anti-inflammatory herb that helps with hay fever, according to some well-designed trials.

You should ask your practitioner about this if you’re interested. It’s a natural diuretic by the way, so be careful if you take HCTZ or furosemide.

This information is opinion only. It is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Consult with your doctor before using any new drug or supplement.

Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and the author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solutions from Head to Toe. To contact her, visit www.SuzyCohen.com.