The Benefits of Tea

I can’t imagine life without tea.

When we think about tea many of us imagine freshly brewed black tea in a daintily matching china cup and saucer, being sipped slowly and politely, pinky up and joined by a tray full of accoutrements floral napkins and china milk jugs. Or perhaps you might think about Lipton in a Styrofoam cup.

But however you look at it, teas of all kinds like black, white, green, yellow and oolong all come from the tea plant, Camellia sinensis. And depending upon the processing involved this determines which type of tea will result. 

Certain teas, especially herbal teas, are beneficial for our wellbeing. Ginger is great for for reducing nausea, peppermint can help with bloating and headaches and dandelion can work wonders for our digestion. Check out this guide on the health and wellness benefits of tea. CrossFit athlete Jake Thompson even drinks tea as part of his pre-workout ritual. 

Nowadays there are many varieties of teas, herbal and tisanes which are not only delicious but health promoting and therapeutic. And the great benefit for many of us is that there’s no need to add milk when you are going herbal.

The medicinal benefits of herbal teas date back centuries. A wonderful herbal tea like peppermint or chamomile has the ability to do so many things from relaxing your mind to soothing your belly.  Lemon Myrtle leaf, sage and hawthorn berry are not particularly well known teas or widely used but their healing properties are quite astounding.

Lemon Myrtle Leaf Tea has anti-bacterial properties that help fight against infection.  Discovered in 1853 it was given the botanical name Backhousia Citriodora after the English botanist, James Backhouse.

Did you know that it is indigenous to the rainforests of Queensland?

The name reflects the strong lemon smell of the crushed leaves. Indigenous Australians have used the leaf in their cooking and as a healing plant. It is also known as sweet verbena myrtle.  Its therapeutic uses include: Antiseptic, anti-viral, calmative, sedative and corrective. This tea has fresh uplifting qualities and is used by many public speakers as it helps to soothe the throat and keeps your voice going all day!

How to make a Lemon Myrtle…

Method: Infuse the lemon myrtle into boiling water in your favourite tea pot. Allow to stand for 3-5 minutes depending on the preferred strength. Remove the lemon myrtle and serve.

Sage leaf tea is native to the Mediterranean region and was the most popular tea of ancient times.

Sage has a very long history of effective medicinal use and is utilised as a herbal remedy for disorders of the digestive system. Its antiseptic qualities make it an effective gargle for the mouth as it can heal sore throats and ulcers.

The sage plant is antihidrotic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, stimulant, tonic and a vasodilator.

Sage is also used internally in the treatment of excessive lactation, night sweats, excessive salivation (as in Parkinson's disease), profuse perspiration, anxiety, depression, and menopausal problems. This tea should not be used by pregnant women or by people who have epileptic fits.

Sage Tea or infusion of Sage is beneficial in biliousness and liver complaints, kidney troubles, for colds in the head as well as sore throat, for pains in the joints and lethargy. A cup of sage tea will help relieve a nervous headache.

How to make a Sage Tea…

Method: In a tea pot add leaves to boiling water boil for 3-5 minutes, allow to stand, strain and then serve. Sip slowly and enjoy.

Hawthorn Berry tea is a spiny shrub with toothed leaves and white flowers. The fruit is a dry red berry that has been used medicinally since the first century.

The berries make a red tea that is fantastic for people with heart problems, it is used to treat angina, cardiac arrhythmia, high blood pressure and the berry has been found to strengthen the heart. It is a safe and effective method in the treatment of heart disease, strengthening blood vessels, restoring the heart muscle wall. It has also been used for myocarditis, arteriosclerosis, nervous conditions like insomnia and also for diarrhea.

How to make a Hawthorn Berry Tea…

Method: Put 1 to 2 tsp. of hawthorn berries in a single-serve tea strainer, boil water, add tea to the mug, slowly add hot water, steep tea for 5 minutes, you may need to add some stevia to sweeten as the berries are naturally sour in flavor.

Although Hawthorn is considered a safe herb there are some rare side effects which should be noted these are include headache, nausea and heart palpitations.

Chinese Medicine Tonic Teas

Teas created from Chinese Medicine are generally described as Tonics Teas.  Chinese Medicine Tonic Teas have been recorded as far back as 2500 years ago.  Since that time the Tonic recipes have been refined to help people with a wide range of ailments and needs.

The biggest benefits from drinking any Tonic Tea is that you have the opportunity to drink something that may be strengthening or balancing your body rather that attacking it and weakening it.  Tonic Teas are generally used to build Qi (energy) and Blood, disperse and break up stagnation that may lead to pain and "lumps", and calm and relax the body, mind and spirit.

Everybody knows that coffee, alcohol, and sugar and caffeinated soft drinks, amongst many other things are bad for you.  They offer a short-term speedy lift but the longer-term effects are negative.  You get a short term boost from sugar and caffeine drinks usually followed by an energy drop or the "shakes", and more often than not a feeling of tiredness, lowness and withdrawal.  Not to mention the role of sugar in gaining weight!  These popular drinks can also deplete the body of vital moisture and hydration.  Yet we still drink them knowing this.

Drinking a Tonic Tea whether they are designed as systemic Tonics or as a specific Tonics can only help your body.  They can counter-act the stresses we put on our body and it’s internal systems.  Put simply systemic Tonic Teas are formulas designed to help, ease and maintain our bodies various systems.  For example it is better to take a natural Tonic Tea than a drug to help you sleep, relax, or feel clean out.

Tonic Teas fall into two categories Specific and General Tonic Teas.

The General Tonic Tea will give a general tonic affect on the body.  Nothing specific, you will feel better, maybe more energy, maybe more calm or relaxed.  These are just good general maintenance program just like servicing your car - it just runs better.

The Specific Tonic Teas are designed for specific jobs such as sleep, bowels, emotions, energy, weight, women health, etc.  Everyone knows what their health is like and everyone knows what they need help with.  In China and much of Asia people drink Tonic Teas every day to strengthen and maintain their bodies.

Tonic Teas are a painless and pleasant way to take a mild Tonic that will aid, repair and maintain your bodies health.