Choosing Tea Drinks for Harmony and Health: Seasons, Ages, and Constitutions

The theory of "harmony between man and nature" in traditional Chinese medicine believes that human beings must adapt to the changes of the four seasons in order to stay healthy and live longer. As stated in the "Ling Shu · Ben Shen": "Therefore, wise people must follow the changes of the four seasons and adapt to the cold and heat." The book "Su Wen · Four Qi Regulation and Spirit Cultivation" states: "The four seasons of yin and yang are the foundation of all things, and that is why the sages nourish yang in spring and summer, nourish yin in autumn and winter, in order to follow their roots." Health-promoting tea drinks are generally suitable for healthy individuals to consume throughout the year, but attention should be paid to different ages and physical characteristics. Patients with illnesses should consume them under the guidance of a doctor to avoid adverse reactions with other medications they may be taking.

Choosing tea drinks according to the seasons

1. Health-promoting tea drinks for spring. "In the spring months, this is called rejuvenation, when heaven and earth both give birth, and all things flourish" (Su Wen · Four Qi Regulation and Spirit Cultivation). In spring, the weather becomes mild and warm, and the yang energy rises. All things are full of vitality, and the pores of the human body gradually open up. The body is in a relaxed state, and the functions of the organs are active. Metabolism is vigorous. "Spring energy is connected to the liver," so it is appropriate to drink teas that promote liver function, dispel wind, and promote the spreading of yang energy. However, overly sour flavors should be avoided, and more pungent and sweet flavors should be added to "reduce sourness and increase sweetness to nourish the spleen," in order to avoid excessive liver qi. As spring is a season prone to colds, tea drinks such as flower tea, chrysanthemum tea, peppermint tea, bupleurum tea, and wind-dispelling tea can be consumed.

2. Health-promoting tea drinks for summer. "In the summer months, this is called luxuriance, when heaven and earth's energies meet, and all things are abundant" (Su Wen · Four Qi Regulation and Spirit Cultivation). In summer, yang energy is abundant and the climate is hot, making it the season of the most vigorous growth in the natural world. The body's metabolism is highly active, and it loses a lot of moisture due to heat, making it susceptible to qi and yin deficiency. Therefore, it is advisable to drink teas that nourish qi and generate body fluids, such as Shengmai tea, Baizhu tea, Fuling tea, Huangqi tea, Lugen tea, and Yuzhu tea. "Summer energy is connected to the heart," so teas that clear the heart and generate body fluids, such as green tea, bamboo leaf tea, lotus leaf tea, shengdi tea, maidong tea, and zhiliao tea, can also be consumed. During the midsummer season, dampness is heavier and coexists with heat, which can easily damage the spleen and stomach. During this time, it is advisable to choose green tea, Fuling tea, Dongyiren tea, Huoxiang tea, and Peilan tea, which have a cooling and dampness-dispelling effect.

3. Health-promoting tea drinks for autumn. "In the autumn months, this is called tranquility, when the weather becomes cool and the earth's energy becomes clear" (Su Wen · Four Qi Regulation and Spirit Cultivation). In autumn, the weather changes from hot to cool. The autumn air is refreshing, and the climate becomes dry. All things gradually wither. Influenced by the external environment, while the yin and body fluids consumed during the summer have not fully recovered, the body is further affected by the dryness of autumn, often resulting in lung dryness and cough. "Autumn energy is connected to the lungs," so it is advisable to drink teas that moisturize the lungs and nourish yin, such as silver ear tea, pear leaf tea, sand ginseng tea, almond tea, and oolong tea.

4. Health-promoting tea drinks for winter. "In the winter months, this is called storage, when water turns to ice and the earth cracks" (Su Wen · Four Qi Regulation and Spirit Cultivation). In winter, yang energy is concealed, and yin energy is abundant. All things in nature wither, and cold winds are biting. The body's metabolism slows down, and essence and energy are stored internally. "Winter energy is connected to the kidneys," so during this season, it is important to choose tea drinks that are warm and nourishing, such as black tea, wolfberry tea, shudi tea, mountain cornelian cherry tea, tusizi tea, caterpillar fungus and American ginseng tea, and cinnamon tea, to assist in warming and tonifying yang, and nourishing the kidneys and replenishing essence.

