Soothe A Sunburn
Treat Acne
Help With Canker Sores
Deal With Oily Skin
Tone Your Skin
Besides brewing a refreshing cup of tea, a tea bag can also be used
topically as a tincture or poultice for minor cuts and burns, insect bites,
baggy eyes, or as a mild astringent to tone your skin. Studies suggest
that applying warm tea bags to canker sores, pus-filled pimples or boils
can help them drain, heal speedily. Thanks to their ability to reduce
inflammation, relieve pain.
Don’t you just love sitting down with a cup of hot tea after a long hard day?
It can instantly pick you up! But tea doesn’t just energize you, it’s also rich
in antioxidants that fight free radicals and protects against conditions like
heart disease and cancer.
Tea can also accommodate a range of tastes as it comes with unique
flavors – the fermented black tea, partially fermented oolong tea, and
unfermented green tea. No wonder that it’s the second most popular
drink in the world after water.
But if you thought that a tea bag is only meant for brewing tea, you’d be
wrong. Here are a few interesting things that the ordinary tea bag can do
for you.
1. Soothe A Sunburn
The UV rays of the sun can damage your skin, and over exposure to the sun
can leave you with sore, red, sunburnt skin. Applying a wet tea bag to the
affected area can soothe your sunburn.
According to research, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a compound found in
green tea works as a sunscreen and can reduce DNA damage due to UV radiation.
And animal studies have found that topical application of green tea can reduce
the formation of cancerous skin cells. 1
2. Treat Acne
Pus-filled pimples can not only make you feel self conscious but also be painful.
But don’t worry! The antioxidant and antimicrobial properties in green tea can zap
that zit.
A study made people with mild-to-moderate acne apply a lotion with 2% green tea
twice daily for a period of 6 weeks. They saw a reduction of 58.33% in the number
of pimples on average. So applying a wet green tea bag to your pimples might be
a good idea to clear your skin.2
3. Soothe Nicks And Insect Bites
Tea has antimicrobial and astringent properties. Whether you’re looking to soothe
an insect bite or a tiny nick in your skin, pressing a damp tea bag against the
irritated skin can reduce inflammation and protect against infection. 3
4. Help With Canker Sores
Canker sores are common among children and can be really painful. Apply a warm
wet tea bag to the sore for 5 to 10 minutes and let the tannins in the tea work their
magic by soothing the inflammation and pain.4
5. Deal With Oily Skin
One study observed that when a formulation containing 3% green tea extract was
applied on the cheeks of participants for a period of 8 weeks, the production of skin
oil significantly reduced. Researchers have suggested that certain compounds in
green tea (α-linolenic acid and epigallocatechin gallate) work by inhibiting the activity
of an enzyme (known as 5α-reductase) in your oil glands.5
So if you have oily skin, try patting your face with a wet green tea bag.
6. Soothe Tired Eyes And Dark Circles
Are late nights and stress leaving a mark on your eyes? Soak a couple of tea bags in
warm water, squeeze out the extra moisture, and rest them over your closed eyes for
20 minutes. The tannins in the tea will relieve puffiness and refresh tired eyes. 6
7. Deal With Boils
Applying a moist tea bag to a boil can help it drain and heal. The tannins in tea have
antibacterial properties and can work against infection. They also reduce inflammation
and relieve pain.7
8. Tone Your Skin
The tannins react with proteins to tighten your skin pores. So if you’re looking for
a mild astringent skin toner, a moist tea bag is an effective and inexpensive remedy.
8 Peppermint is another herb that has a refreshing, anti-inflammatory effect on your
skin. So a mixture of peppermint and green tea can be particularly helpful. A wet tea
bag with both these herbs works as a soothing, cooling, and protective toner,
especially during summer. 9
9. Spruce Up Your House
Did you know that tea bags can also help with housekeeping? A wet tea bag can
get rid of greasy fingerprints from glass and make your windows and mirrors sparkle.
But that’s not all. The tannins in black tea also help color and shine wooden
furniture, so you can use a wet tea bag to wipe down your chairs and tables.
You can also leave a couple of tea bags in your fridge to absorb odors so
that you don’t get any nasty smells when you open your refrigerator.10
10. Grow Your Garden
Toss used tea bags into your compost piles or around shrubs and perennials to
give them a nutrient boost. The tea will decompose releasing the much-needed
nitrogen for your plants. Flowering plants that need a lot of nutrients will be
particularly appreciative.11
References
1. ↑ Korać, Radava R., and Kapil M. Khambholja. “Potential of herbs in skin
protection from ultraviolet radiation.” Pharmacognosy reviews 5, no. 10 (2011): 164.
2. ↑ Elsaie, Mohamed L., Mahmoud F. Abdelhamid, Lotfy T. Elsaaiee, and
Hanaa M. Emam. “The efficacy of topical 2% green tea lotion in mild-to-moderate
acne vulgaris.” Journal of drugs in dermatology: JDD 8, no. 4 (2009): 358-364.
3, 4, 6, 7. ↑ Green, Joey. Joey Green’s Magic Health Remedies: 1,363 Quick-and-easy
Cures Using Brand-name Products. Rodale, 2013.
5. ↑ Mahmood, Tariq, Naveed Akhtar, Barkat Ali Khan, Haji M. Shoaib Khan, and
Tariq Saeed. “Outcomes of 3% green tea emulsion on skin sebum production in
male volunteers.” Bosn J Basic Med Sci 10, no. 3 (2010): 260-264.
8. ↑ Balick, Michael. Rodale’s 21st-Century Herbal: A Practical Guide for
Healthy Living Using Nature’s Most Powerful Plants. Rodale, 2014.
9. ↑ Robson, Michelle, and Michelle Robson-Garth. The Everything Guide to
Spices for Health: A Complete Guide to the Natural Health-boosting Benefits of
Everyday Spices. ” F+ W Media, Inc.”, 2015.
10. ↑ Woodward, R. J. Generations of Family Favourites – Soup 2 Nuts. iUniverse,
2011.
11. ↑ Yankee Magazine. Yankee Magazine’s Panty Hose, Hot Peppers, Tea Bags,
and More–For the Garden: 1,001 Ingenious Ways to Use Common Household
Items to Control Weeds, Beat Pests, Cook Compost, Solve Problems,
Make Tricky Jobs Easy, and Save Time. Rodale, 2006.
Disclaimer: The content is purely informative and educational in nature and
should not be construed as medical advice. Please use the content only in
consultation with an appropriate certified medical or healthcare professional.
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