Cool Off with a Cup of Tea

When summer temps rise above 100°F, drinking a cup of hot tea sounds like a crazy idea, right?
 
I don’t know about you, but when I get hot, I get cranky with a monster tension headache. 
(Not a good place to be, especially for an acupuncturist!)
 
That’s when I take a few deep breaths and enjoy a cup of organic Peppermint tea.  
 
Peppermint is an aromatic, pungent Chinese herb called Bo He that is known to release wind-heat from the body’s exterior. It enters the Liver and Lung meridians where it

• eases tension headache
• clears heat (redness) from the eyes
• soothes a sore throat
• clears heat rash
• calms the colon

 
Peppermint’s cooling sensation is produced by the organic compound menthol. A factoid is that menthol chemically triggers cold-sensitive receptors, which results in a cooling sensation when ingested. It actually relaxes the “smooth” muscles in the walls of the intestine which is helpful for relieving indigestion, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, and menstrual cramps.
 
As amazing as Peppermint tea is, there are some people who shouldn’t drink it:

• Breastfeeding moms (it will decrease milk supply)
• People with heartburn
• People who are allergic to menthol
• Someone who is acutely ill with cold sweats

 
These are my favorite loose and bagged organic Peppermint teas. Enjoy! 

---