Tea Benefits and Alternate Uses

Editor: ourprecioustreasures

Discover the many practical uses of tea and improve your health with its homeopathic nutrients.

There are a multitude of tea benefits. I hope those mentioned here will pique your desire to do your own research for your own good health and benefit. Of course, ask your doctor if any of this is OK for you.

Tea Beauty Tonics are certainly on the top of the tea benefits list. Tea offers you a way to pamper yourself without breaking the bank or leaving the comforts of your home. In your box of tea is everything you will need for a special spa experience. These tea infused formulas are inexpensive and many claim they are effective.

The Brew

Brew 1/2 cup of unscented black or green tea leaves in 1 quart of boiling bottled water for at least 10 minutes. Strain the leaves and set aside. Cool the liquid and refrigerate. This solution will keep in the refrigerator for approximately 10 days. You can use this brew to soothe minor cuts/scrapes, treat mild sunburn, refresh puffy/fatigued eyes and soak tired feet.

Tips and Uses

For Minor Cuts and Scrapes: Apply the cold tea brew with a pure cotton pad onto minor cuts or abrasion. Leave the cotton pad on the affected area for at least 5 minutes. Repeat, and do not wash off. This procedure can be repeated up to four times a day.

Mild Sunburns: Apply a piece of cotton cloth that's been soaked in the cold tea brew to the sunburned area. Leave it on for about 15 minutes, or until the burned areas begins to cool. You can repeat this treatment up to four times a day.

For Puffy and Fatigued Eyes: Soak cotton pads in the cold tea brew and lay them on your eyes. Keep the pads on your lids for about 10 minutes. You can also refrigerate your used tea bags and lay them on your eyes.

For Tired Feet: Soak your feet in the cold tea brew for about 15 minutes. This is a great way to treat your feet after a long day of standing, walking, or running. You can also try soaking your feet in a concentrated Peppermint Herbal tea brew for an aromatic soak.

Facial Toner: Mix one teaspoon of fine cornmeal with cooled chamomile tea to form a gentle scrub. Let dry, and then gently rub off. Not for sensitive skin.

Other Tips: Some use black tea as a hair rinse to darken hair and add some shine. Others use Chamomile herbal tea to bring out highlights in their hair. Some ease toothaches by applying a freshly used tea bag on the affected tooth’s gum until they can get to the dentist. I use a freshly used tea bag for relief after having a dental procedure to reduce pain/swelling. A few use a mint herbal tea as a mouthwash. Try rinsing your face with tea; it acts as an astringent. Some say it works well on pimples. Tea, and what’s in it for you?

The Nutrients

A cup of tea contains these nutrients: Polyphenols, Flavonoids, Theanine, Vitamins: Caroten [A], B [B1, B2, B6, Niacin, Folic acid and Pantothenic acid etc.], and C [Ascorbic acid], Minerals [Manganese (Mn), Potassium (K)], Water, Trimethyl-xanthines and Methylxanthines.

Potassium is vital for maintaining a normal heartbeat and regulating the fluid levels in the cells. Manganese is essential for bone growth. Flavonoids are naturally occurring antioxidants and a key to maintaining healthy body cells. Although flavonoids are found in several kinds of plants, the highest content of flavonoids is found in black and green tea. A single cup has three times the amount of "antioxidant power" of an apple. Drinking three cups of tea daily for two weeks increases the number of flavonoids in the blood by about 25%.

No doubt, a key benefit from enjoying a good cup of tea is the special time it takes to make it and enjoy it that lets you unwind and relax. Taking a tea break gives you a reason to stop, stretch and stimulate your senses; and you’ll return relaxed, refreshed and ready to face whatever comes your way. Tea is an ideal source of antioxidants that naturally helps protect the body against the damaging effects of free radicals. They can cause damage to the cell wall and the genetic material within cells, and are known to play a significant role in the development of heart disease, strokes and cancer. Whether you are feeling sluggish or stressed, some herbal teas can help you unwind, relax, revive or detox. Used in homeopathic treatments for centuries, there’s a type that is right for any mood, from relaxation to caffeine-free stimulation.

Categories: Self-Help | Herbal Remedies | Tea