Healing oneself, one tea at a time

I am a huge fan (and believer) in holistic medicines, especially traditional Chinese medicines. In the East, food and medicines are hugely interlinked with certain foods possessing certain qualities that act upon the body in certain ways. Tea is no exception, with different teas affecting the body in different ways. With this in mind, we can utilize this everyday warming beverage as a health-boost with desired effects on the body and the mind.

For skin care, Longjing Green Tea is recommended… this Chinese green tea comes from the West Lake in Hangzhou, where it is often said that the women have the most beautiful skin in Asia. On a more technical note, the cooling effects of green teas are great for summer heat, or if one possesses a hot constitution, resulting in bad skin!

To relieve fatigue, Tie Guan Yin, the most popular oolong tea provides the perfect high caffeine pick-me-up. Farmed in the Fujian province of China, the tea possesses fragrance, taste and a serious kick! The tea infuses especially fast, so it is recommended that a small vessel be used when brewing.

Ju Hua Cha, also known as Chrysanthemum Tea, is great for relieving hay fever. In Chinese medicine, hay fever is associated with ‘wind’ and ‘dampness’. The use of the most external part of the plant, the flower, leads to the qi being channeled to the exterior parts of the body, protecting it from wind entering the body. Furthermore, it is said that chrysanthemum has a special connection to the eyes, relieving dryness, itchiness, soreness and tearfulness.

Victoria Beckham is reported to be a fan of Pu’er Tea, originating from the Yunnan province, for its weight-loss properties. Properly brewed Pu’er Tea is thought to be warming and the lightest tea on the digestive system. Its ability to help the body drain ‘dampness’ further aids the proper running of the digestive system, resulting in weight-loss.

For an overall health and immune system boost Ganmai Cha, a Japanese green tea made with roasted rice, is a great long-term way to boost one’s immune system and harmonize what is considered to be the main motor of the body in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the spleen. The potential of the ‘over-cooling’ effect on digestion in normal green tea is counteracted by the roasted rice, which is added to give the tea a warming nature.

… So I guess the next time I’m in Shanghai Blues for some dim sum I’ll make sure to order the Pu’er, or look out for the Longjing!!