The Cooling and Nourishing Effects of Green Tea in Summer

The health book "Huangdi Neijing" points out: "In the third month of summer, this is called the flourishing season... This is the season when the summer qi is active, and it is the way to nurture and grow." In the summer, the yang energy is strong in the natural world, the climate is hot, and the rainfall is abundant. The yang energy of the heavens is at its peak and descends to the earth, while the yin energy of the earth begins to rise and ascend to the heavens. This leads to the prosperity and abundance of all things. In accordance with the principles of nature, the summer season is a time when the yang energy is strong and it corresponds to the heart. Therefore, summer is also a time when the human body's yang energy is strong and the heart energy is flourishing. Therefore, in summer, we should pay attention to nourishing the body's long-lasting energy and also focus on taking care of the heart.

The Benefits of Green Tea

Green tea has a slightly bitter and slightly sweet taste, and its nature is cool. It has the effects of clearing heat, relieving summer heat, nourishing yin, generating body fluids, relieving thirst, stopping diarrhea, treating dysentery, and healing sores. It has great health value for discomforts such as restlessness and insomnia caused by summer heat. It can also be used to treat diarrhea and dysentery caused by summer heat and dampness, as well as conditions such as ulcers, swelling, and pain. Therefore, green tea is most suitable for drinking in summer. In addition, studies have shown that tea, especially green tea, has good radiation resistance. It has been reported that drinking two cups of green tea a day can effectively help computer users resist computer radiation.

How to Drink Green Tea

When drinking green tea, it is advisable to use a glass tea cup and water at a temperature of around 80℃ to 85℃. There is no need to cover the cup, and it can be consumed directly. Using a glass tea cup allows for the observation of the tea leaves and the tea soup. For example, when drinking Longjing tea, the leaves slowly unfold like orchids when steeped in hot water. When drinking Biluochun tea, pour in the water first and then add the tea leaves. The tea leaves will sink slowly like clouds and mist. Observing the changes in the tea leaves and experiencing the coolness of the green tea leaves and tea soup can help calm the mind. Using water at a temperature of around 80℃ to 85℃ can maintain the color of the green tea soup and preserve the vitamins in the tea. When brewing green tea, there is no need to cover the cup to avoid producing a stuffy feeling, which would affect the freshness of the tea soup.

Flexible Diagnosis and Treatment when Drinking Tea

In spring, the temperature is mild; in summer, it is hot; in autumn, it is cool; and in winter, it is cold. The choice of tea for each season should be flexible according to the diagnosis. In spring and summer, when the yang energy is active and the stomach is weak and cold, excessive consumption of green tea, especially in air-conditioned environments for too long, can easily cause coldness in the middle and harm the yang of the spleen and stomach. In autumn and winter, when the yang energy is stored inside the body, especially when staying in rooms with heating for a long time, the environment can become dry and hot. Red tea has a sweet and warm nature. Excessive consumption of it can easily generate phlegm and heat. Therefore, in summer, green tea should be the main choice, supplemented by red tea, to both clear heat and nourish the stomach and spleen. In winter, red tea should be the main choice, supplemented by green tea, to both warm the yang and dispel coldness, as well as clear dryness and heat.