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From a Westerner's point of view, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is old fashioned and perhaps even obsolete. The methods are usually different from Western Medicine and can often seem like they come from fantasy novels. A closer look, however, can show someone with an open mind that some of the practices make a certain amount of sense.

The first thing to understand with TCM is the ways it differs from Western Medicine. The two main ways it differs are in diagnosis of ailments, and treatments. In Western Medicine, doctors often use symptoms as a means to isolate the organ that is causing problems. This approach can be short sighted, in that a medication that fixes a problem in one organ, can cause another organ to have problems. This can result in patients either taking a bunch of medications to fix the side effects of the first medication, or having to decide which symptoms and side effects they can live with. In TCM, symptoms are seen as an imbalance in the body. Medicines are given to return the body to balance. Looking at the body as a whole allows the practitioner to lessen symptoms while creating minimal side effects.

Treatments in TCM are where Westerners start becoming skeptical. Instead of a pills, syrups and injections, TCM focuses on herbal medicines, food cures, and massage. While certain things can be easy to accept (ie, such and such herbal tea contains anti-oxidents, therefore it's good for treating certain symptoms), Westerners usually remain skeptical because of some of the more extreme medicines used in TCM (ie, powdered seahorse, rhino horns, shark fins). This is where my theory regarding TCM comes into play. Do research before trying a TCM treatment and use only the ones you are comfortable with.

I personally drink certain herbal teas because I either know their properties or can believe that their reported properties work. Certain teas are helpful to your body and that can be proven. Food cures can be similar to what a Western nutritionist will tell you. And who is going to argue that a massage isn't good for most people? Take the herbal medicines and food cures that seem right to you and refer to Western Medicine for any symptoms you can't treat with TCM. I will be posting articles on certain teas and herbs that can be used to help keep your body in balance over the next few weeks. I hope you come back to read them and give them a try.

Midterms are, once again, upon many college students across the nation and while many are grabbing coffee and energy drinks to keep them focused all through the night, I’m personally reaching for tea.

Now some of you may wonder how tea can even COMPARE to a product such as Five-Hour Energy when students are looking for that extra boost. While tea is not filled with the same caffeine that students think they are looking for, it IS filled with many values that energy drinks, soda, and coffee can’t even compare to.

Currently my top teas of choice during these next few stressful and demanding weeks are:

• Herbal Tea: Now, I don’t know about you, but when I am stressed out and not getting a lot of sleep or eating as well as I can (library café food anyone?), I tend to get sick. This tea is a life and sanity saver. I drink this tea twice a day—in the morning and in the evening in addition to taking my vitamins to give myself that extra protection against germs and mental breakdowns. I recommend this tea to be the backbone to any student’s midterm/final week diet to give them an even better chance at success.

• Vanilla Bean Honeybush: I have always been a lover of vanilla—no it is not the boring flavor of ice cream, it is the delicious one! I naturally had to try this tea out based on the fact that it is, well, made from vanilla beans. This all natural and antioxidant rich tea comes from the Cape Region of South Africa where it is said to help you “laugh more” and “you will look at your watch less.” Who could ask for a better remedy for headaches, deadlines, and panic-attacks?

• Rooibos: While many students are wanting to jam as much information into their brains as possible, or pull an all-nighter putting the finishing touches on that paper, it’s SO important to get restful sleep. Sleeping has always been one of my biggest foes and I’m constantly struggling with it—it’s very much a love/hate relationship. During midterms and exam time I reach for this dream saver. With the peaceful and relaxing qualities of rooibos and chamomile, you can’t help but let your eyelids get droopy.

• Silver Needle White Tea: My all-time favorite kind of tea. After completing that exhausting paper or conquering that grueling 200-question exam, I like to treat myself to some of the finest tea in the brew family. Not only is it’s taste smooth, exquisite and appreciated by many tea connoisseurs all over the world, but this tea is also believed to help fight against cancer.  I cannot help but feel at peace and comforted while drinking this tea, which is exactly what I need after pushing myself towards that midterm finish line.

