alternative medicine

Green Tea: The Cancer Solution

8:04 PM

Image from: http://overtheteacups.com/teabriefs/green-tea-for-weight-loss/


Green Tea comes from:

1.       China plant, an evergreen small-leaved bush, scientifically called Camellia Sinensis  and;

2.       Assam plant, a large-leaved tree, scientifically called Sinensis AssamIca.  (Read Tea Break Time for more information.)

In his book “The Cancer Solution”, Dr. Robert Wilner (USA) describes green tea as the delicate pale tea. It is said to be a source of an anti-carcinogenic substance called EGCG or Epigallocatechin Gallate. This substance inhibits the growth of cancer cells, lowers cholesterol levels, and promotes good health and longevity.

In Japan, green tea is considered a tea-food. For while drinking the beverage, the Japanese also eat the leaves. This way they are able to get the optimum value of the herbal medicine instead of throwing this precious food away as waste.  Professor Kazutami Kuwano of the Kesei Gakumi Junior College investigated on its vitamin content. According to him, one (1) tsp. (or 2 g.) of dried green tea to a cup of hot water, contains 50% of Vitamin E and 20% of Vitamin A. For best results, he recommends 3 cups of tea a day.
Get your Green Tea plant at  https://herbalandherbs.wordpress.com/ for Php150-180/seedling. 

*No calories in green tea leaves.

Now that we know the importance of Green Tea, here are important tips for best results. (Tips also good for all medicinal tea):

1.       Tea should be taken in frequent small sips through the day rather than all at once. As a general rule, one half to one cup (8 ounces) of tea 3 to 4 times/day during a 16-hour period is suggested.  This will allow absorption of the liquid into the body.   

2.       Tea removes toxins from the body system.  But the tea also brings with it the body’s water reserves manifested by excessive urination. Over-drinking tea can cause dehydration and some illnesses.  (Read more on Do You Drink Water Sip bySip?)

3.       Too much processing create losses of volatile oils. Instead, just crumble the dried leaves, flowers, bark, roots before steeping for best results then steep in hot water for 15 minutes.

I have Assam tree in my garden.  It needs moisture daily and sunlight as well.  Assam plant has big leaves and the best tea comes from the bud and the two youngest leaves.  But the other matured leaves can also be used.  Green tea from both youngest and matured leaves turn yellow green – amazing!



The roots of Western herbal medicine was influenced by ancient Greeks especially, Hippocrates during the period 460 to 377 BC.  But chronologically speaking, Green Tea is be the oldest herbal with the discovery of Camellia Sinensis as early as 2700BC at Tibet, China. (Tea History – Read more on Tea Break Time.)



Get your Green Tea plant at  https://herbalandherbs.wordpress.com/ for Php100-150/seedling. 


Indeed, Green Tea has a long history and continues to make history until the present time.  

EM-EM
THE GARDENER, MBA

Sources:

Hobert, Ingrid &  Tietze, Harald, Final Remark from Harald, Guava for Modern Diseases, p.83, New Delhi, India, B.Jain Publishers(P)Ltd.

Harding, Jennie, Ancient Herbal History, Holistic Herb p. 10, UK, Parragon Publishing Book  2002, 
Encyclopedia Brittanica 15th edition, Beverage Production, Macropedia 14, p. 755, USA.

Rector-Page, Linda, Herbal preparation method, Healthy Healing, p. 13Healthy Healing Publications, USA

kinds of tea

GREEN TEA BREAK TIME: BLACK, OOLONG OR GREEN TEA

8:15 PM

Believe it or not, black, oolong and green teas come from the same tea plant! It is just the processing that makes the distinction between these three.

Tea plant only comes from two (2) principal varieties and they are:

1   1. China plant – This variety is the most ancient, which was originally discovered in Tibet, China. This is an evergreen bush scientifically known as Camellia Sinensis.
2   2.  Assam plant – This was consequently discovered in Assam, India.  This is a tree that is scientifically known as Sinensis Assamusca.

