By Lucid Lucy: Tea is an ancient healer, founded in ancient China, it has made its way around the world, captivating the hearts and minds of many…

Tea has been used from the beginning of time, both for its medicinal properties and for religious reasons. In the East, tea was considered a sacred drink as the Zen Buddhist monks of Japan drank tea to stay awake and meditate. After that, it was brought into Buddhist spiritual ceremonies and the art of tea drinking became that of a sacred act and was done in a very spiritual manner.

Many people drink tea unaware of how special the act really is. When drinking tea you are combing the elements, earth and water, together in harmony they create a liquid full of power and energy that is good for mind, body and soul. The most popular form of tea is tea leaves, black, white, green and oolong each with their own and shared medicinal properties.

Black Tea

1. Healthy Bones. It has been suggested that regular tea drinkers have stronger bones and a lower probability of arthritis due to the phytochemicals found in tea.
2. Increased energy. Unlike other drinks, black tea has a low caffeine content helping blood flow to brain without over-stimulating the heart.
3. Better immune system. Black tea contains alkylamine antigens as well as tannins which boosts ones immune system response to illness and has the ability to fight viruses like the everyday common cold and flu.
4. Regular digestive tract. Along with improving the immune system, the tannins within black tea have a very soothing effect on gastric and intestinal illness.
5. Stress release. The amino acid L-theanine found in black tea helps you to relax and increases concentration. It also reduces levels of the hormone cortisol (the natural stress hormone found in us all.) when consumed in moderate amounts on a daily basis.

White Tea

1. High in antioxidants. Antioxidants are natural nutrients that protect the body from damage by free radicals. These are molecules that cause havoc within the body, affecting your DNA and accelerating aging. The antioxidants help neutralize them and regulate the natural flow of your body.
2. Cancer prevention. Flavonoids, a class of antioxidants inhibit cancer cells and helps prevent the development of new ones.
3. Heart protection. White tea helps thin the blood, lower blood levels and reduces cholesterol. All in all, white tea protects the heart and the entire circulatory system.
4. Healthy teeth and gums. The nutrients within white tea aid in the fight against plaque and tooth decay as well as bad breath.
5. Healthy skin. The antioxidants within white tea, help protect the skin from premature aging and sun damage. Creating a more radiant clearer skin.

 Green and Oolong Tea

1. Diabetes. Green/oolong tea helps regulate glucose levels slowing down the rise of blood sugar levels and prevents high insulin spikes in fat storage.
2. Cholesterol. Green/oolong tea helps reduce bad cholesterol within the blood and balances out the ratio of good and bad cholesterol.
3. Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Green/oolong tea helps delay the process of these two illnesses. Studies have shown that green tea helps protect the brain cells from dying and also restored dead brain cells.
4. Depression. Theanine is an amino acid naturally found within green tea. This substance is proved to provide a relaxing and tranquilizing effect on who ever drinks it.
5. Weight loss. Green/oolong tea increases the metabolism and with polyphenol, which is found in green tea it helps intensify levels of fat oxidation and the rate at which your body turns food into calories.

The special thing about combining the elements earth and water is the fact that you receive the healing benefits of Mother Gaia, and with a positive look on your tea you receive positive water molecules as water is affected by thought and intention. So don’t forget to bless your tea before you drink it!