The information given is informative. In case of doubt, consult the doctor. "Botanical" is not responsible for damages caused by self-medication |
| A detail of the plant |
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| Common noun: Tea | ||
| Scientific noun: Camellia sinensis
(L.) Kuntze, Thea sinensis. | ||
| Familiy.Tea family . Theaceae. | ||
| Habitat: Native from the South of China, it appears cultivated as a bush of about 2,5 m, in the high areas of Asia and China with a warm and humid climate. | ||
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| Characteristics : Perennnial tree of the tea family - Theaceae - up to 9 m.. Lanceolate or elliptic leaves, short petiolated, 5 -6 cm long ; the younger ones downy; the older ones glabrous. Lonely white or cream flowers, sometimes paired in the axils of the leaves that hang from short stems. Fruit in capsule with a single seed. The variety Camellia sinensis assamica, from India, presents longer leaves and a superior height to the Chinese variety Camellia sinensis sinensis. |
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| Active components: :
The main components are: - Amino-acids: theanine, valine, arginine, aspargine, glycine, leucine, niacin lysina, histidine - Acids: Ascorbico
(Vitamin C ), nicotinic ( Vitamin B) ( leaves ) ; caffeic, chlorogenic, cinnamic,
fenilacetic, gallic, malic, oxalic ( leaves) lauric, linoleic - Alkaloids: Caffeine (leaves and, specially, tender stems) y theobromine (leaves) - Pectins ( leaves) - Quercetin - Rutin - Polyphenols:
catechins: epicatechin, epicatechin- gallate, epigalocatechine- gallate - Carvacrol, geraniol, -Fats ( leaves) -Fibers ( Leaves) - Minerals: sulfur, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium,
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Varietes of tea: All the varieties of tea derive from two: the one that comes from the Chinese species Camellia sinensis sinensis and the variety that comes from the Hindu state of Assam, Camellia sinensis assamica. From these it is produced what is known as black tea and green tea. The first one ressults from the fermentation of the leaf, while in the second type of tea the process of fermentation is stopped by means of the heat that destroys the oxidizing enzyme,so the resulting product possesses some unequal characteristics in its composition, flavor, scent and aspect. By not permitting the enzymes to act , the dry plant continues maintaining a green aspect, producing the green tea. In the black tea, oxidase enzyme acts on the polyphenols producing its oxidation and transforming them in compounds that present a brownish coloration .Both types of tea maintain the same stimulating, digestive and circulatory properties., but the anticancerous properties related with the green tea, and attibuted fundamentally to the polyphenols, are eliminated in the process of fermentation to what the black tea is subjected. This makes that, from a phytoterapeutic point of view, it becomes more advisable to use the green tea. | ||
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Medicinal properties: Internal use: Astringent: With intestines prone to a excessive defecation, it is very useful to stop diarrheas. With low doses it has a benefitial influence for the stomach. Stimulant: It has a stimulating effect, being very advisible in cheerless spirits , or in those situation when a physical or mental effort is required. One should not overuse it with too much concentrated or repetitive preparations, which might produce irritaion in the digestive tract or palpitations. Antimigraine: By constraining the pericraneal blood vessels, caffeine, besides being a stimulant, relieves headache, resulting specially interesting with migraine. Caffeine is a component which appears in this plant with the highest proportion and can also be found in other plants as cocoa ( Theobroma cacao L ), cola ( Cola acuminata ), and coffee ( Coffea arabica L.) and in the flowers of some citrics , such as the orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) OSBECK ) or the lemon. (Citrus limon (L.) BURMAN f. ) Diuretic:Being a stimulant , it is used as a diuretic in obesity treatments, since it increases micturition, discharging urine from the body. Circulatory system : It dimimishes cholesterol, makes blood more fluid , energizes the heart and protects it from heart attack. Histidine constitues a good antiarteriosclerotic. Theanine, an amino-acid that can only be found in this plant, realises the same function, beside avoiding the formation of thrombus or blood clots, a property also accomplised by eugenol. Theobromine is a vasodilator and cardiotonic. It can be found in other plants in greater proportion, such as in cocoa ( Theobroma cacao L ) and cola ( Cola acuminata ), also in coffee( Coffea arabica L.) , but in less proportion than in tea. Anticancerigenous: It has been praised the influence of green tea as anticancerigenous. This factor makes it different from black tea and makes it more advisable to drink it as a usual infusion. It's got many antioxidant properties, making it a real natural medecin to fight cancer or prevent its formation. Catechins, and specially epigalocatechine- gallate, are the main components that give it this properties. Besides these flavonoids, it is worth mentioning other components, considered tumoral inhibitors such as caffeine, amino-acids, quercetin and vitamin C.
External use
Halitosis, gingintivitis and caries: Because of its antibacterial properties it is suitable to eliminate bad breath, and to protect the mouth against infections produced by the inflammation of gingiva. Its germicide power is used by the industry as a component of many tooth pastes. Other uses It is the best known infusion in the world, more than coffee. It is known, not only for its medicinal value, but as a social drink, served in parties, meetings, etc. English people have made of their use an entire tradition and "Tea time" constitutes one of the daily meeting moments around the table. In the Japanese world it is part of its rites.It is also drank in India by all the families everyday. It combines very well with cookies and milk, which doesn't remove it none of their medicinal properties , adding a peculiar favour. Lately, it has been introduced in the world of the youths, mixed with alcoholic drinks, something not advisable since these mixtures become too stimulating products.
Toxicity: It is not suitable to drink tea in pregnancy, specially during the first months, since it might produce abortions, mainly when combined with other stimulants or tranquilisers since it may increase their effects. The stimulant properties of caffeine make it not suitable for people who have nervous frailness or cardiac disorders, such as palpitations, arrhythmia, insufficiency, insomnia, edginess, etc, since these symptoms can worsen. It is not appropriate to consume tea in cases of gastric problems, as gastric ulcer, stomachache or vomits In certain people it can produce allergic reactions or problems in the nervous or gastric system, so they would not use this plant. It is also adviced to anyone to use it moderately, in order not to experience the above symthoms, besides it must not be forgotten the addictive character of caffeine.
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 | How to use it? In infussions of 2 or 3% of dry plant . If we try to get the aadvantages of caffeine, it is necessary to make a short time infusion of about 2 - 3 minutes. If we want to extract its astringent powers it is very convenient to prolong the infusion time till 10 or 12 minutes. In this second preparation, the stimulating power of caffeine is almost destroyed.
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