In the context of Chinese Tea, tea is a rich carrier. A simple Cup of tea soup contains the taste preferences, spiritual beliefs, and emotional reliance of the Chinese people. Under the influence of empirical science, “remedy for all ills” became one of the earliest labels given to tea by ancient people. Through this label, how should we view the medicinal value and Health benefits of tea?
There's a spiritual belief in tea for the Chinese.
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) may be in decline, but it always becomes a hot topic during public health events. Regardless of the specific formulas, from Isatis root to Houttuynia and then to Shuanghuanglian… whenever someone claims something is effective, there's always a rush to try it. Leaving aside distant examples, just look at SARS and COVID-19 over recent years, and TCM prescriptions have indeed shown their unique merits.
Whenever contagious or infectious diseases spread, we always hear about tea, whether in the media or among the public. This is because, besides being a familiar beverage, tea has a unique background in traditional Chinese medicine. The combination of these two aspects ensures that tea not only holds an indispensable position and role in Chinese culture but also contains the taste preferences, spiritual beliefs, and emotional reliance of the Chinese people – “tea as the remedy for all ills.”
If we remove the fame and glory we've attached to tea and focus solely on its natural properties, tea is simply a plant whose leaves can be used medicinally, as food, or as a beverage after processing. Yet, it's hard to imagine the impact a leaf of Chinese Tea has had on the world, influencing lifestyles, health, and culture and spirit.
The earliest applications of tea by the Chinese are generally attributed to three theories: medicinal origin, edible origin, and beverage origin. However, the dominant theory is medicinal origin, suggesting that medicinal use predates beverage use, a fact supported by many ancient texts.
Viewing the Health Benefits of Tea from the Perspective of “Treating Before Disease Occurs”
Although ancient people said “tea is the remedy for all ills” and “tea is medicine,” we cannot take these words at face value and assume that tea can cure all illnesses. Empirical science, although the result of thousands of years of experience, inevitably has its subjectivity and blindness. From a modern scientific perspective, we need to understand that “medicine” here is not the same as “medicine” in the conventional sense.
On the other hand, while we can critically examine the ancient views on the medicinal value of tea, it's undeniable that the medicinal value and health benefits of tea are the accumulated wisdom of the Chinese people through thousands of years of practice. Based on historical literature and modern scientific research, tea generally possesses the following benefits: improves thinking and invigorates, relieves fatigue, quenches thirst and moistens the mouth, cools and alleviates summer heat, diuretic and detoxifying, strengthens teeth and prevents cavities, aids digestion and reduces greasiness, lowers blood lipids, prevents arteriosclerosis, facilitates bowel movements, treats dysentery, expels Phlegm, treats colds, and has anti-radiation effects, treats heartache, heals sores and impotence, improves muscle health, boosts strength and vitality, improves vision and liver health, enhances immunity, and prolongs life.
When we drink tea today, we must understand that it is first and foremost a healthy and beneficial product, and then consider its health benefits and medicinal value. How should we view the health benefits and medicinal value of tea? Perhaps looking at it from the perspective of “treating before disease occurs” is closer to understanding tea as a healthy beverage.
In the field of TCM, there's a story. When King Wen of Wei sought advice from Bian Que, asking which of his brothers was the best doctor, Bian Que truthfully replied that his eldest brother was the most skilled, followed by his second brother, with himself being the least skilled. King Wen was puzzled, asking why Bian Que, who considered himself the least skilled, was famous throughout the land. Bian Que answered: “My eldest brother treats diseases before they manifest, removing the root cause, so his skill is unknown to outsiders; only the family knows, thus he has no reputation. My second brother treats diseases when they are in their early stages, so even though he can cure them quickly, the villagers think he can only treat minor ailments, so his reputation isn't great. I treat patients when their conditions are severe and they're suffering immensely, using various treatments like acupuncture, internal and external medications, and even surgery to stabilize and gradually heal them. Everyone thinks my medical skills are miraculous, so I'm well-known.”
“Superior doctors treat before illness occurs, middling doctors treat impending illness, and inferior doctors treat existing illness” is a principle that has been upheld since the birth of TCM. Therefore, The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon states: “Therefore, sages do not treat existing illnesses but prevent them, they do not treat chaos but prevent it.”
If we understand the health benefits of tea from the perspective of “treating before illness occurs,” it aligns better with tea as a healthy beverage.
Drink more tea when you're healthy to cultivate your body and mind and promote health. If you're sick, go to the hospital immediately, take medication if necessary, and get injections if needed. Tea is a beneficial health beverage for humanity, greatly benefiting physical and mental well-being, but it treats “pre-disease,” not “existing disease.”
This article is excerpted from “Empirical Science: ‘Tea as the Remedy for All Ills' Introduction.”
Author | Duan Zhaoshun
Originally published in Puer Magazine, April 2020 issue
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