The Faculty of Pharmacy of Charles University has come up with unique loose teas on a scientific basis. They will be sold under the brand name Apotheke

The team of Prof. Lucie Cahlíková from Charles University is launching a completely new line of loose-leaf teas based on a scientific basis. Their production has been taken over by Mediate s.r.o., which is, among other things, the owner of the Apotheke brand under which the tea blends are sold. This is an exemplary combination of science and traditional medicine and an example of evidence-based medicine (EBM) in practice. The range of five tea formulas will be supplemented in the future with further blends with specific uses.

The herbal blends are the result of the work of Prof. Ing. Lucie Cahlíková, Ph.D. and a team of collaborators from the Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University in Hradec Králové. This pharmacognostic group, in addition to its regular teaching and scientific activities, also organises courses on medicinal plants and dietary supplements for the general public. Special seminars allow those interested in natural products to gain a completely new perspective on the possibilities of scientific phytotherapy and its use in self-medication. In the courses, for which the faculty uses, among other things, its own Garden of Medicinal Plants, recipes have been prepared for respiratory treatment of colds in adults, respiratory treatment of colds in children, for normalising blood sugar, for urinary tract problems and for promoting healthy sleep.

An example of a science-based preparation of a blend is the Respiratory Blend for the treatment of respiratory problems from the common cold. As a result of Prof. Cahlik's training courses, two versions of this mixture were prepared based on knowledge of the safety and effects of medicinal plants: for adults and for children. The children's version does not contain elm tree compared to the adult version. This sweating-promoting medicinal plant contains derivatives of salicylic acid which, in extreme cases, can cause health complications in children. It is not only here that Prof. Cahlíková's EBM team refers to available scientific publications. In the children's version, elderflower and linden blossom, which have similar effects, have therefore been replaced by elderflower.

"In the field of scientific phytotherapy, new isolation techniques have been developed over the years, modern instruments have been used, and isolated substances with a defined structure have been subjected to pharmacological testing," says Prof. Cahlíková, describing the contribution of science to traditional medicine. "Thus, in most cases, the validity of the results of traditional medicine has been proven. After all, even today, when we work on the basis of EBM, there is a group of so-called traditional medicines, such as chamomile or burdock, about which there is no doubt at all that their use in certain cases is meaningful and proven over hundreds of years," she adds.

More than 300 course participants, including other volunteers, tested the effects of the herbal mixtures. The composition of the loose teas was designed to be free of medicinal drugs at risk of possible overdose. The herbal mixtures are thus completely safe for home use at the recommended dosage. "The blends also contain mainly plants commonly available in the Czech Republic, some of which come from farms in the Podkrkonoší and the foothills of the Orlické Mountains, where they are grown. The teas are therefore conceived in accordance with the philosophy of Mediate, which in its production activities pays close attention not only to the high quality of the products, but also to the documentable origin of the raw materials. Moreover, all production is managed in accordance with the principles of sustainability and respect for natural and human resources," says Jan Syrový, herbal processing technologist at Mediate s.r.o., who also participates in Prof. Cahlíková's seminars all the time.

There are five tea blends in production at the moment, namely Breathing Pathways, Breathing Pathways Junior, Blood Sugar, Urinary Pathways and Sleep & Relax. However, the Faculty of Pharmacy at Charles University and Mediate Ltd. plan to gradually introduce other medicinal products in the form of loose and portioned teas in pouches as part of this collaboration. Loose teas are currently available on the e-shop www.apotheke.cz for a single price of 79 CZK incl. The package contains 70 g of tea mixture. From February 2025, the range of loose and portioned teas will be expanded with additional blends, namely Immunity, Digestion and Climacterium. Mediate also plans to expand sales to other e-shops and brick-and-mortar store networks.