The Art of Tea
Nothing warms the body and soul like holding a fragrant, steaming cup of herbal tea, inhaling its subtle scents as you slowly sip.
Tea is among the most ancient, basin and simple methods of healing and nourishing body, mind and spirit.
As science has proven time and again, plants are endowed with important nutrients and potent healing compounds.
Some of those elements come from the raw earth: for example, a plant grown in calcium - or iron-rich soil draws those elements into its own body.
When you brew plants in water, the resulting beverage – herbal tea – is imbued with those constituent, carrying them into the body, where they are quickly absorbed.
Even better, teas are very easy to prepare, inexpensive and delicious.
Plant constituents that release their properties into water include carbohydrate protein, enzymes, mucilage, pectins, saponins and polysaccharides.
Essential oils are soluble but evaporate easily gums and tannins are partially soluble. All can play a role in improving and supporting human health.
Even though there is a wide array of medicinal herbal preparations, including capsules, tablets and tincture, drinking herbal tea offers unique benefits that should not be overlooked.
Teas are rapidly absorbed in the body, Also teas, are flavorful and aromatic. When we drink herbal tea the brain is soothed and nourished by aromas inhaled though the nose and the tasty sensory messages received by the tongue.
Another important benefit of drinking herbal tea is that it gives us an opportunity in our busy day to take a bit of time out for ourselves.
Taking tome out to taste and savor herbal teas provides an opportunity for reflection. Rather than swallowing a couple tasteless capsules with a gulp of water as we run out the door, we can use our time drinking herbal tea to think about intention - nourishing nervous sytem strengthening nervous system.
The Art of Tea
Monday, July 06, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Herbal Drinks as Diuretics
Herbal Drinks as Diuretics
Numerous teas and herbal preparations have also been widely used as diuretics to treat premenstrual syndrome and other conditions.
Extracts of goldenrod (solidago sp.), juniper (Juniperus communis), parsley (peroselinum), bearberry or uva ursi (Arcstostaphylos uva-ursi), fennel(Foeniculum vulgare) and stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) are modestly effective diuretics that may be used safely in moderation, either singly or in various combinations.
Of these, goldenrod is probably the most effective diuretic. It also possesses anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activity.
The active constituents of goldenrod include flavonoids, tannins and saponins. There are no reports of adverse reactions from its use.
The dried ripe berries of the juniper tree (J.communis) function as a diuretic and also provide antiseptic activity for the urinary tract.
Juniper’s diuretic effect results from its content of terpinen-4-ol, which increases the glomerular filtration rate in the kidney.
One must exercise caution when using juniper berries, because large amounts may produce kidney damage characterized by albuminuria or renal hematuria.
Juniper tea also is also contraindicated during pregnancy.
Stinging nettle (U. dioica) is feared by many because its leaves and stems are covered with tiny hairs that inject formic acid and release histamine when touched.
However, the stinging irritant is tamed by cooking or drying. The dried leaves of U. dioica possess diuretic activity, possibly due to its high flavonoids content.
Parsley is widely used in salads and soups as a garnish. The leaves and roots of parsley are helpful for reducing urinary tract inflammations.
Bearberry or uva ursi is also effective against urinary tract infections as a result of its antibacterial action.
Its antiseptic action results from the presence of two phenolic glycosides.
Juice made form cranberry also provides protection against the colonization of Escherichia coli bacteria in urinary tract infections.
Herbal Drinks as Diuretics
Numerous teas and herbal preparations have also been widely used as diuretics to treat premenstrual syndrome and other conditions.
Extracts of goldenrod (solidago sp.), juniper (Juniperus communis), parsley (peroselinum), bearberry or uva ursi (Arcstostaphylos uva-ursi), fennel(Foeniculum vulgare) and stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) are modestly effective diuretics that may be used safely in moderation, either singly or in various combinations.
Of these, goldenrod is probably the most effective diuretic. It also possesses anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activity.
The active constituents of goldenrod include flavonoids, tannins and saponins. There are no reports of adverse reactions from its use.
The dried ripe berries of the juniper tree (J.communis) function as a diuretic and also provide antiseptic activity for the urinary tract.
Juniper’s diuretic effect results from its content of terpinen-4-ol, which increases the glomerular filtration rate in the kidney.
One must exercise caution when using juniper berries, because large amounts may produce kidney damage characterized by albuminuria or renal hematuria.
Juniper tea also is also contraindicated during pregnancy.
Stinging nettle (U. dioica) is feared by many because its leaves and stems are covered with tiny hairs that inject formic acid and release histamine when touched.
However, the stinging irritant is tamed by cooking or drying. The dried leaves of U. dioica possess diuretic activity, possibly due to its high flavonoids content.
Parsley is widely used in salads and soups as a garnish. The leaves and roots of parsley are helpful for reducing urinary tract inflammations.
Bearberry or uva ursi is also effective against urinary tract infections as a result of its antibacterial action.
Its antiseptic action results from the presence of two phenolic glycosides.
Juice made form cranberry also provides protection against the colonization of Escherichia coli bacteria in urinary tract infections.
Herbal Drinks as Diuretics
Monday, June 08, 2009
Watercress Juice
Watercress Juice
The juice extracted from watercress is one of the best body-cleansers and toxin-neutralizers.
It is exceedingly high in sulphur which represents more than one third of all its mineral elements and salts.
