Green, Black Tea Said to Boost Immune System

Discovery Channel/Health ^ | April 21, 2003 | AFP

[FairOpinion]

April 21, 2003 — Certain types of tea have long been known to protect against cancer, but now US researchers have reason to believe they may also boost the immune system.

The findings are very preliminary, but Brigham and Women's researchers reported that volunteers who were asked to drink 20 ounces of black tea a day demonstrated stronger immune responses to infection than they had previously, or than a control group of coffee drinkers.

"The health benefits of tea have been touted for centuries but no human research has demonstrated an association between tea drinking and immunology," said lead author Jack Bukowski.

"Now we have a new explanation for the medicinal effect of tea. Our data suggest that the amino acid L-theanine may specifically boost the capacity of gamma delta T cells — the body's first line of defense against infection."

The researchers had previously shown that L-theanine — commonly found in black, green, oolong and pekoe teas — stimulated certain of the body's white or killer T-cells in laboratory tests.

They speculated that the same effect could be duplicated by drinking tea. And indeed when the researchers took blood samples from 11 volunteers on the tea diet and compared it with the coffee drinkers, they found the tea drinkers produced five times the amount of anti-bacterial proteins — an indication of a stronger immune response.

"Our research suggests that when tea drinkers become exposed to germs, some, but not all, may be protected from getting sick," explained Bukowski, an assistant professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

"And, importantly, those who do become ill, may develop a milder infection or disease compared to non tea drinkers, although further research will be needed to confirm these predicted outcomes."

The study appears in Monday's issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

[FairOpinion]

Interesting. Science frequently discovers that there is something to the "folk remedies", after all.

[joesnuffy]

Dont asians generally drink a lot of green tea?....

[SubMareener]

We mix one half Green Tea, one half Earle Grey. Tastes great!

[Vision Thing]

Another thread talked about how you should have milk with green tea. Otherwise, you can get kidney stones.

[FairOpinion]

I haven't heard that one.

They recently did discover that you should have alcohol with coffee, right after having a stroke. There were real studies done and found them greatly beneficial together.

[FairOpinion]

"Newsflash 3000 years of Chinese culture produced some useful natural herbs. I mean dont get me wrong western medicine definatly has its strengths, but so does Eastern."

---

I agree. There are many herbs, where Western culture is just proving it to their own satisfaction, that they really do have medical properties, something the orientals have known for centuries.

[cake_crumb]

Black and green tea have been known by herbalists to have immune enhancing effects for years. In fact, the combination of immune enhancing volitile oils combined with the natural fluride contained in high quantities in both also help prevent tooth decay. Green tea has the higher floride content.

The chemical cocktail created by black tea combined with orange pekoe has a calming, stabilizing effect on the human psyche, and is believed by herbalists to be the root cause of the Brits' famous ability to cope with catastrophe. (A British wife offering to brew a pot of tea for all the survivors after her neighborhood is destroyed by a German bombing raid during the Blitzkreig is a deserved legend)

In case you're interested...and you wouldn't be reading this article if you weren't.

[FairOpinion]

Thanks for the info. I AM interested.

Do you perhaps have a link, which discusses the healing properties of herbs, you seem to be quite knowledgeable, and I do have an interest, although not much knowledge.

[cake_crumb]

"I mean dont get me wrong western medicine definatly has its strengths, but so does Eastern."

The natural medicine discovered by ANY and ALL cultures, be they Chinese, Roman, Welsh, Ukrainian, Amerind, whatever, always mean SOMETHING. Even if there is only ONE IMPORTANT HEALING FACT to be gleaned from any one.

This is not a competition, sir or madam.

[maddogzwife]

I sent a bunch of green tea supplements to my husband in Iraq. The soldiers are going to need plenty of antioxidants to prevent harm from the exposure to smoke and other firearms residue in the war. I am a firm believer in homeopathic remedies.

[Vision Thing]

They recently did discover that you should have alcohol with coffee, right after having a stroke.

Baileys® Latte. Yummy.

By the way, here's the link to the thread about milk, green tea, and kidney stones:

Tea W/ Milk Safer to Drink (from the "Here we go again" dept.)

