Tea

Home My Blog Herb Profiles Botanical Names Glossary Treatments Recipes Other stuff HERB SHOP Books & Equipment Useful Links

Camellia sinensis (L)

Synonyms: C. thea (Link.), Thea sinensis (Sims.), C. theifera (Griff.)

Order: Theaceae

Description: This small evergreen shrub is cultivated in Ceylon, Java, Japan and elsewhere where climate allows. It grows to a height of 2.5m when cultivated, but may reach 30m in the wild. The dark green lanceolate or elliptical leaves grow on short stalks. They are blunt at the apex, with a tapering base and serrate margins. The young leaves are hairy, the older ones glabrous. The flowers can be solitary, or two or three occur together on short branchlets in the leaf axils. They droop from short stalks. The fruit is a smooth, flattened, rounded, trigonous three-celled capsule with a solitary seed in each cell.

Parts used: dried and rolled leaf buds and very young leaves. Oolong tea is partially fermented; black tea is fully fermented.

Constituents: alkaloids (including caffeine and theobromine), tannins (polyphenols), catechins, volatile oil

Actions: stimulant, astringent, diuretic, mildly analgesic, antioxidant, antibacterial; some varieties reduce blood cholesterol levels; anti-tumour properties reported in green tea.

Indications: diarrhoea, dysentery

Therapeutics and Pharmacology: Black tea is used in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery and for the relief of neuralgic headaches. It is also a traditional Cantonese remedy for hangovers. The Chinese use tea as an astringent remedy to clear phlegm,  and as a digestive remedy. Research has demonstrated that the tannins in some green teas appear to reduce the risk of stomach cancer. Japanese research suggests that oolong tea can reduce high blood pressure and help prevent arterial disease. Green tea is rich in fluoride and so can reduce the risk of tooth decay. It is also useful for insect bites and to stem bleeding. A weak infusion of tea can be used as a cooling wash for sunburn and used teabags can be applied to tired eyes.

Caution: Excessive quantities may cause nervous symptoms. Pregnant and nursing women should limit their consumption to two cups a day as high levels of caffeine can increase the heart rate. Those with stomach ulcers should take care as the bitter taste stimulates gastric acid production.

Preparation and Dosage: Moderately drunk by healthy individuals tea is quite harmless.

Additional Comments: The Chinese say,  ' better to be deprived of food for three days, than of tea for one'.

 

Bibliography

Grieve, M. 1931 A Modern Herbal, (ed. C.F. Leyel 1985), London.

Ody, P. 1993 The Herb Society's Complete Medicinal Herbal, Dorling Kindersley, London.

 

 

 

 

Back to top

Previous herb Back to Index Next herb


 

Contact: [email protected] Please complete the 'Subject' heading or your email will be assumed to be spam and automatically deleted. Before you contact me, I'd be grateful if you would please check to see if this website has the answer to your question (search box at the top of the homepage) - I have time to answer only a few of the many emails that arrive in my inbox every day. See also the statement below:

For your safety I am prohibited from giving specific medical advice to individuals over the internet or telephone so please do not waste your time or mine by emailing or calling me with detailed information about your health problems - I can only undertake face-to-face consultations for what should be obvious reasons. Diagnoses cannot be made remotely, and I am unable to offer any advice or treatment until I am completely satisfied that I know what I'm dealing with!  The herb profiles and treatment suggestions on this website will help enable you to choose which herbs might be appropriate for minor ailments. For more serious or chronic conditions you should seek professional advice. This is particularly important if you are taking medication from your doctor or pharmacist, as some herbs can interact adversely with other drugs. If you would like to have a consultation with a medical herbalist then you should click here  then scroll to 'Professional Organisations' at the bottom of the page to find a qualified practitioner in your area.

Christine Haughton, MA MNIMH MCPP FRSPH

Wold Farm, West Heslerton, Malton, North Yorkshire YO17 8RY, UK

Last updated 27th November 2014     ©Purple Sage Botanicals