The origins of tea begin with a Chinese legend concerning Emperor Shen Nung. The emperor was a scientist that believed in strict hygiene and ordered the entire province to boil their water. It is said that while one of his servants was boiling water to drink, a leaf from a nearby bush accidently fell into the water and the first magic elixir of tea was served. Herbs and leaves of plants have been used for centuries for medicinal purposes, and now in the 21st century we are using green tea for acne.
Green tea is made from dried leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. The use of this plant can be traced back 5,000 years. Green tea is made from the youngest buds of the tea plant which consists of two leaves and one bud. The leaves can be light green to yellow in color and are steamed immediately after picking, rolled, and dried.
Green tea contains a substance called tannic acid that can aid in fighting bacteria that cause inflammation and pimples. Acne is an inflammatory process that can be treated with the use of an anti-inflammatory. Tannic acid is also called an antioxidant. Antioxidants can be used by the body to aid in wound healing and promote healthy skin tissue regeneration.
In a case study, it was found that “green tea possesses anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic (cancer fighting) potential, which can be exploited against a variety of skin disorders, although more clinical studies are needed, supplementation of skin care products with green tea may have a profound impact on various skin disorders.” (PubMed.gov Arch Dermatol. 2000 Aug;136(8):989-94)
Green tea can also be purchased in a pill form and taken orally for acne protection, and offers a safer method of pimple prevention by being as effective as benzoyl-containing products without being as harsh and drying to the skin.
If you would like to take green tea internally in liquid form, use purified water and a tea bag or loose leaf tea in a filter, place in a cup, and steep for no more than 3 minutes. This is the best way to serve green tea. To get the best nutritive benefits from green tea, omit the sugar and sip to your heart’s content.
The addition of a cup of green tea to your daily meals not only will aid in giving you healthy skin, but can also help fight cancer, and rejuvenate your body. One cup with breakfast, lunch, and dinner is all it takes to start on the road to healthy skin and a complexion that is out of this world. So next time you have a break out, instead of going to the doctor’s office for a prescription, or your local pharmacy for an expensive drying cream, try a nice hot cup of tea instead.
