Tea Leaves and You

As humans, it's natural for us to enjoy tea. For countless centuries, people all over the world have used dried tea leaves for more than just brewing teas. Tea leaves have been used in food, and for body and skin health since history has been recorded. The plants our ancient ancestors chose for tea have many positive effects on our bodies, which explains why of all the plants that could be dried and delicious, they chose a select few to use. There are many ways to use tea and tea leaves to improve your health, your complexion, and even help feed your plants!

A commonly used technique uses tea leaves to freshen up a room, car, or closet. You can use tea bads or loose leaf tea, simply put it in a small satchel and tie it with a ribbon. You've created a sweet smelling addition to your car or home that freshens the area and calms your senses. I even use one of these satchels in my refrigerator. Tea is excellent for absorbing not only moisture, but scents that surround it, so my fridge smells great all the time, no matter what leftovers I stick in there!

For smooth and healthy skin, take a chamomile tea bag and soak it in a warm water and sea salt mixture, just enough to pick up some of the moisture while not dripping tea water all over your face. Rub it gently under your eyes, in the spots beneath your nose, and around your forehead near your hair follicles. It will absorb excess moisture as well as boost your skin's natural radiance! Also, this is a great way to remove tough makeup!

If you love healthy potted plants, then soak a bag of regular breakfast tea in some water, and put towards the bottom of the soil in your plants. It will help prevent against leaking, as well as slowly let nutrients from the tea seep into the soil. The soil will absorb the moisture and nutrients left over after you water as well, helping to keep your plant's stalk healthy, and keep it from being too thirsty.

Many varieties of flower and mint teas have properties excellent for your skin, and can be added to many home-made and store bought food and hand soaks as an extra, natural moisturizer and skin smoother. Powdered green tea machi is wonderful to use in a face scrub along with kelp powder, it exfoliates and gives your skin a healthy, clean glow!

Nowadays, many earth conscious and skin health gurus are making their own organic soaps right at home. Adding powdered teas to the soap mix is becoming quite popular, even many big companies are featuring soaps entirely based around a scented tea! Look for soaps and scrubs made with lavender, rooibos, and green teas. If made with natural ingredients, these soaps are bound to be great for your skin and leave you feeling great about yourself and the way you look.

Moist teabags are also incredibly useful in fighting itchy skin and insect bites. Rub a recently used or freshly soaked teabag on an insect bite softly, or use if you have difficult poison ivy, oak, or sumac. The teabag will absorb many of the harmful agents on and in your skin, and replace them with natural soothing agents that will heal and moisturize.

Tea isn't just for drinking anymore. You can use tea for just about anything, even as flavoring in foods and as a sweet addition to any relaxing bath. Tea's versatile leaves from any variety of tea plant can be used in countless ways, and are incredibly good for your body and skin. Using tea for every day things is a great way to keep yourself, and our planet, as healthy as it can be.