Get your Green Tea https://herbalandherbs.wordpress.com/ for Php100-150/seedling.  

 From these two variants, Camellia Sinensis and Assam Sinensis, tea bred to more or less 1,600 varieties.  And to be able to process a flavorful and stimulating tea, expert tasters blended 20 or more varieties to produce the best quality for people with discriminating taste. Among these varieties are:

1    1.  Black tea – A fermented tea which drinkers love because of its fast stimulation.  An example of which are the English Breakfast Tea and Russian Tea.  Many fermented teas are blended with other teas like Earl Grey which is produced by adding Bergamot flavor.
2   2.  Oolong Tea – Semi-fermented tea which produce a light brownish green tea. This tea is slightly bitter and stimulating.
3   3. Green Tea – This tea is not fermented and produces greenish yellow tea when boiled.  Its taste is slightly bitter. This is not a stimulating beverage but has a steadier and lasting effect.

Western people prefer tea to coffee.  But there should also be caution in how much tea one intakes, especially for people with high blood pressure. Tea gives fast stimulating effect because of alkaloid caffeine. 

Alkaloid caffeine contains caffeine that range from 1 to 5% of the tea itself. Caffeine stimulates the nervous system, heart, lungs, and promote urine production.

Alkaloid caffeine content is also present in coffee, colas, mate tea (Paraguariensis), and cacao in chocolate. Chocolate has minimal content though. One ounce (28.3grams) of chocolate contains only 10-20mg of alkaloid caffeine.

Tea as a beverage prides itself of a long history, useful discoveries and commerce that we are benefitting now. Check out the timeline below!

2700 BC
Discovery of china plant in Tibet, China.
800 AD
Introduced in Japan for Zen Buddhists to keep them awake during meditation. Developed into social drinking and Tea Ceremony practiced until the present.
1559 AD
Tea was mentioned as Cha Catai in Gian Battista Ramusio’s literature, Voyages and Travel.
1610
The Dutch brought China plant and eventually, Assam plant to Europe.
1669
The English brought tea to England.
1840
Duchess of Bedford introduced tea drinking in Britain and British Empire. Since then, tea became the Englishman’s most popular beverage.
1904
Discovery of iced tea during the St. Louis World Fair in Minnesota.  It was so hot that no one was interested with hot tea.  Englishman Richard Blechynden in his desire to attract customers placed ice on a glass of tea and the rest is history.
1940
The discovery of teabags and instant drink:  Thomas Sullivan decided to sew tea sample tea in cloth as a substitute for the costly tin can.  This was the start of using teabags.

I am lucky to have a tea tree, which, in my research, belong to the Assam plant variety. Here's an up-close picture of its leaf. 




After boiling for 15 minutes, the tea was, indeed, green and yellow and slightly bitter. The part of the plant used for tea are the buds and the first two young leaves for best results, although the other leaves can also be used. 


Get your Green Tea https://herbalandherbs.wordpress.com/ for Php150-180/seedling.  

Tea drinking has been passed on for generations and its long history shows how challenges of their time brought breakthroughs that we are now enjoying!

With that said, have a great tea break time!


EM-EM
The Herbal & Herbs Gardener, MBA

Sources:

Compto’s Encylopedia 23, Tea p. 44, Encyclopedia Brittanica 1991 Edition
Micropedia 2, Tea p. 764, Encyclopedia Brittanica, 1992                                                                  
 Micropedia 11, Tea p. 596, Encyclopedia Britannica, 1992
Micropedia  13,  Theales  p.  6s45, Encylopedia Britannica, 1992
Micropedia 14, Tea p.  75 5, Encyclopedia Brittanica, 1992
Cal Orey, Chocolate Compounds (Caffeine), The Healing Powers of Chocolate, 2010,  p. 38, New York, Kensington Publishing Corp.

Ingfried Hobert & Harald Tietze, Final Remark from Harald, Guava Medicine for Modern Diseases, 2009,  pp. 82- 83, New Delhi, India, B. Jain Publishers(P) Ltd.