“The mind is restless and difficult to restrain, but it is subdued by practice and detachment.”
— Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 6, Verse 35
…preferably with a hot cup of tea in hand.
Some people drink tea to wake up.
Some drink it to calm down.
But for a select few—philosophers, seekers, wisdom-keepers—it becomes a kind of ritual… a daily dialogue between the body and the soul.
This one’s for them.
This is for my old teacher David White, who carried around a flask of tea like it was sacred scripture—and maybe it was. He translated the Bhagavad Gita from Sanskrit to English, sipping oolong in between verses, pouring warm wisdom over both language and leaf.
This is also for my mother, who understood without explanation that tea helped you eat less, think clearer, and carry yourself with dignity.
And finally, this is for you—dear reader of Hopium Health—because you deserve to know that tea is not just a drink. It’s a discipline.
Why Tea Belongs in the Gita (And Your Daily Practice)
The Gita isn’t a book you read—it’s a manual for alignment.
Between your inner world and your outer world. Between action and surrender.
And what is tea, really, but the middle path?
It’s not sugary. Not caffeinated chaos.
It’s warm, calm, and subtle. Just like sattva, the guna of balance and clarity.
The Medical Side of Stillness: Tea’s Functional Powers
Let’s drop into the lab for a moment. Here’s what modern research has to say about this ancient brew:
1.
L-Theanine
A compound found in tea (especially green and black) that promotes alpha brain waves—those associated with relaxed alertness, meditation, and creative flow.
Gita Application: Still the mind, sharpen awareness.
2.
EGCG and Polyphenols
These potent antioxidants reduce inflammation, boost detox pathways (especially in the liver), and help prevent oxidative stress.
Gita Application: Reduce the tamas (sluggishness, toxicity) of the body and mind.
3.
Cortisol Modulation
Tea helps lower stress hormones, easing the burden on your adrenals and heart.
Gita Application: Detach from outcomes. Reduce internal reactivity.
4.
Appetite Suppression & Metabolic Regulation
Tea blunts hunger, especially in the late afternoon when cravings strike. It also improves insulin sensitivity.
Gita Application: Control the senses. Discipline desire.
5.
Chelation & Detox
Some studies now show that tea can help bind to and eliminate heavy metals and toxins from water and the body—especially when consumed with herbs like tulsi or ginger.
Gita Application: Purify the vessel, prepare the path.
A Tea Ritual Inspired by the Gita
- Choose a time of day when the world quiets.
- Brew your tea slowly and intentionally.
- Sit facing the sun or an open window.
- Read one verse of the Gita.
- Sip your tea as if it’s an answer, not a beverage.
- Be still.
