I don’t exactly remember how I got into herbal or medicinal teas, but I always find a warm cup of tea comforting, just like a hug from a loved one.
Perhaps I got it from my mom who has a thing for herbal teas.
She would know which ones are best for whatever ails the body. As for me, I don’t go without my stash of chamomile, lavender, and green tea.
Lately, though, I’ve stocked up on medicinal teas to shoo away viral infections, tummy aches, dysmenorrhea, and headache, as well as for cough relief. I know, I’m starting to sound like a real “tita.”
Now that the rainy season has come, it will give me more reason to look for new infusions to enjoy. That’s why I’m glad when I came across delectable blends from Sekaya, a Filipino plant-based brand that has been passionate about nature’s life-nurturing gifts. Its high-quality plant-based products are made from ingredients that have been traditionally used for their health-promoting benefits and are backed by science. I got a chance recently to learn more about the brand and its products via a gathering organized by Sekaya featuring wellness experts who discussed the different ways botanicals support our health.
Sekaya, which stands for Sentro ng Pangkatutubong Yaman (Center for Indigenous Resources), pays tribute to Filipino heritage and commits to making the Philippines a major participant in the global science-based natural product market. It is a brand under Synnovate, the natural products division of United Laboratories, Inc. (UNILAB). One of Synnovates product lines is Sekaya Botanic Infusion, a curated roster of botanic infusions or natural blends to help address specific health goals and support one’s daily wellness.
Served in plant-derived and non-toxic tea bags, all the ingredients of every infusion are carefully sourced from farms that have the United States’ Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Quality Assurance International (QAI) Organic Certification. The brand has also made it its mission to educate people on how to harness the wonderful benefits of nature to support their health and wellness through the Prescribing Nature series.
At the event, aromatherapist and essential oil educator at The Oilbularyo Geri Gil shared her expertise on how aromatherapy is a holistic, complementary, and alternative approach that works to support and help conventional medicine.
“Plant extracts are not silver bullets, but they are so supportive of our health and wellness. Having them in your home could be the wellness revolution you are looking for,” Gil says. “There is so much that plants offer in terms of restoring humans to optimum health and staying well.”
Certified tea master and educator Rocel Leoncio led a Tea Appreciation that emphasizes how drinking teas and botanic infusions is one of the easy healthy habits that people can adopt to enhance their daily lives and truly benefit from nature.
“Having a cup of tea and botanic infusion at least a day can help boost your energy or even help you wind down. You can even choose botanic infusions for your exact wellness concern, as they are usually made of purposely selected botanicals that have the therapeutic properties to specifically address that,” Leoncio explains. “Can’t sleep? Got an upset tummy? Want to beat the afternoon slump? You can find a botanic infusion for that.”
Functional medicine doctor Eca Lorenzo MD, FPCP enlightened the guests with a talk on Nutrition with Botanicals, affirming the transformative role of plants in maintaining one’s health, whether enjoyed as supplements, essential oils, or as plant-based beverages like teas and botanic infusions.
“I’d like to remind people that however wonderful natural health products are, they are not magic. You’ll get the best from them if you’re also mindful of what and how you eat; that you move your body; get good quality sleep; and manage stress well,” Dr. Lorenzo points out.
“Additionally, it’s crucial to choose natural products of high quality. To ensure that they retain the actual benefits of the plant’s constituents, and they’re safe and free from contamination with microbes, molds, heavy metals, pesticides, and other toxic residues,” she added.
Since 2020, the brand has been organizing Prescribing Nature sessions that bring together experts from the natural wellness space to discuss certain topics about the consumption of natural health products. These sessions are meant to encourage them to be more cognizant and discerning about these products, so they will be able to fully experience the wonderful benefits of nature in their lives.
Sekaya offers products that are scientifically studied and meticulously processed within pharmaceutical-grade facilities to ensure the safety and purity of each. They are tested against microbial contamination, pesticide residues, heavy metals, and molds—ensuring customers that what they consume is safe and of high quality. The brand offers three product lines: Sekaya Botanic Infusion, Sekaya Raw Actives, and Sekaya Organic Moringa.
To know more about how you can benefit from Sekaya’s plant-based solutions and get health tips and information at https://www.sekayaglobal.com/home and by following @sekayaph on Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/sekayaph/) and Instagram ( https://www.instagram.com/sekayaph/).
You can get in touch with me through [email protected].