A Flower of Tea

No many may know, but the tea plant bears beautiful flowers too. Flowering is an indication of the approaching end of harvesting period. The C:N (Carbon to nitrogen) ratio on a plantation is maintained in such a manner that vegetative growth is encouraged and seeding discouraged. Thus, magnificent flowers usually set on ther seed bearing trees, and it is a sight to see.

Tea And Cancer

Yet another Japanese green tea study has shown impressive results indicating the reduction of blood and lymph cancers.

The research was undertaken by Tohoku University, which recorded a 42 percent reduction for blood cancers and 48 percent reduction for lymph cancers in subjects with high green tea consumption.

40,000 Japanese people from all gender, geography and age were studied over a ten-year period.

An increasing number of western studies too have found similar results. Some such outstanding works have been carried out and published by the Mayo Clinic of Minnesota, American Association for Cancer Research, department of thoracic/head and neck medical oncology at the University of Texa, and many more.

One common factor emerging is that tea or tea extracts has the potential to "prevent" development of malignancy, and to "supplement" and "complement" the normal couse of treatment. But one cannot cure cancer with tea alone, the studies have emphasised.

Technically, the research have found that EGCG, an antioxidant catechin which is found in abundance in tea, is the main ingredient responsible in inhibiting the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR).

Catechins are active polyphenolic antioxidant metabolites in green tea. The DHFR enzymes they inhibit are needed by cancer cells to proliferate. Upon closer scrutiny of green tea ECGC, they determined that its molecular structure closely resembles that of the cancer drug methotrexate used in chemotherapy. The binding properties of EGCG is not as intense as the drug methotrexate. Therefore, the side effects of tea are minimal.

Caution:- EGCG binding to DHFR can inhibit the folic acid needed by women pregnant in their first trimester. This situation has been shown to increase the risk of her child being born with spina bifida or other fetal neurological disorders.

Because of this, it is recommended that women curb their green tea consumption just prior to pregnancy and during the first trimester.Note:- The studies have been carried out in some cases with "Black Tea", which is "Fermented" or "Oxidised", and in most cases with Green Tea, which is not "Fermented". Results are similar for both variants, but Green Tea is accepted the world over as the healthier of both options.

The following sources have been used in compiling this article:-
http://www.naturalnews.com
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health
http://www.whfoods.com/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health

Things you can do with tea

Friends, this list is in no way exhaustive. Its just a quick compilation. Read on!

Pain Reliever

The tannic acid in tea is useful as a balm to soothe the pain of sunburn, mild scalding and razor cuts.

• Make a paste of brewed tea (cleaned of any milk or sugar) and baking soda and use on the spot of pain
• Dip a tea bag in a solution of baking soda in water, and use the tea bag as a pack
  

Eye Soother

• Use used or fresh wet, refrigerated, or sufficiently cool tea bags take away eye puffiness.
• To soften a sty, use a warm tea bag as an eye pack

Feet Cleanser

• Washing feet in tea liquor removes foul odor and prevents foot infections. The tea plantation workers do this in a routine manner!

Shampoo!

• Tea can be used for the final rise after shampooing, to leave an extra shine

Marinate

• Tea can be used to marinate and tenderize meat.

On Wooden Furniture

• Tea can be used to clean wooden furniture. For normal stains, just use a cloth made wet with tea.
• For extreme cases, try the same with a cloth made damp with dipping in boiling tea
  

Natural dye

• Tea can be used as a natural dye for both, cloth and leather
  

Compost fertilizer

• Tea belongs to the "camellia" family. The tea you use is nothing but green leaves of the plant Camellia sinencis
• It takes on different shapes due to processing
• When brewed, it just unfurls, and becomes "fine leaves", waiting to decompose
• Roses in particular love tea. Just make sure that there is no trace of milk or sugar left in the tea

Tea Meditation and Harmony

In the early days, tea was reserved for the Buddhist Monk and Kings of China. It has always been the stimulant of choice to aid in meditation.

Tea is the most popular drink all over the world as a breakfast, afternoon, evening or “just about anytime” drink.

It is served in a variety of ways: just as a plain decoction for its inherent flavor and goodness, laced with salt for replenishing body’s loss due to sweating, with a dollop of butter for those extra calories in the high mountains of Tibet, with milk and sugar in the English way, as ‘masala chai’ with milk and sugar which sometimes is scented for an extra refreshment, with lime for that extra astringency and many more.

It is consumed both, hot and cold. Its brewing too ranges from just one cup with a modern tea bag to a community brew in a big samovar.

And its service can range from self service from a community pot to a full fledged English service, complete with silver spoons and fine bone china pots, tea cozy and a shining tea trolley, to the typical “kulhad”. In Japan, drinking of tea is a ceremony and a tea room is the norm in every contemporary house.

Whatever the style or type of tea, one thing common with its serving and consumption is the ambiance of bonhomie; of coexistence and harmony, of love and respect which manifests itself automatically over a cup of tea.