Embody the healing, regenerative and joyful art of tea!
Who would have thought a tea leaf could bring so much beauty and joy to the world!
Revered for rejuvenating and antioxidant properties, it’s little wonder drinking tea is practiced as a daily ritual around the world.
Drinking tea symbolizes togetherness, social connection, rest and relaxation. From your morning English breakfast tea to afternoon high tea and Japanese tea ceremonies, the art of tea brings joy and love to many.
Next to water, tea is said to be the world’s most consumed beverage. With a tea history spanning more than 5000 years, India and China top the world as consumers of this tonic. A popular story of how tea was discovered dates back to China around 3000 BC when a tea leaf accidentally fell into Emperor Shen Nung’s boiled water. Since its beginnings in the East, tea has travelled far and wide.
Tea has also long been used for beautifying the skin. In ancient India, women infused their hair with Indian tea made with cloves to darken greying hair. In Jamaica, rum is added to tea to bring out highlights in the hair. It’s said that Gypsy women drink nettle tea to keep their hair dark and glossy. Chamomile tea is also used to add highlights to one’s hair and ginseng tea is thought to add a glow to dark or grey hair.
Travel to China and you can experience a warm herbal compress made from red tea and ginger root dipped in warm sesame oil to relieve muscle aches and pains. Over in Thailand, try a hydrating facial made with green tea and bamboo shoot extract to help heal dull and congested complexions. Other alluring beauty tea experiences include Ceylon tea baths, a green tea and rose petal bath and a white and hibiscus tea hydration mist. Not to mention, body scrubs and foot baths all containing white, green or black tea.
When it comes to green and other types of teas, most of us know that tea is full of antioxidant benefits and will boost the immune system, increase our metabolic rate, reduce heart disease and stroke risk, as well as relieve arthritis and hydrate the skin!
According to research, even treatments made with tea are also believed to be overflowing with health benefits.
Of course, if you are going on a retreat for a cleanse, you may not want the caffeine element of green tea but the good news is tea also works as an effective antioxidant when applied topically to the skin. The compounds in green tea ‘polyphenols’ are thought to be high in antioxidants and when applied topically to the skin, may help protect the skin from ultraviolet (UV) radiation-induced damage.
How good is that! Research conducted at the Skin Study Center at the University Hospitals of Cleveland and Case Western Reserve University in the US has found that topically applied green tea also decreases the direct effects of sunburn.
There have been other findings including that certain high-grade green tea is recommended to help prevent some forms of cancer. Some say tea applied topically can help prevent damage from environmental pollutants. Green tea is also thought to have anti-ageing benefits – protecting the skin against free-radical damage.
Tea also knows no boundaries. From Sri Lanka to Malaysia, England and Australia, tea is a global daily ritual enjoyed by millions (or billions) around the globe.
In these unprecedented times, appreciating the simple pleasures of life is essential to staying balanced in mind and body. With this in mind, our prescription of the week is simply to drink more tea with friends and family as often as possible!
Enjoy!