Choosing tea drinks according to individuals

1. Choosing tea drinks based on age.

Health-promoting tea drinks for children and adolescents. Children and adolescents are in the period of growth and development, with vigorous vitality and delicate organs. They can generally drink teas that relieve heat and thirst and promote intelligence, but should not be overly nourishing. For children with individual congenital deficiencies or delayed development, an appropriate amount of nourishing teas can be consumed under the guidance of a doctor.

Health-promoting tea drinks for adults. Adults have reached maturity, with abundant blood and energy, and are generally not suitable for excessive nourishment. However, if they are excessively fatigued or have been affected by illness, they can consume appropriate nourishing teas.

Health-promoting tea drinks for the elderly. As people age, organ functions gradually weaken, kidney qi is depleted, and both physical and mental aspects become weaker. They can choose targeted nourishing teas, but should consume them in small amounts multiple times to gradually exert their medicinal effects.

2. Choosing tea drinks based on gender.

Health-promoting tea drinks for men. Men are prone to kidney essence depletion, especially after excessive labor, excessive indulgence, or as they age, they often experience symptoms of insufficient liver and kidney function. They can choose teas such as tusizi tea, yinyanghuo tea, duzhong tea, and he shou wu tea, which have the function of nourishing the liver and kidneys, and strengthening tendons and bones.

Health-promoting tea drinks for women. Women have the characteristics of menstruation, childbirth, and pregnancy. During their menstrual period, it is advisable to drink teas such as danggui tea and yimucao tea, which have the function of nourishing blood and regulating menstruation.

3. Choosing tea drinks based on constitution.

Health-promoting tea drinks for people with qi deficiency constitution. Qi deficiency constitution refers to the inability of the body's organ functions to operate normally, resulting in a weak physical condition. They often experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, laziness in speech, poor appetite, pale complexion, dizziness, weak pulse, and lack of strength. They can choose teas such as ginseng tea, astragalus tea, baizhu tea, and shanyao tea, which have the function of tonifying qi.

Health-promoting tea drinks for people with yang deficiency constitution. Yang deficiency constitution refers to insufficient yang qi in the body, resulting in partial functional decline. They often experience symptoms such as cold limbs, aversion to cold, fatigue and weakness, lack of thirst, clear and long urine, loose stools, pale tongue, and weak or weak pulse. They can choose teas such as dried ginger tea, cinnamon tea, and fuling tea, which have the function of warming and tonifying yang, but should avoid excessive consumption.

Health-promoting tea drinks for people with blood deficiency constitution. Blood deficiency constitution refers to insufficient blood in the body, and partial organs and limbs suffer from lack of nourishment, resulting in a certain degree of weakness. They often experience symptoms such as palpitations, insomnia, dizziness, blurred vision, pale complexion or jaundice, decreased or absent menstruation, pale tongue, and thin and weak pulse. They can choose teas such as danggui tea, shudi tea, he shou wu tea, and longan tea, which have the function of nourishing and generating blood.

Health-promoting tea drinks for people with yin deficiency constitution. Yin deficiency constitution refers to insufficient body fluids or essence, resulting in the inability of yin to restrain yang. They often experience symptoms such as emaciation, dryness of the mouth and throat, dizziness, insomnia, hot flashes, five-center heat, yellow urine, dry stools, red tongue, and rapid pulse. They can choose teas such as shengdi tea, gouqi tea, yuzhu tea, baishao tea, and baiwei tea, which have the function of nourishing yin and clearing heat.

Health-promoting tea drinks for people with phlegm-dampness constitution. Phlegm-dampness constitution refers to the accumulation of water and dampness in the body, abnormal function of the spleen and stomach, or obesity. They can choose teas such as fuling tea, baizhu tea, and yiyiren tea, which have the function of promoting spleen function and eliminating dampness.