San Diego Unseen: An Urban Portrait
We asked James Bowma, owner of Halcyon Tea (3009 Beech St. in South Park) and Taylor Dye, owner of Mad Monk Tea (4966 Santa Monica Ave., Suite C, in Ocean Beach) to help us compile a list of ailments and the types of tea that might help relieve symptoms. Here are the results:
For a stomachache: Sit down to a cup of peppermint tea, which helps relieve basic indigestion and soothe an upset stomach.
For high cholesterol or high blood pressure: Pu-erh tea has been known to lower cholesterol and blood-sugar levels, help metabolize fatty acids and oily foods and cleanse and detoxify the bloodstream.
For a cold: When you feel a cold coming on, you want to use warming agents to help raise your body temperature. Try teas with ginger, cinnamon and orange peel, like chai tea.
For bad breath: Try various forms of green or black teas. Green teas strengthen tooth enamel and fight bad breath, while black teas go the extra mile and actually kill bacteria in the mouth that causes cavities and bad breath.
For a sleep aid: Sip on a cup of gaba oolong, rich in a particular amino acid that calms your nervous system. It’s hailed by many as a “longevity tonic.”
For allergies: Allergy sufferers should sip on teas heavy on local honey. Local honey is made from bees that use local pollen. By introducing that honey into your body, your body will then start to build up antibodies against local allergens.