Of these elements more than half as definitely alkaline-forming, potassium accounting for 20%, calcium 18%, magnesium 5% and iron, only a trace.
Watercress juice is a powerful intestinal cleanser, removes toxic impurities from the system, heals kidney and bladder inflammation, regulates the glands, dissolves rheumatic poisons, eradicates skin affections, stimulate the circulation and tones up the entire system.
Watercress is sometimes called the “poor man’s vitamin food” because it contains potent amount of the 5 most important vitamins.
Owing to the fact that watercress juice is such a powerful intestinal regulator it should not be taken alone.
It is best mixed with carrot juice or celery juice in the proportion of 7 parts of carrot or celery juice to 1 part or watercress juice.
One pint or more of this combination may be taken each day. The juice of watercress, carrot, spinach and turnip leaves combined has the property of removing hemorrhoids (piles) and many cases of tumors.
Two pints of this combinations taken daily when all starch, sugar and protein foods have been eliminated from the diet, have been found to remedy these conditions in a perfectly natural manner in from 1 to 6 months.
Watercress cocktail is excellent for the complexion can be made by mixing equal parts of watercress juice and orange juice.
For variety grapefruit juice or pineapple juice can be used in place of orange juice. One glass per day is sufficient.
Watercress Juice
The juice extracted from watercress is one of the best body-cleansers and toxin-neutralizers.
It is exceedingly high in sulphur which represents more than one third of all its mineral elements and salts.
Of these elements more than half as definitely alkaline-forming, potassium accounting for 20%, calcium 18%, magnesium 5% and iron, only a trace.
Watercress juice is a powerful intestinal cleanser, removes toxic impurities from the system, heals kidney and bladder inflammation, regulates the glands, dissolves rheumatic poisons, eradicates skin affections, stimulate the circulation and tones up the entire system.
Watercress is sometimes called the “poor man’s vitamin food” because it contains potent amount of the 5 most important vitamins.
Owing to the fact that watercress juice is such a powerful intestinal regulator it should not be taken alone.
It is best mixed with carrot juice or celery juice in the proportion of 7 parts of carrot or celery juice to 1 part or watercress juice.
One pint or more of this combination may be taken each day. The juice of watercress, carrot, spinach and turnip leaves combined has the property of removing hemorrhoids (piles) and many cases of tumors.
Two pints of this combinations taken daily when all starch, sugar and protein foods have been eliminated from the diet, have been found to remedy these conditions in a perfectly natural manner in from 1 to 6 months.
Watercress cocktail is excellent for the complexion can be made by mixing equal parts of watercress juice and orange juice.
For variety grapefruit juice or pineapple juice can be used in place of orange juice. One glass per day is sufficient.
Watercress Juice
Monday, June 01, 2009
Tea and Cancer
Tea and Cancer
Most of the on cancer chemoprevention by tea has been conducted using green tea or its individual polyphenolic constituents.
Less work has been reported on black tea.
In animal studies, the polyphenolic fraction isolated from green tea. The water extract of green tea, or individual polyphenolic antioxidants present in green tea have afforded protection against chemically induced carcinogenesis in the lung, liver, esophagus, forestomach, duodenum, pancreas, colon, and breast.
The raises possibility that green tea consumption and its associated catechins may lower cancer risk in humans.
Studies have shown that green tea intake increases the excretion of a class of carcinogens known as heterocyclic arylamines formed during the cooking of meat, poultry and fish; this is expected to reduce DNA adduct formation, in particular and carcinogenesis, in general.
Consumption of both green and black tea aqueous extracts influences the excretion of mutagens and promutagens in the urine of animals.
Several epidemiological studies suggest that tea and its associated compounds may prevent some, but not all, cancers.
This is understandable, because cancer is a complex disease with multiple etiologies, even for one body site.
It is, therefore a false hope that any nutritional or synthetic agent can prevent or treat all cancer types.
However, based on a large volume of cell culture, animal studies and human observational studies, there is hope that green tea consumption can retard cancer development at selected sites in some populations.
The challenge is to elucidate what cancer type can be prevented by tea. This requires extensive research for which considerable resources are required.
Tea and Cancer
Most of the on cancer chemoprevention by tea has been conducted using green tea or its individual polyphenolic constituents.
Less work has been reported on black tea.
In animal studies, the polyphenolic fraction isolated from green tea. The water extract of green tea, or individual polyphenolic antioxidants present in green tea have afforded protection against chemically induced carcinogenesis in the lung, liver, esophagus, forestomach, duodenum, pancreas, colon, and breast.
The raises possibility that green tea consumption and its associated catechins may lower cancer risk in humans.
Studies have shown that green tea intake increases the excretion of a class of carcinogens known as heterocyclic arylamines formed during the cooking of meat, poultry and fish; this is expected to reduce DNA adduct formation, in particular and carcinogenesis, in general.
Consumption of both green and black tea aqueous extracts influences the excretion of mutagens and promutagens in the urine of animals.
Several epidemiological studies suggest that tea and its associated compounds may prevent some, but not all, cancers.
This is understandable, because cancer is a complex disease with multiple etiologies, even for one body site.
It is, therefore a false hope that any nutritional or synthetic agent can prevent or treat all cancer types.
However, based on a large volume of cell culture, animal studies and human observational studies, there is hope that green tea consumption can retard cancer development at selected sites in some populations.
The challenge is to elucidate what cancer type can be prevented by tea. This requires extensive research for which considerable resources are required.
Tea and Cancer
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