Body & Soul: Wake Up Skin and Hair with Refreshing Tea

Enlarge Image Image Gallery Shutterstock.com

The tea plant (Camellia sinensis) has been used for more than 4,000 years to treat body, mind and spirit. According to legend, the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung was boiling water when a windstorm blew leaves from a nearby shrub into his pot. The aroma so captivated him he decided to taste the mixture, possibly the first cup of brewed tea.

Tea has been valued by societies throughout history, around the world. In colonial America, tea became so synonymous with quality of life that colonists used it to make political statements, such as the Boston Tea Party in 1773. 

Although “tea” technically refers to the tea shrub, C. sinensis, today the term also is used to describe a variety of aromatic plants brewed into health tonics and refreshing drinks.

Because tea is a powerful antioxidant, it also has become a key ingredient in natural skin- and hair-care products. Japanese research has shown tea to be effective against free radicals, which cause our bodies to age. Tea also offers beauty benefits: You can use it to cleanse skin, soothe sunburn, highlight hair, relax muscles and calm puffy eyes. Here are some of my favorite ways to apply tea’s rejuvenating powers to skin and hair.  

Terrific Tea Tips

Try these six easy ways to look and feel your best with tea:

1. Reduce under-eye puffiness by placing two cool tea bags over each eye; relax for 10 to 15 minutes.

2. Soothe an insect bite or cut by placing a green tea bag over the affected area. The tea will reduce itching and swelling.

3. For a bad sunburn, try a tea bath. Hang four or five oolong, jasmine or green tea bags under your bath spout as you fill your tub. Soak in the fragrant, warm water.

4. If you use henna to color your hair, use tea instead of water when mixing your paste for a richer color. Try black or Ceylon tea if you are brunette, use chamomile if you are blonde.

5. Use herbal tea blends as simple skin fresheners and toners. Make a strong infusion and pour into a clean spray bottle. Mint tea has an uplifting fragrance.

6. A great way to relax or practice simple meditation is with a cup of tea. Start your day with a cup, or take a tea break to refocus during hectic times.

Terrific Tea Recipes

English Tea Astringent
Green Tea Skin Soother
Herbal Tub Tea
Mint Tea Scalp Toner
German Chamomile Tea Soother
Highlighting Herbal Hair Rinses
Sweet Feet