Holistic Healing for Addiction

The Art of Tea Drinking

Let me begin this chapter by apologizing for a title which may mislead. "The Art of Tea Drinking" for the purposes of this book should not be confused with the venerable Asian art of tea ceremony. This chapter is intended to give you an introductory understanding of the physical and psychological benefits to consuming tea on a regular basis. There are four "true" forms of tea which include black tea, green tea, white tea, and oolong tea. All tea is derived from a plant called Camellia sinensis. Herbal teas are infusions of the plant they are derived from. For instance, mint tea, does not stem from Camellia sinensis, but mint- as such, it is not considered a "true tea." While herbal tea may, or may not, herald properties of cancer fighting agents and lung protectants, herbal tea may be used in the art of tea leaf reading. Why include a section about tea in a book slated for holistic healing and addiction recovery? Studies conclude green tea augments working memory- a key component in helping overcoming chronic substance use disorders, and mild instances of substance abuse.

The deficit of cognition is ascribed to a lack of grey matter, likening one's impaired ability to control impulsive behavior and ignore cravings. (Children and teenagers' brains are not yet fully developed, which makes them more susceptible to developing a substance use disorder.)

There are easily assessable activities you can perform on your own to strengthen cognition and fight addiction biologically:

∞ Practice Mindful Meditation

∞ Get Active

∞ Explore Creative Pursuits; writing, art, dance, music, etc.

∞ Establish and maintain social connections

∞ Play Brain Training Games (there are tons of apps for that!)

∞ Go to Bed!

If you ask a meditation expert what the difference between "meditation" and "mindful meditation" is, you might get a mixed response. The central theme to remember is meditation serves as a means to delve into the innards of yourself, and discover the indwelling nature of your spirit outward. Mindful Meditation awakens awareness to the mind's function; as in, we become aware we are thinking when we are thinking, and are privy to why our thoughts form.

Mindful meditation relies on the continual monitoring of thought, to identify problem areas and address them; the avoidance of rashness in physicality, emotive outbreak, and spiritual degradation speed tumult away from jeopardizing inner calm.

I mean it. Getting a full eight hours of sleep will do a world of wonders for that big beautiful noggin of yours! When we sleep, our brains absorb everything we have been exposed to during the day. Without proper amounts of sleep you are squandering all of the hard work you have put in to yourself to make a difference in your behavior. You can drink all the tea in your cabinet, but if you are not exposing yourself to stimuli requiring the absorption of information, your cognitive ability will not improve. Therefore establishing a healthy sleep regimen is imperative. According to Christopher Bergland, of Psychology Today,

"Imaging studies have suggested that sleep disturbances may be associated with structural brain changes in certain regions of the frontal lobe. The surprising thing about this study is that it suggests poor sleep quality is associated with reduced gray matter volume throughout the entire frontal lobe and globally in the brain."