Raechele Cochran Gathers, MD Much more than just a casual beverage, the practice of preparing, brewing and drinking tea is centuries old, ritualistic, and has been used to treat ills of the body, mind and spirit. Tea is used in cultures the world over for its soothing, meditative and healing properties. Western medicine is now beginning to recognize and explore the amazing restorative and healing power of tea.
Tea: A Healing Superfood
Much more than a warm drink on a cold day, tea is considered to be a healing superfood. After water, tea is the most widely consumed drink in the entire world. There is documented usage of tea dating back thousands of years, when tea was used for its medicinal properties. Tea, whether black, green, or white, comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. Differences in the processing and oxidation of the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant account for the color, flavor and properties among these types of teas.
Health and Healing
Tea is rich in compounds called polyphenols. Polyphenols are antioxidants. This means that they help remove free radicals and reduce cellular damage in the body that may be caused by pollution, sunlight or other stressors. The polyphenols in tea, including catechins like epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), may help reduce risk of heart disease and stroke. Antioxidants like EGCG may also reduce the growth of certain types of cancer. Tea consumption may also play a role in weight management and in the reduction of blood sugar levels and diabetes risk.
Skin and Hair Boosting Tea
In addition to the health benefits to the body, the healing power of tea is also useful in both hair and skin care. Tea is a beauty booster! Green tea may help prevent some forms of hair loss. EGCG inhibits 5alpha reductase –an enzyme associated with genetic hair loss. In one study, mice receiving a topical treatment containing EGCG experienced less hair loss than those that did not receive it. There is also evidence that EGCG from green tea can help promote hair growth and stimulate the hair follicle.
Besides the possible hair growth boosting benefits of EGCG, caffeine has also been shown to boost hair growth, with one study finding a caffeine solution was just as good as minoxidil for improving growth. Tea rinses for the hair take advantage of this benefit. You can read about tea rinses here.
Your skin can also benefit from the healing power of tea. Green tea polyphenols have been reported to protect skin against harmful UV radiation and improve overall skin quality by increasing skin hydration and elasticity, reducing skin roughness and improving skin blood flow, all of which can improve the look of the skin and help if preserve a more youthful appearance.
Conclusion
More than just a soothing beverage, tea is a healing, antioxidant rich superfood, with a plethora of health advantages. It also has many possible benefits to the hair and skin, including growth promotion and improvement in the look and texture of the skin.
