Tea Camellia sinensis


Camellia sinensis
Tea plantation
  • Common Names
  • Tea , Green Tea, Black tea
  • Botanical Name
  • Camellia sinensis
  • Family
  • Theaceae
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Medicinal Uses & Benefits of Tea

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How to Use: Tea


About:Chinese legend dates green tea back to 2737 BC. Green tea is currently being studied for its beneficial uses, and as a treatment for a number of different conditions and illnesses. Most of the western world drinks black tea while much of Asia, the Middle East and northern Africa drinks green tea. All teas come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis, the different coloring is due to different processing of the teas.

The health benefits of green tea are mainly credited to the catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate, or (EGCG). Plant polyphenols are powerful anti-oxidants and have numerous benefits that include inhibiting cancers and tumor formation, lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots that can cause heart attacks and strokes. HC#051238-456 The anti-oxidants and other beneficial compounds in tea may also be linked to lower rates of type 2 diabetes in those who drink 3 to 4 cups per day. 7

The calm, steady energy that seems to flow from sipping tea may be traced to L-theanine, an amino acid component of tea that has been shown in numerous studies to help reduce levels of stress and anxiety. 48

Many studies indicate that green tea has positive effects in metabolic syndrome and weight loss. The importance of caffeine was also highlighted in these studies, green tea catechins taken alone had no significant effects. This underscores again the importance of using the whole herb in its simplest form, drinking tea as part of a healthy weight loss plan is more likely to help you achieve your goals. Tea can be especially beneficial when you drink it in lieu of unhealthy diet sodas and high fructose fruit drinks, however to get the full health benefits of green tea you should be consuming on average a minimum of 3 cups a day.n141 Green tea extracts containing 208 mg EGCG have been shown to have beneficial effects on body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, total antioxidant status (TAS), lipid profiles, and glucose concentrations in studies on obese but otherwise healthy individuals. The only worrying side effect noted in the studies was a drop in iron levels; many of the polyphenolics in green tea can function as iron chelators, which may prevent absorption of iron. Even with this caveat, supplementation with green tea extracts may be one of the safest and healthiest choices for those trying to lose weight.hc456

Preparation Methods & Dosage :Drinking 4 cups of tea per day provides a benefical dosage of the plants phytonutrients. Combining green tea with curcumin from ginger or turmeric can increase the anti-tumor properties of each. 5

Tea Tools: Tea making can be as simple or complex as you desire. The basics are a teakettle to boil water, and a teapot with a lid to infuse the tea. Most teapots have a built in strainer, if not you can infuse the tea in the pot and strain as you pour. There is a whole host of different strainers, from tea balls to open bamboo strainers that float in the cup. Have fun experimenting and finding the right method to fit your lifestyle. The only thing you should avoid is pre-made tea bags. The tea leaves sold this way are not as fresh and generally of an inferior grade, and cost ten times as much per ounce as loose leaf tea. You can purchase empty tea bags made for filling with your own tea, perfect for taking with you to the office or anytime you want to make your brew to go.

  1. Start with good quality bulk loose leaf tea - there are countless cultivars and varieties to choose from .
  2. Use 1 teaspoon of tea for each cup hot water.
  3. Heat the teapot by rinsing out with hot water before infusing your tea.
  4. Pour hot (not boiling) water over the tea leaves and infuse gently for a few minutes. The longer tea steeps, the stronger it gets, and some varieties can get bitter.
  5. Sip at least 2 - 5 cups a day to get a therapeutic dose of tea.

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Ayurvedic Medicine ayurvedic medicinea Chai, in India refers to black tea, usually served with warming spices like clove, cardamom and milk. Black tea is the national drink of India, and its multitude of health benefits are astounding.

Tea Side Effects: Overuse of caffeine can affect sleep. However,the decaffeination process reduces the total catechins in both black and green dry teas. Moderation is key.

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Plant Description


  • Flowers:Yellow-white, 2.5 cm in diameter, with 7 to 8 petals
  • Stem: Multiple stems that reaches a height of some 3 meters.
  • Leaves: Fresh leaves contain about 4% caffeine.
  • Distribution:Camellia (Chinese )sinensis is native to mainland South and Southeast Asia, but is today cultivated across the world, in tropical and subtropical regions.

It is an evergreen shrub or small tree that is usually trimmed to below two metres (six feet) when cultivated for its leaves. It has a strong taproot. The Genus Camellia is named for Rev. Georg Kamel, S.J. (1661-1706), a Czech-born Jesuit priest who became both a prominent botanist and a missionary to the Philippines. 3

Regional Traditions :Ayurvedic * Traditional Chinese Medicine *

Related Species Oolong Tea
Camellia oleifera , This tea species is know for production of Camellia Oil. Tea seed oil is used in skin care, anti-aging formulations, and as a cooking oil in China


History and Traditions & Folklore


References:
books citedWorks Cited
  1. 7. Huxley R, Man Ying Lee C, Barzi F, et al.. "Coffee, decaffeinated coffee, and tea consumption in relation to incident type 2 diabetes mellitus", (12-2009), Archives of Internal Medicine. 2009; 169: 2053-2063 a strong relationship between drinking coffee and tea and the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes. People who drink 3 to 4 cups of coffee a day were found to have a 25 percent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those who drank zero to two cups a day. There is good news for tea drinkers as well, those drinking three to four cups daily were found to having an 18 percent lower risk than those who drank none. No firm conclusions could be drawn as to why coffee and tea had a protective effect, though they both contain antioxidants, and other beneficial compounds that be be of benefit.
  2. 48. Perrini, Carolyn. Okinawa Tea Company, "L-Theanine: How a Unique Anxiety Reducer and Mood Enhancer Increases Alpha Waves and Alertness.", : L-theanine, an amino acid component of green tea has been shown in numerous studies to help reduce levels of stress and anxiety. While this effect may be counteracted in those with low tolerance level for caffeine, in many others it seems to a synergistic effect that produces a clear, calm energy. Theanine is sold as an isolated extract in supplement form.
  3. Wikipedia
  4. American Botanical Council
    "Health Benefits of Green Tea, Isoflavones": For example, in a meta-analysis of 11 green tea intervention studies with 1,226 participants, green tea catechins plus caffeine were effective in promoting weight loss and maintaining weight after a period of negative energy balance.3 The importance of caffeine was also highlighted in a meta-analysis4 of 15 trials with 1,243 participants, in which green tea catechins taken alone had no significant effect
  5. Green Tea Supplementation Alters Mineral Status and Improves Lipid and Glucose Profiles in Obese Patients American Botanical Council
  6. Suzuki Y, Miyoshi N, Isemura M. Health-promoting effects of green tea. Proc Jpn Acad Ser B Phys Biol Sci. 2012;88(3):88-101.American Botanical Council
  7. Newmark, Thomas M. "Beyond Aspirin", (2000), p54