Where we last left out, we discussed the first 10 benefits of tea according to TCM. It’s worth mentioning that not all of these benefits apply to all categories of tea, at least not in equal measure.
For example, where it relates to the ‘cooling’ properties of tea, it should be noted that these are more applicable for green, white and yellow teas, as well as lightly oxidized oolong teas.
It should also be pointed out that most of the ancient writings from which these health benefits were discovered are written when green tea was the only form of tea available. Even today, green tea is still by far the most commonly produced type of tea at circa 70% of all tea produced in China.
Nevertheless, it is not to say that these benefits apply to green tea alone but if you consider the TCM nature of tea, you would realize many of these were written with green tea in mind.
11) Thirst quenching, promoting body fluids (止渴生津)
Thirst quenching would seem pretty intuitive, after all is that not the role of all liquids? However you don’t need a lab or a whole team of medical personnel to tell you not all drinks quench thirst equally.
After a jog in the sweltering heat, would even the most ardent coffee addict reach for an Expresso?
However, tea especially the un-oxidized (green) and lightly oxidized (white, yellow and certain oolongs) categories of tea are thirst quenching. Not only is the effect of direct fluid replacement, there is the soothing, sweet lingering huigan instead of a ‘drying’ mouth feel that one gets from certain black teas, especially Ceylonese and Assam.
12) Diuretic (利尿)
The direct translation would be to ‘promote urination’.
In TCM, urination is an important step to lower body heat, dispel the ‘evil dampness’ that lingers in the body and hence improve the general well-being of the individual.
In hot climates, this is a frequently sought characteristic by TCM practitioners to remedy ‘heatiness’.
13) Dispel Heatiness (清热)
14) Cools the body (消暑)
15）Dispels toxins (解毒)
16）Remove dampness (除去湿热)
17) Reduces Phlegm(去痰)
These properties are very similar and in a treatise by someone who is largely a novice in TCM- namely me- it is lumped together.
When one approaches a sinseh, the sinseh would often use ‘调’ or adjust instead or ‘治’ or treat to describe his remedy. This is rooted in the belief that all illnesses are caused by an imbalance or disharmony.
For example, if you gorge on keropok- or chips depending on where you come from- you will feel sick, heavy breath and irritable throat, resulting in a sore throat, phlegm and a cough. The TCM remedy center around dispelling the ‘heat’ and toxins.
On the other hand, if you have a cough without phlegm or sore throat, very often it is classified as a ‘cold cough’ and the remedy involves dispelling the cold- very often among other things in the remedy is pepper.
This restoration of ‘balance’ is quite different from the ‘Western’ treatment of viral eradication.
An interesting hypothesis I have read is that tea originated from southern China where the sub-tropical hot and wet climate is suitable for the plant but heat and humidity is a hotbed for a myriad of ailments and the tea plant is nature’s remedy to the prevailing local ailments.
While I can’t pretend to be privy to the thought process of the Divine, it’s true that green tea is more popular in the southern regions of China as compared to the colder north where scented and floral teas are more popular and in arid parts of north western China, dark tea is more popular.
Dispelling of heat continues to be one of the main allure of consuming green tea, at least among the Chinese.
18) Dispels constipation (通便)
This is also partially related to the point above as constipation is a common occurrence when body heat is too high. Tea in general is considered to have an impact on the digestive and promotes breakdown of food compound.
19) Cures dysentery (治痢)
Nothing much really to say here, self-explanatory
20) Promotes longevity (延寿益寿)
This is one of those general claims that need to be stated carefully.
*You probably can but it would be reminiscent of Hitler’s horrifying human experiments*
It has been said that some of the most famous ‘tea people’ such as Zhang Tianfu (100 plus and still counting) and Wu Juenong (97) lived a full healthy life but I am fairly confident that someone can name a cigar smoker who lived till a hundred so this is a moot point.
My own (only partially) tongue-in-cheek stand on this is that one should regularly drink tea that makes one want to live longer and not make life seem too long. If the only way I can live to 100 is drinking Earl Grey or harsh low grade Assam, I think ‘carpe diem’ would be my personal mantra.
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