Other universal benefits of drinking tea over caffeinated drinks during tense periods:

- NO sugar: The sugar in energy drinks and soda will cause many of their users to crash.

- Little to NO caffeine: While some people need a little bit of caffeine to help put that pep in their step, there are various types of tea that can still provide that energy boost without the effects of caffeine.

- Hydration: Tea will help to keep you hydrated while energy drinks contain more elements that PREVENT hydration of the body.

- Future health: Tea has been credited with helping fight against cancer...now who can tell me an energy drink or soda that has been credited with that?

Now I hope that my love for tea during midterm and finals season are beneficial for other students, but I must get back to my studies since it is that time of year. ::sigh::

So next time you need that extra OOMPH to finish that assignment, grab some tea over that Five-Hour Energy!

Some people just have strict daily routine. I know this, I have friends who are. They always go to the same bakery to get the same pastry; they remember to put everything to its original places. I am not one of them. I usually take risks, especially about food and drink. So when I come up with a really fantastic way of drinking tea, it’s cause for much celebration and publication on the Internet.

I just bought a big pack of hot chocolate, a box of Vanilla sleeptime herbal tea( I am a vanilla-smell savvy. This milky and sweet smell makes me addicted.) and a bottle of skim milk from the grocery.

I didn’t want to mix them up when I got them. However, several things made me try this crazy mixture.

1. First, I found that the paper container of my milk is disposable. There is no lid to cover the container after I opened it.  
2. I am so into vanilla smell and hot chocolate. It is pathetic that there is no vanill a smell-hot chocolate.

In such a scenario, I decided to mix them up. What I can get from this crazy behavior are: first, I can use up my milk as soon as possible; second, I can make my unique hot chocolate with the fresh and mint flavor from my herbal tea.

So let’s start. I have a Keurig coffee brewer. Basically, I use it to brew both coffee and tea. I put the tea bag into it. Just less than two minutes, the sweet vanilla and fresh mint smell infused my whole kitchen. Then I gradually stir hot tea into the hot chocolate. The last step was adding milk into them.

With wonderful smell from tea, silk,sweet but not saccharine taste from hot chocolate and creamy feeling from milk, my vanilla chocolate milk tea is my strict daily routine now.

Want ice cream but can't handle the calories?  Tempted for a frozen yogurt but could do without the sugar?  Feel healthy and refreshed with a non-fat, yet delicious dessert: tea popsicles!   The secret to making tea popsicles is to simply double the ingredients.  Here's how: 

Ingredients:

1. Iced tea smoothie (recipe to follow):

2. Popsicle tray with sticks

3. Freezer

Prepare your favorite iced tea smoothie recipe, using double the ingredients. Allow the ice to melt for 20 minutes or so. Pour the mix into popsicle trays. Add the sticks. Place in freezer for at least 2 hours. 

Fruit Tea Smoothie Recipe with ingredients doubled:

1. Two heaping tablespoons of Fruity Dream herbal tisane

2. Two teaspoons of honey

3. Two cups boiled filtered water

4. Ice, cubed or crushed

5. Whipping cream 

Directions:

Combine tea and honey in a teapot. Add filtered water, just below boiling temperature and steep for 4 minutes. Stir until honey dissolves.  Strain brewed tea mixture over ice in a blender. Blend to your desired thickness. Serve with whipping cream on top or a grapefruit slice garnish to really live it up. 

Voila!

Here is a fantastic "dessert in a cup" recipe with our favorite tisane, Fruity Dream. This drink is also the best way to maintain your hard earned figure for the summer without sacrificing taste.

Ingredients (per serving):

1. One heaping tablespoon of Fruity Dream herbal tisane

2. One teaspoon of honey

3. One cup boiled filtered water

4. Ice, cubed or crushed

5. Whipping cream

Combine tea and honey in a teapot. Add filtered water, just below boiling temperature and steep for 4 minutes. Stir until honey dissolves.  Strain brewed tea mixture over ice in a blender. Blend to your desired thickness. Serve with whipping cream on top or a grapefruit slice garnish to really live it up.