Pills don't heal, nature does. Alright, we're not saying pills are useless, but it should be acknowledged that even the cleverest medicine, say Viagra, is a synthetic compound mimicking more natural substances. Because they're synthetic, pills have side-effects, and your body can't use them as effectively as it could something natural. That's why vitamins will never replace five servings of fruits and vegetables, and why you should brew some of these Chinese tea concoctions. Nature can be combined for synergistic effect, just like chemicals.

Red Tea and Lemon

This combination improves blood circulation and brings more oxygen to the brain. The vitamin C increases skin defense, preventing rashes, pimples, and anything else that makes your largest organ other than the smooth, creamy hide it was meant to be. In the wintertime, throw some ginger in there, to help warm your stomach, and your body to sweat out sluggish winter humours.

Red tea with lemon also kills cold germs in your mouth, so a glass morning and evening is an oral zinger and a real body booster. Dianhong, chuanhong, xiaozhong hongcha, all are varieties of red tea whose semi-fermented flavor is fresh but earthy. The lemon adds some pleasant tartness.

Oolong, Chamomile, Cassia Torra Seeds, and Lotus Flower Seeds

One step removed from green tea, oolong, whose most popular variety is tieguanyin, is just a touch fermented, giving off an overall fresh flavor with a hint of maturity.

Oolong tea has certain oils, which when mixed with the flavanone in Chamomile, produces a compound unmatched for fighting inflammation and infections. The seeds promote digestion and improve spleen function. In sum, this tea mix is a great natural cleanser that boosts the metabolism and gets fat burning, especially around the waist. Make sure to boil the cassia torra seeds for thirty minutes before steeping in the tea, as they are extremely tough.

Green Tea and Pomelo

This tea can relieve an anxious mood. It virtually shuts down your body's release of adrenaline, which even if no danger looms, is always on a low-drip as we go about our stressed out lives. In this relaxed environment, the properties of green tea can do their detox work even more effectively. Naturally, the citrus powers of pomelo give the body a nice shot of C, something almost any civilized soul can do with more of. If the combination is too bitter, a small drip of honey will make things go down sweeter. Too much though, or god forbid a spoonful of sugar, will neutralize any salutary effects.

Green Tea, Honeysuckle, and Mai Dong

Mai Dong refers to the ophiopogon root, and looks as pictured. It dispels body fire and dryness, including the irritability that is their side effect. The combination really gets saliva production going, along with other body fluids, and is just the thing for dry, hacking coughs. Honeysuckle moisturizes internally too, for a combined one-two chill-out punch that should leave you cooler than that cucumber at the bottom of the fridge vegetable bin. Any green tea is the perfect environment for these two firefighters.

Red Tea, Jujube, Rosebuds, American Ginseng, and Luohanguo

Luohanguo is also called momordica grosvenori, not available at your local American mega-grocers, but most definitely at the Chinese market. This tea is sovereign at balancing female hormones, while leaving skin soft and rosy. The jujube and ginseng act in tandem as an all-over body tonic, improving mood and energy levels.

Red Tea, Rosebuds, and Jiaogulan

Jiaogulan is China's immortality herb, an adaptogen that has no common English name. A shame, too, given its amazing powers of lowering blood pressure and cholesterol while strengthening the immune system. The entire mixture acts as an all-around rejuvenator, restoring natural energy. Nothing like a caffeine kick, but sensitive people will feel the effects, while more callous folks will without realizing it. Another benefit of this one-of-a-kind tea mixture is deeper sleep.

As for measuring, one person gets one teaspoon of tea. Add one teaspoon for each additional person drinking. Pinches will do for herbs, roots, and herbs, while it's teaspoons again for fruit and flowers.

Ernie's blog

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