In mainstream circles, discussions of tea often entail the health benefits of tea. In fact, if you ran a search on Google for the keyword ‘tea’, literally the first suggested related search is ‘tea benefit’.
Much of the health benefits of tea are over-hyped. No substance is a miracle drug and many of the so-called benefits of tea set unrealistic expectations.
That is not to say there are none or anyone who talks of the health benefits of tea is either a shaman or ignorant.
In fact, if you read some of the most respected writings on tea from China, there is often a section related to tea. As mentioned in a previous article, the concept of ‘yang sheng’ or literally translated as nurturing the body is critical to an understanding of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) view of the health benefits of tea.
In TCM writings, most of the health benefits of tea can be classified according to the following 20 types:
1) Dispel Lethargy (少睡)
Consumption of tea is said to heighten one’s awareness and dispel lethargy, keeping one mentally alert.
2) Digestion (消食)
One of the most common uses of tea is as an after meal drink, with certain cautionary notes.
You can see tea served with food at Chinese restaurants, especially Dim Sum joints.
This is also one of the most common recurring benefits outlined in various tea and TCM related tomes such as Cha Jing, Cha Pu, Yin Shan Zhen Yao, Ben Cao Tu Jie, Ben Cao Jing Shu etc.
3) Dispel the ‘Damp wind’ (祛风解表)
This is one of those virtually untranslatable phrases.
In TCM, the ‘evil wind’ (邪风) is one of the main causes of ailments, usually of headaches and body pains. Tea helps in dispelling the wind and invokes perspiration, which is one of the oft prescribed remedies for this.
4) Calming of the Nerves (安神)
This is more than just settling the nerves tea dispels depressive feelings or feelings of loneliness.
In short, tea makes one happy and boosts the spirits.
5) Dispels the effects of alcohol (醒酒)
Tea has the effect of heightening one’s awareness, quite the opposite of the intoxicating effects of alcohol- although tea lovers will agree tea is intoxicating in its own way.
This is now attributable to the presence of fluoride- in entirely acceptable levels- as well as polyphenol compounds that strengthens the teeth.
7) ‘Clearing of the Eyes’ (明目)
In TCM belief, ‘heatiness’ causes the physical vision to be clouded. Hence since tea has the effect of ‘dispelling heatiness’ it also aids in ‘clearing the vision’.
8) Dispelling Grease in Food (去肥腻)
This is why tea and Dim Sum is virtually inseparable. The grease oily (but decadently delectable) Dim Sum often literally oozes grease. Tea helps wash it down and dispels the bloated sensation.
9) Clearing the Head (清头目)
The ‘cooling’ effect of tea dispels headaches and removes that ‘cloudy’ sensation in one’s head.
10) Lowering of the ‘Qi’ (下气)
This refers to a smooth transition of the ‘qi’ or energy in the digestive tract, dispelling the bloated sensation and aiding the digestive functions, preventing constipation among other related ailments.
The other 10 health benefits of tea according to TCM will be covered in the next post.
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