The Nature, Flavor, and Meridian Affinity of Tea
The theory of nature and flavor holds that sweet tonifies while purges bitter.
Classical texts record that tea's meridian affinity is that it "enters the heart, spleen, lung, and kidney meridians".
【Nature and Flavor】It can be either warm or cool in nature.
【Meridian Affinity】It enters the heart, lung, and stomach meridians.
Tea culture and Traditional Chinese Medicine are closely related, and both are associated with the legendary figure of Shennong.
Because tea brewed from Qilong leaves had excellent medicinal effects, the term "tea-medicine" (茶药) appeared as early as the Tang Dynasty (as seen in "tea-medicine" inscribed by Wang Guo in the 14th year of the Dali era of Emperor Daizong of Tang). In the "Shanjia Qinggong" by Lin Hong of the Song Dynasty, there is also the statement that "tea is medicine." This shows that tea is considered a medicine and was included in pharmacopoeias (anciently known as Bencao). However, in modern usage, the term "tea-medicine" is limited to preparations that contain tea as an ingredient. Because tea has many effects and can prevent and treat many diseases in internal medicine, surgery, gynecology, and pediatrics, tea is not only a medicine but, as emphasized by Tang Dynasty's Chen Zangqi, "a medicine for ten thousand diseases."
Tea not only has therapeutic effects for many diseases but also has excellent effects on prolonging life, resisting aging, and strengthening the body.
Clearing Heat and Dispelling Illness
The "Compendium of Materia Medica," a specialized pharmacology work written by Li Shizhen of the Ming Dynasty (1518-1593), was completed in the 6th year of the Wanli era (1578). Li Shizhen himself was fond of drinking tea, saying he "always drank several bowls of new tea." The book discusses tea in great detail. The section on tea is divided into four parts: "Explanation of Names," "Collected Explanations," "Tea," and "Tea Seeds," describing the tea tree's ecology, tea-producing areas in various regions, cultivation methods, etc. It also records the pharmacological effects of tea in detail, stating: "Tea is bitter and cold, yin within yin, sinking and descending, and best at reducing fire. Fire is the root of a hundred illnesses; when fire is reduced, the upper body becomes clear. However, fire has five types and can be excess or deficiency. For young, strong people with healthy stomachs, the fire of the heart, lungs, spleen, and stomach is often abundant, so tea is suitable for them." It is believed that tea has the function of clearing heat and dispelling illness.
Classified by tea's effects:
Fanqiu Cao Tea: Lowers blood pressure, blood lipids, and blood sugar; clears heat and detoxifies.
Rutin Tea: Lowers blood pressure and blood sugar; enhances human immunity.
Kuding Tea: Lowers blood lipids, blood pressure, and blood sugar.
Yiye Tea: Clears the liver and benefits the gallbladder; lowers blood lipids and blood sugar; suitable for diabetics.
Mint Tea: Antimicrobial, strengthens the liver, aids digestion and regulates the intestines, refreshes the mind, and regulates digestive function.
Lavender: Moisturizes the lungs and nourishes the complexion; beautifies the skin.
Bodhi Seed: Relieves joint and muscle pain, sedates, purifies blood vessels, prevents arteriosclerosis, and alleviates anxiety.
Peony Flower Tea: Regulates blood and invigorates cells; treats night sweats and menstrual irregularities.
Jasmine Tea: Regulates hormone secretion, relieves tension, treats abdominal pain, and moistens the intestines.
Purple Hollyhock: Clears the lungs, treats colds, strengthens the trachea, relieves cough and reduces phlegm, and treats nasal allergies.
Scented Tea: Disperses the cold pathogen accumulated in the body during winter, promotes the generation of yang energy in the body, and makes one feel refreshed and clear-headed.
Green Tea: Promotes the production of body fluids to quench thirst, aids digestion and resolves phlegm, and accelerates the healing of oral and mild gastric ulcers.
Oolong Tea: Moisturizes the skin and throat, promotes the production of body fluids, clears accumulated heat from the body, and helps the body adapt to natural environmental changes.
Black Tea: Generates heat and warms the abdomen, enhances the body's ability to resist cold, aids digestion, and removes greasiness.
Lemon Grass: Sedative, aids digestion.
Marigold: Treats skin allergies, clears heat and detoxifies, reduces liver fire.
Inula Flower: Improves eyesight, dizziness, constipation, expels yellow phlegm, treats headaches, heat-type colds, and has a cooling and heat-clearing effect.
Kumquat Fruit: Aids digestion, relieves abdominal pain, treats sore throat and asthma.
Heather: Relieves fatigue, treats diabetes, regulates qi and blood, nourishes the liver, and unblocks the meridians.
Siberian Ginseng Tea: Anti-fatigue, anti-aging, regulates endocrine system, enhances immunity, etc.