Tea and brain

metapersonbnocv7$h11$ snipped-for-privacy@gavrilo.mtu.ru10/29/03 07: snipped-for-privacy@mtu-net.ru

No, it sounds very nice.

Michael

Let me start by saying I am *not* qualified to discuss the chemistry of the situation, and I'd love to be corrected by someone who knows what they're talking about. This is what I've gathered from drinking tea and tea books:

I often get light-headed after drinking much tea (sometimes to the point of not being able to walk, after serious pu-erh gongfu). This seems like the "euphoria" you describe, and it's very pleasent. However, I don't concern myself too much about this: certain polyphenols in tea work as relaxants (not depressants like alchohol, mind you), and "euphoria" is probably a feeling of great relaxation (very nice in modern society). This is why tea (esp. green, Oolong, or decaffinated) can put you to sleep despite its caffine content.

On the other hand, it is possible (though unlikely) that your body chemistry has a funky reaction to tea, as I've heard of some folks who get drunk off of tea. Still probably not anything to worry about, unless you operate heavy machinery. If you take medication, it's also vaguely possible that tea could be reacting oddly with that (then again, many things could). Your doctor would be the only one to ask if you're hugely concerned. Again, these possibilites are really unlikely.

The only thing I've ever heard of that could possibly be addicting in tea is caffine, and considering all the caffinated things imbibed and eaten in our culture, tea is pretty mild. Only pregnant or nursing women or folks with high caffine sensitivity need worry about it. It's really hard to get "coffee nerves" off of most teas, partly due to the relaxing polyphenols and partly owing to the relitively low caffine content.

I, personally, have to remind myself to drink tea. Doesn't feel overly addicting. Some days, I accidently go without tea because I forget to drink any.

Of course, why would it be bad to be addicted to tea? It's relitively cheap and most of its health effects are beneficial. It's mentally soothing, it soothes the throat and it relaxes the body. For someone not overly caffine-sensitive, I can't think of any bad effects of tea.

Just some thoughts. I wouldn't worry.

ZBL

Not at all. Tea has long been used to aid meditation and other practices. Its a cornerstone of certain 'mystic' practices passed down in my family, because it can have just such an effect.

Since the effect is very mild, during day to day drinking, when we're concentrating on other things, its felt simply as a pleasant relaxation. When tea is taken in a more ritualized setting, such as during meditation or a tea ceremony, the effect is more easily noticed.

Tea contains caffiene and caffiene is addictive.

Hope this helps Is mise le meas

-==- Katzedecimal

Typical for drugs. Hence their popularity.

I get the opposite effect, though - I feel markedly "off" if I drink even one cup of medium-strength tea on empty stomack. It's similar to eating too much salty food (for me). Or too much refined sugar food.

I only drink tea after a meal.

Yes, but you should not be alarmed.. many things are addictive. I think salt and sugar are. As far as addictive chemicals go, tea is the most innocent one.

-AK

snipped-for-privacy@posting.google.com10/29/03

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Zephyrus, with all due respect, is that single malt tea you've been nipping at?

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I have to remind myself to stop. I'd spend the whole day teaing if I could

-- which, in a sense, I can.

Addiction implies compulsion and compulsion implies mindlessness. Tea drinking is mindful. That *could* be an argument against addiction. But, your points are all well taken.

Michael

Finer green teas like gyokuro are far to precious to spoil by drinking them after my tastes have been dulled by a meal, I feel. I always drink them alone, on an empty stomach, and think they taste best this way. If I am also a little weary, say after a days work, then the tea can produce that narcotic euphoria that AK speaks of. This isn't the effects of caffeine, because lesser teas with similar caffeine content fail to work such magic.

--crymad

Here is the diagnostic criteria for caffeine intoxication:

Maybe this describes some of the effects?

One of the interesting chemicals in tea is theanine. It causes relaxation and is a caffeine antagonist, yet is also said to help you concentrate.

The Republic of Tea refers to this effect as "teamind".