Health and Wellness

 The Healing Powers of Tea

The Healing Powers of Tea

by Joyce Maio

Today, everything leads our senses outward, away from ourselves. As our daily lives become more hectic, we are all looking for inner tranquility and joy. This serenity can only come from our heart where quietness, peace, love and wisdom can be cultivated.

How often have you enjoyed a cup of tea to warm up or soothe your cold? There are approaches we are more likely to stock up on various infusions. Those herbal infusions, like chamomile or spearmint, are not TEA. Only one plant, Camelia Sinensis- whether white, green or black- is genuine Tea.

Tea is the second most popular beverage in the world after water and is much more than just "a soothing" beverage.

Legend tells us that the tea plant was discovered more than 5000 years ago in China. An emperor who was also a medicine man took a nap on a breezy afternoon. The wind blew off some leaves from a nearby tree which fell in a cauldron of boiling water. When the emperor awoke and took a sip, he tasted the fragrance of the leaves. He enjoyed it so much that he kept drinking it. Tea had been discovered... 

Along with the fragrance, the emperor found that the new tea leaves alleviated rashes, bug bites and arthritic pains as well as an upset stomach.

Later, in the Tang Dynasty (6180in) Buddhist monks discovered that tea helped them stay awake and prolonged their meditation. Tea became a drink of royalty and later became popular for everyone.

Unfortunately, the Boston Tea party in 1773 put an end to Tea commerce in the U.S. and Americans have mainly been drinking coffee since. Fortunately, the trend is changing as more and more people are becoming aware of the enduring benefits of tea.

One of the many benefits of tea is its healing, transformative power for appreciation and harmony.

It has three main elements: earth (the plant), water and fire. The simple practice of preparing a cup of tea from a selection of loose leaves (not the tea bag), heating the water, pouring it gently into a teapot, letting it brew and sipping it from a cup, is a process that brings you close to nature and can immerse you in the simple, humble aspects of daily living.

The way you drink your tea each day, the attitude you bring to your practice, will determine the changes you bring into your life.

Find the time daily - even ten minutes - to prepare your tea with attention, patience and reverence. Then sit, drink mindfully, become aware of the smell, the color, the taste. Be as one with tea and enjoy it fully.

The daily pause will help you calm your mind and center it on the present moment without drifting to the past or worrying about the future. As you become more present, you'll also become more sensitive to yourself. You'll change your entire outlook in amazing ways.

Let tea guide you to a more contemplative and joyful life.

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