Tea ceremony health preservation

Author: Lin Zhi / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-07-01
Features:
3. Scientific Tea Drinking Knowledge
Although tea can be called the "medicine for all diseases," it should be consumed differently based on individual needs and scientifically. Generally speaking, pregnant women should avoid drinking strong tea in excess, as excessive caffeine entering the bloodstream can cause adverse stimulation to the fetus, affecting its growth and development. Insomniacs should not drink strong tea at night, as tea can stimulate the mind and increase urination, exacerbating insomnia. Patients with gastric ulcer should not drink strong tea, as theophylline in tea can inhibit the activity of phosphodiesterase in the stomach, promote excessive secretion of gastric acid, and affect the healing of ulcerated areas. Patients with severe arteriosclerosis or hypertension should not drink strong tea, as caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine in tea can cause the nervous system to become highly excited, constrict blood vessels, and potentially promote the formation of cerebral thrombosis.
For healthy people, there are eight taboos in drinking tea:
1. Avoid drinking large amounts of tea on an empty stomach to prevent diluting gastric juice and harming the stomach and spleen.
2. Avoid drinking very hot tea to prevent long-term repeated irritation of the throat, esophagus, and stomach lining, which may lead to mucosal lesions in these organs. The temperature of tea should be below 50°C.
3. Avoid drinking very strong tea. Strong tea contains too much caffeine and theophylline, making it highly stimulating and likely to cause insomnia or "tea intoxication."
4. Avoid letting tea steep for too long. If tea is left steeping in a cup for too long, it will become bitter, and drinking it will not be enjoyable.
5. Avoid drinking large amounts of tea before meals, as this will dilute gastric juice and affect digestion. Additionally, tea contains oxalic acid, which can combine with iron and protein in food, impairing the body's absorption of iron and protein.
6. Avoid using tea to take medicine, as oxalic acid and other alkaloids in tea can bind with the active chemical components of many drugs, reducing their efficacy.
7. Avoid drinking large amounts of tea before bed. Tea can not only stimulate the mind but also cause frequent urination at night, which can disrupt sleep.
8. Avoid drinking low-quality or spoiled tea. Tea is difficult to store properly and is easily affected by moisture, becoming moldy or spoiled. Some people, out of frugality, refuse to discard moldy tea or buy cheap, low-quality tea, which is extremely harmful. Low-quality or spoiled tea contains large amounts of harmful substances and bacteria and should never be consumed. Even high-quality tea that has been brewed and left to sit for too long will spoil due to oxidation and microbial growth, and such tea should also not be consumed.
Modern medicine, having recognized the limitations of traditional medicine's focus on treatment, is constructing a new medical model that integrates biology, psychology, society, and the environment. The practice of tea culture perfectly embodies this advanced model of medical care and health preservation: the nutritional and health benefits of tea provide a biological foundation for wellness; the theory of tea culture establishes a psychological foundation for wellness; the spirit of tea people—gathering with friends over tea, fostering camaraderie, and embracing the philosophy of "one meeting, one lifetime"—along with the principles of "harmony with nature" and "unity of humanity and nature," create a harmonious social environment and a favorable natural environment for wellness.
For this reason, the French "Tea Drinker's Club" proposed: "Tea embodies the spirit of neighborly goodwill and is a beverage rich in poetry." The British regard tea as the "liquid of health," the "cup of joy," and the "drink of the soul." Japanese scholars call tea the "beverage of the atomic age." The Second International Scientific Conference on Tea and Human Health, held in 1999, concluded that "the health and medicinal value of tea is far broader than people imagine." Experts assert that tea will remain the national beverage of the 21st century. The 21st century will be the age of tea. P41-43