Tea

Would you fancy a cup of tea? 

The British sip this hot scrumptious liquid refreshment every afternoon of their lives? But why?  Where did this practice originate?  

According to the www.histori-uk.com website, this is how afternoon tea got its beginnings

Afternoon tea was introduced in England by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, in the year 1840. The Duchess would become hungry around four o'clock in the afternoon. The evening meal in her household was served fashionably late at eight o'clock, thus leaving a long period of time between lunch and dinner. The Duchess asked that a tray of tea, bread and butter (some time earlier, the Earl of Sandwich had had the idea of putting a filling between two slices of bread) and cake be brought to her room during the late afternoon. This became a habit of hers and she began inviting friends to join her.

However, I wonder if tea is used for more than just a filler snack between meals. In watching many British drama series on BBC America, I find that tea is not just to wet your whistle, it seems to also cure almost anything that ails you.  


Are you having a row with your husband?  
I'll put the kettle on.  

Now, don't feel embarrassed!  Everyone has a little tension in their love life.  But don't go around fuming about all of it!  Just drink you some tea!

You might want to try one of the following teas to ease the stress and anxiety that builds up in a heated discussion.

• Lemon Balm Tea - this herb reduces the stress hormone called cortisol and helps you to relax.  The Medical News Today website, states "Stress is the feeling we have when we are under pressure." One way to reduce stress is to eat (or drink) lots of fruits and vegetables and to participate in relaxation activities.  For some people that might be drinking Lemon Balm Tea and reading a nice book.

• You might like to try Passion Flower Tea - this tea contains flavone chrysin that has anti-anxiety benefits.  This tea is safe to drink, however you may not want to drink it if you take sleep aids.  Passion Flower Tea can induce a peaceful sleep.

So the next time you find yourself in an argy-bargy with your love, just put on the kettle and brew up some Passion Flower or Lemon Balm tea!

Are you pregnant? Drink some tea.  

If you are pregnant, you might want to try Rooibos, an herbal tea.  Rooibos is a plant grown in South Africa.  Its name means "red bush", and according to www.fitpregnancy.com, this tea, with a refreshingly nutty taste, can help with a variety of symptoms a mother with child might encounter.  It is caffeine free and has many antioxidants that help with headaches, insomnia, and hypertension. 


So, if you have a bun in the oven, be sure to put a cup of tea in your hand.  And specify that you would like some herbal tea.

Do you have a stomach pain?  Let's have some tea. 
  

At www.livestrong.com, Sarah Jonae-Miller writes that Ginger tea may ease the pain of indigestion, nausea, and abdominal gas.  I would think that the latter would be enough to at least try a cup.  

Sarah also states that drinking Peppermint tea will soothe stomach muscles, allowing you to digest fat more easily.  Peppermint also allows abdominal gas to move out of the body.  But be careful if you have Gastroesophageal Reflux disease! For Reflux, you might want to try the DGL - Licorice Soother teas.  You can find more information here.

Chamomile is a tea that may also soothe your burning belly.  Referring back to an article in Reader's Digest, Sarah writes that Chamomile has "anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and carminative properties".  These properties soothe the intestinal wall.  Chamomile is good for relieving gas, anxiety, and stress, and promoting relaxation.

Well, if you stomach is in knots, don't blow it, you cheeky monkey!  Make sure to order Peppermint tea to put a little pep back into your life!

Did you get your heart broken? I think it is tea time.

Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that helps a person deal with depression.  If the serotonin is low, the more down you may feel, and it may more difficult to cope with everyday disappointing events.  Psychology Today states, "St. John's Wort is believed to work by allowing more serotonin to linger in the brain..."  Therefore, giving you a larger abundance of time to deal with your heartache.  

However, The U.S. National Center of Complimentary and Alternative Medicine warns that St. John's Wort is to be used as a substitute for anti-depressives.  DO NOT use the two at the same time.  St. John's Wort may also weaken other medicines you are taking.  Just be careful that you don't permanently damage your other organs while you are trying to heal your heart.

So if your heart is gutted because someone has recently shattered your heart.  Never fear, you can bring the end (of your grieving) near - go make yourself a cup of St. John's Wort tea!


I bet the Duchess of Bedford would never have guess that she was not only tending to her hunger each afternoon, but she may have also been boosting her health.  

Happy sipping! 
Cheerio!