[FairOpinion]

Interesting. Thanks.

http://www.oregonlive.com/science/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1050408305142450.xml


To protect brain after a stroke, Irish coffee may be drug of choice An experimental drug delivering the potency of two cups of strong coffee and a mixed drink has been shown to be safe in a small study of stroke patients. Researchers previously had found that the coffee-alcohol mixture limited stroke-induced brain damage in rats.


In the rat studies, the size of brain damage was reduced as much as 80 percent when a combination of caffeine and ethanol, called caffeinol, was administered within three hours after a stroke. "Neither caffeine or alcohol offered protection alone, but the combination was protective," said Dr. James C. Grotta, professor of neurology and director of the stroke program at the University of Texas-Houston Medical School.

[cake_crumb]

Glad you're interested. I'm an herbalist and fairly successful even here where for a few years I was honestly in danger of being burnt as a witch. Long story involving local superstitions, court battles and unscrupulous attornies who had no other way to win than public opinion....helping a few medical problems with hers and explaining the effaciacy of each helped, as did my training as a medic. When flat out first aid is required, or a combination of both first aid and herbalism will work, the patient or the patients family always knows everything I do and how I do it as I do it. I've gotten pretty good at running commentaries.

As for a link, I doubt you'll find one. My info comes from text. Via the internet, you're likely to wind up with large promises, but long legalese disclaimors in leu of info when you click on links.

I suggest you start with a good primer, such as The Herb Book, by John Lust ©December, 1974

Also, find an elderly person, especially someone who immigrated circa WWI to help yu identify particular herbs. An elderly native Amercan IN GOOD STANDING within his or her tribe is also a good idea.

Due to lawsuits, herbalists are paranoid about what recipes we publish via the internet, which is a huge loss to the human race and a huge gain to the pharmacutical companies. I've got a databse all made up....had it for 5 years now, which I'm afraid to publish...and it does NOT contain pics as were originally planned for plant recognition. The recognition part is why I recommend an elderly person to help you. Someone who knows herbs. There's still one in almost every neighborhood.

Good luck. Dogged perserverance helps.

[Old Professer]

I am a firm believer in homeopathic remedies.

Here, here, we'll have none of that - the little buggers have rights now, don't you know?

[Mr. Mojo]

I'm still waiting for some good news about beer.

[FairOpinion]

"The Herb Book, by John Lust ©December, 1974"

Thanks -- guess what, I just checked and I have that book. ( I told you I am interested)

"Due to lawsuits, herbalists are paranoid about what recipes we publish via the internet, which is a huge loss to the human race and a huge gain to the pharmacutical companies. I've got a databse all made up....had it for 5 years now, which I'm afraid to publish...and it does NOT contain pics as were originally planned for plant recognition. "

I think today people are much more accepting of herbal remedies. Here in LA, there are stores where you can find many, maybe even a hundred or more herbs, so people can actually buy them, don't have to go looking for them in a forest or somewhere.

If you already have your data base, I would strongly and seriously urge you to publish it. I think it would be great to have something like this, which is uptodate and fairly complete, and you could include a cross reference or a section on recipes for various diseases. I think these are are based on many many years of practical experience, it is unfortunate that current medical science doesn't pay more attention to it.

I have seen people publish books, but usually they only have partial or limited information. Having authoritative information would be great. I think you could sell a lot of copies.

As for legal issues, Obviously consult a lawyer and all that, but I am under the impression, that if you put a bunch of disclaimers up front, like "see your doctor, check with your doctor, before doing anything, etc." you would be covered.

I hope you will get renewed enthusiasm and will get those plant pictures and publish it. Or, even if you don't have the pictures.

Let me know, consider me your first order for an authographed copy. :)

[blam]

"They recently did discover that you should have alcohol with coffee, right after having a stroke. There were real studies done and found them greatly beneficial together."

I read that too.

[expatpat]

A comedy group at one time in England known as Beyond the Fringe (a precursor to Monty Python) had a great skit on this. After various problems were announced, each time the old codger husband would say "Well, put the kettle on -- let's have a nice cup of hot tea". Finally, the wife goes on about World War II having just started -- guess what the old husband says.

BTW, they also had a great skit about a one-legged man auditioning for the role of Tarzan.

[expatpat]

'buggers' being the operative word!