Green tea remedies have been around for thousands of years, with some reports saying that it was first consumed in China more than 4000 years ago. It has been used as a beverage as well as a means of traditional medicine across the majority of Asia (including China, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Korea and Thailand) for many years.
It has been used to help everything from controlling bleeding and helping to help wounds heal to regulating the temperature of the body and blood sugar levels. It also has been used to promote digestion.
Green tea is more than just a drink
With such a wealth of history, knowledge and tradition, it is easy to see why many people are turning to green tea remedies. They are relatively inexpensive and easy to come by and offer alternatives to traditional medicine that are easier on the body.
Green tea is a lot more than just a thirst-quenching hot beverage, it has become an important player in home remedies the world over. It is used for skin care, as well as mouth care and is now also being used for weight loss.
Green tea has been found to have beneficial effects in the realm of skin care. It is mainly used for eczema and acne. When it comes to acne, green tea is a brilliant alternative to pricey toners and astringents (which can leave the skin dry and painful).
It is often combined with other ingredients to make a skin-specific concoction that is then applied to the face with a cotton ball. Some people have even found that just drinking green tea has had beneficial results on their acne, although one must be aware of limiting the amount of caffeine in one’s diet, given that caffeine may be linked to breakouts.
If your problem is eczema related, rather than acne related, mixing green tea and olive can be an effective treatment for eczema.
Other uses for green tea
Green tea is also great to use as a mouthwash. Of course, you will have to remember to leave out ingredients like sugar and honey when making your mouthwash – that would be a little counterproductive, wouldn’t it?
The reason green tea is good to use as a mouthwash is the high presence of fluoride in green tea. As we all know, fluoride helps prevent tooth decay and promotes strong teeth and healthy gums. The standard way to make this mouthwash is to mix the green tea with spring water, but other non-sugary additives can be used to make for an interesting taste and experience.
Drinking green tea daily is also thought to promote health and well being. It is full of anti-oxidants, which help to bind free radicals in our bodies. Free radicals are known to cause damage to cells and increase ageing. Several studies have also linked green tea to cancer prevention.
Many companies are now producing green tea extract for weight loss, taking advantage of green tea’s thermogenic properties. Green tea is thought to increase metabolism and lower cholesterol, while not increasing the temperature of the body.