In reality, there are many people who are skeptical of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) or hold a critical attitude towards it. If red tea, green tea, and chrysanthemum tea fall under the category of TCM for health maintenance, would these people still consume these teas? Or, in a situation where the effectiveness of TCM (and TCM-based remedies) on the human body is uncertain, could it be that the commonly discussed health teas, whole grains, and their purported effects on the liver, gallbladder, heart, and lungs are merely baseless claims?
Tea therapy is rooted in the cultures of both traditional Chinese medicine and tea.
The essence of tea is closely tied to medicinal herbs. Like any traditional herbal product, tea leaves are categorized by their thermal properties (cold, cool, warm, hot) and their affiliations with specific organs and meridians. According to TCM, humans and the natural world are part of an ever-changing dynamic system. The transitions between spring warmth, summer heat, autumn coolness, and winter cold affect various aspects of our bodies, including the zang-fu (organs), meridians, qi, blood, yin, and yang. Combining these seasonal influences with the characteristics of tea can help balance the body and maintain optimal function.
Since the Han Dynasty, numerous ancient texts and classical medical books have documented discussions about the medicinal value of tea and its suitability for consumption. Incomplete records suggest that there were 20 categories and 219 functions related to the health benefits of tea, according to research in traditional Chinese medicine.
- Quenching thirst: This is the most fundamental function of tea. Its ability to quench thirst has made it a popular natural beverage. “Cao Zhi,” a Chinese poet from the Three Kingdoms period, once wrote, “Quench your thirst and dispel calamity, it all comes back to tea.”
- Clearing the mind: Due to its light aroma and ability to quickly reach the head and disperse heat, tea can be used for conditions involving dizziness.
- Clearing heat: As a cooling substance, tea has the capacity to clear heat and can be used in cases of fever and restlessness.
- Brightening the eyes: Thanks to its light and gentle nature, tea can follow the liver meridian to reach the eyes, dispersing any pathogenic heat obstructing the eyes and promoting visual health.
- Diuretic effects: The bitter taste of tea and its ability to enter the bladder help facilitate the transformation of water and promote urination.
- Dispelling heat: The light and floating quality of tea’s qi enables it to expel pathogenic heat, helping eliminate excess heat and dampness from the body, thus releasing heat.
- Detoxification: Tea’s detoxifying effect is primarily achieved through its diuretic properties, which dilute harmful toxins by increasing urinary excretion. Its clear qi can also disperse pathogenic toxins. This feature was first discovered in ancient China when tea was tasted after consuming other medicinal herbs.
- Anti-fatigue and anti-drowsiness effects: Due to its cooling nature and refreshing sweet taste, tea invigorates the spirit and refreshes the mind. It can help sustain alertness over extended periods, reducing the tendency to fall asleep.
- Enhancing digestion and alleviating food retention: Thanks to its floating nature, tea can regulate both the ascending and descending movement of stomach qi, promoting the digestion and transformation of food, and helping to clear food stagnation and fat accumulation.
- Sobering up: After excessive alcohol consumption, dampness and heat accumulate in the body, leading to a cloudy mind and incoherent speech. Tea works by regulating the ascending and descending functions to eliminate heat and dampness, restore clarity, and combat inebriation.
- Prolonging life: Tea contributes to longevity from two perspectives:
- Tea is both an attacker and replenisher. It can dispel pathogenic influences while tonifying deficiencies, resulting in a balanced, healthy state for the individual.
- Through the process of consuming tea as a means of self-cultivation, one’s emotional and psychological state can be balanced, promoting a cheerful and optimistic temperament, invigorating liver qi and enriching blood qi, which can help one live a long and healthy life.
Currently, tea cannot be used to treat specific diseases. Claims regarding its potential to lower blood pressure, act as an antioxidant, and provide stimulation are all related to its health benefits rather than its therapeutic properties. However, the extracts derived from tea are valuable for clinical research and pharmaceutical development. For example, caffeine in tea, when used as an ingredient in “999 Ganmaoling,” contributes to vasodilation and relieves cold symptoms. Similarly, the amino acid in tea, L-theanine, is studied for its potential use in supporting cancer treatment, combating depression, and alleviating insomnia. Tea polyphenols, known for their antioxidant properties and tissue repair abilities, are valuable in these aspects as well.
When a substance is comprehensively researched for its bioactive effects, pharmacological actions, the mechanisms by which it treats specific diseases, potential side effects, drug toxicity, and human metabolism, and it has demonstrated significant therapeutic results, widespread applications can then categorize it as a medicine. Tea, on the other hand, is more aptly regarded as a health-promoting substance, as its effects are mainly geared towards maintaining overall well-being. In essence, it is not intended to cure specific diseases but to contribute to a healthy and balanced lifestyle.
Of course, consuming tea can be beneficial. Developing a long-term habit of drinking tea can enhance the absorption of various trace elements beneficial to the human body found in tea. Therefore, considering tea as a health product aligns more closely with our modern understanding of its benefits.
