In Traditional Chinese Medicine, tea is considered to have a bitter and sweet flavor, with a cool nature. It acts on the heart, lung, and stomach meridians, and is believed to have the functions of promoting the production of body fluids to quench thirst, clearing heat and detoxifying, eliminating dampness and promoting urination, aiding digestion and stopping diarrhea, as well as calming the mind and refreshing the spirit. It can be used to treat conditions such as dysentery caused by heat-toxin. The book "Sui Xi Ju Yin Shi Pu" records: "Tea can cool the liver and gallbladder, clear heat, and resolve phlegm."
Modern pharmacological research has shown that tea contains more than 400 chemical substances. It can treat radiation damage and has certain effects on protecting the hematopoietic mechanism and increasing white blood cell counts. It is also used to treat diseases such as dysentery, acute gastroenteritis, and acute infectious hepatitis.
During the acute phase of hepatitis, especially for patients with jaundice, the condition is primarily characterized by damp-heat. Therefore, drinking tea can help achieve the therapeutic effect of clearing heat and draining dampness. For patients with hepatitis, green tea should be the primary choice, as the heat-clearing effect of processed black tea is significantly weakened.
Patients with hepatitis should drink tea at appropriate times and in moderation. It is best to avoid drinking tea before meals, as excessive fluid intake before a meal can dilute gastric juice and impair its digestive function. Therefore, tea consumption should be minimized before meals. Furthermore, patients with hepatitis should avoid drinking strong tea.