Tea Leaves for Better Health

According to Chinese legend, the leaves of the tea plant were first brewed as a hot beverage in the third millennium by the Chinese emperor Shen Nung, when they fell into water he had been boiling.

As the story goes, "Shen Nung, part man part god, roamed China compiling the first collection of herbs and their medicinal effects. When he would happen upon a new plant, he would make an infusion of its leaves, roots, berries or other parts, drink it, and then document the resulting effects. It is said that while he was in Southwestern China, wandering in present day Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, he ingested an herb that caused him to feel faint and uncomfortable in his stomach. Sitting back to rest on a tree trunk, he noticed a leaf, which he had never seen before, fall into his pot of boiling water. Risking further illness, his curiosity led him to drink the resulting brew. Shortly thereafter, he noticed his head clearing and that the pains in his abdomen had vanished. He added the leaf to his collection of herbs with the description that it has detoxifying effects as well as its ability to sharpen the awareness." (1)

In the centuries since Shen Nung's first recording of the medicinal effects from drinking an infusion of water with the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis tree research has shown that a cup of tea does have medicinal qualities that shouldn't be ignored.

About 65 million Americans suffer from halitosis, or bad breath, at some point in their lives, according to the National Institute of Dental Research. Anaerobic bacteria, hiding at the back of the tongue and in gum pockets, emit a sulfur compound that causes the offensive smell.

Black tea's polyphenols, which are chemical components found in tea, have been shown to suppress the growth of the anaerobic bacteria resulting in fewer smelly sulfur compounds being produced according to research carried out at the University of Illinois, Chicago. (2)

Over 35 million Americans suffer from allergies. Allergic reactions can be mild to life threatening depending on the intensity of the body's response to the particular offending substance, which is called an allergen. When the body detects an allergen, histamine is released into the blood and other fluids causing an allergic reaction such as sneezing, watery eyes and itchy throat.

Japanese research has shown that catechin, the largest component in green tea leaves, inhibits histamine from being released causing fewer allergic reactions when the body comes into contact with allergens. (3)

Other studies indicate that catechin can lower the risk of high blood pressure, a leading cause of heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure. In all cases of high blood pressure, the kidney secretes an enzyme called renin. This causes the formation of angiotensin, which causes blood vessels to narrow and subsequently raises blood pressure. Catechin inhibits excessive activation of renin by the kidneys thus preventing blood from clumping and clogging blood vessels. (3)

Additionally, clinical studies performed by cardiologists and scientists from the Charité Hospital, Universitätsmedizin-Berlin, Germany have shown that drinking tea significantly increases the ability of arteries to relax and expand to accommodate increased blood flow. However, this protective effect on the cardiovascular system is nonexistent for tea drinkers adding milk to their beverage according to molecular biologist, Dr Mario Lorenz, "We found that, whereas drinking tea significantly increased the ability of the artery to relax and expand to accommodate increased blood flow compared with drinking water, the addition of milk completely prevents the biological effect." (4)

Regular consumption of Oolong tea has been shown to have positive results for lowering blood sugar levels for type 2 diabetics who are at increased risk for heart attacks, strokes, blindness, kidney failure, and in some instances loss of limbs. According to a study published in Diabetes Care, June 2003, researchers at Chorng Kuang Hospital, Miaoli, Taiwan found that type 2 diabetics taking antihyperglycemic agents experienced lower plasma glucose levels when drinking Oolong tea daily. "The plasma glucose and fructosamine concentrations of diabetes patients decreased significantly (P _ 0.001 and 0.001, respectively) after drinking oolong tea but did not change after drinking water." (5)

If all of this doesn't make you a believer in the medicinal effects of tea, then consider the actions (and maturity) of my soon-to-be 9 year old. Ever since her birth, my kisses seemed to possess the medicinal effect of making the pain - whether it be from a scuffed knee or an earache - more tolerable. As my little girl approaches her ninth birthday, I find she has discovered the ugly truth that Mommy (or Daddy) can't make everything better - just 99 percent of the things.

Gone are the days when "kissing the booboo" was the cure when she scuffs her knees or isn't feeling well. I don't know exactly how or when the "medicinal kiss" lost its punch, but it did. The realization hit home about a week ago when the usual remedial kiss was replaced with a request for a cup of tea.

It seems as though my daughter is living, breathing proof of what researches have known for quite some time, daily cups of tea can help you recover more quickly from the stresses of everyday life.

According to a study by UCL (University College London), black tea lowers the level of cortisol, a stress hormone, in the blood following stressful events. The study, published in the journal Psychopharmacology, October 2006, found that people who drank tea were able to de-stress more quickly than those who drank a fake tea substitute. (6)

Whether or not we choose to believe in the advice of a nine-year old or the scientific studies backing the health benefits of tea, let's not forget the old adage, "Better safe then sorry."

References:

(1) Tea Topics. Retrieved November 26, 2007 http://www.theteahouse.com/topics.htm

(2) "...stop the growth of bacteria that cause bad breath..." Adiago Teas. Retrieved November 26, 2007 http://www.adagio.com/info/health_benefits/news_44.html?SID=a83bdefb7a690471843277ca9d0f8cdf

(3) Japanese Green Tea and Research. Retrieved November 26, 2007 http://www.ultimatewatermassage.com/research-health/green-tea-misc.htm

(4) European Society of Cardiology (2007, January 9). Milk Eliminates Cardiovascular Health Benefits Of Tea, Researchers Warn. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 26, 2007

http://www.oxfordjournals.org/our_journals/eurheartj/press_releases/freepdf/ehl442.pdf

(5) Antihyperglycemic Effect of Oolong Tea in Type 2 Diabetes, Diabetes Care 26:1714-1718, 2003, Retrieved November 26, 2007 http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/reprint/26/6/1714

(6) Black Tea Soothes Away Stress, October 4, 2006. Retrieved November 26, 2007 http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-10/ucl-bts100406.php