February 8th, 2012

2000 BCE - Here, eat this root.
1000 BCE - That root is heathen; here, say this prayer.
1850 CE - That prayer is superstitious; here, drink this potion.
1940 CE - That potion is snake oil; here, swallow this pill.
1985 CE - That pill is ineffective; here, take this antibiotic.
2000 CE - That antibiotic does not work anymore; HERE, EAT THIS ROOT.

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One of the places Hazelnut and I visited last weekend was a winter market. A lovely woman was there who, among chakra blankets and natural crystal candle-holders, was giving free samples of hibiscus tea. The tea also came with an informative packet talking about different types of tea and their properties. Therefore, on behalf of www.alternativesmarthealth.com, today I'd like to share some unorthodox uses for tea.

• To clean carpets. Sprinkle dry, used green tea leaves on a musty carpet and let sit for ten minutes. Then vacuum up the leaves.
• To shine wooden floors. After cleaning the floor as per the norm, rub a bit of black tea brew into the wood and let air dry. Be careful, however, not to use too much water, as this can be damaging to the wood.
• To polish furniture. Dip a soft clothe in a strong-brewed tea and wipe down scratched tables, chairs, etc. The tannins in the tea will re-color light or scratched areas.
• To clean mirrors and windows. To remove greasy and/or stubborn fingerprints from glass, rub a damp teabag over the area or fill a spray bottle with tea and spritz.
  
• To clean toilet bowls. Leave tea leaves in the bowl for a few hours, flush, and scrub the bowl with a brush.
• To soothe a sunburn. Sponge sunburned areas or areas with other mild burns with cooled chamomile tea. Do not use this if the skin is broken.
• To soothe tired eyes. Warm, wet teabags can reduce puffiness and pain in tired eyes. Just place one over each eye, sit back, and relax.
• To soothe bleeding gums. After getting a tooth pulled (or if an older child looses a tooth), try biting down on a cold, wet teabag, as the tannic acid in the tea helps the blood to clot.
• To shine dry hair. Rinse hair with unsweetened tea and leave to dry for a while. Then, rinse again with water.
• To soothe acne. Wash face with green tea, because of it's mild antiseptic properties, or with calendula flower tea, as a natural alternative to benzoyl peroxide.
• To tenderize meat. Marinade tough meat in black tea to increase tenderness.
• As a compost additive. Pouring strong tea in a compost bin increases the decomposition process, and encourages the growth of friendly bacteria.
• To help houseplants. On occasion, use brewed tea instead of water for plants that prefer acidic soil, such as ferns. A few used teabags in the bottom of a planter adds nutrients to the soil, as does spreading tea leaves in with the mulch.
• To dye fabrics. Green and black tea can both be used to dye fabric, as well as paper, to create a beige, antiqued look.

For the record, I have used none of these, and cannot vouch for their effectiveness. Just thought I'd share. Additionally, these might be that much more effective if you empowered the tea for your intent before using it..... ;)