Psalms 104:14 HE causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man....
[King James translation]
Herbs
There are a number of herbs mentioned in the Bible. Hyssop, garlic, frankincense, myrrh, cinnamon and mint are just a few. For example in the wilderness, the people complained to Moses about the foods that they missed, including the leeks, onion and garlic. See, Number 11:5.
Psalms 104:14 states that GOD causes herbs to grow for the service of humankind.
Tea
In "A Healthy Brew: Time for Tea," Dr. John Weisburger, who has chaired two international scientific symposiums on tea and human health, claims that tea is probably the single best thing that you can add to your diet to ward off serious illness. Dr. Weisburger promotes tea as helping to prevent cancer and heart disease.
The article cites a study published in the April 2000 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that involved women aged 65 to 75 who drank at least one cup of tea every day. In that study they found that the tea drinkers had significantly higher bone density in the spine and thigh, which are common areas for fractures caused by osteoporosis, than women of the same age who did not drink any tea. Researchers concluded that drinking caffeinated tea may protect against osteoporosis, even though high caffeine intake has been shown to be linked to increased risk of reduced bone density.
What the researchers have concluded is that the increased risk of reduced bone density studies were linked to coffee as the major source of caffeine and not tea. While researchers have not as yet determined how tea works on bones, they suspect that antioxidants may be key. Tea antioxidants, called polyphenols, "may be 100 times as effective as vitamin C and 25 times as effective as vitamin E," according to Weisburger. However, it is noted that herbal teas may often contain no polyphenols, so herbal tea drinkers should be careful to select those teas that do contain polyphenols. Polyphenols in tea include catechins, theaflavins, tannis and flavonoids. Almost all teas made from Camellia sinensis contain polyphenols. These include white tea, green tea, black tea and oolong tea.
Other scientists have also found that the power antioxidants in tea may also reduce the risk of heart disease. In one study, women aged 55 or older, who drank a cup or two of black tea a day, were 54% less likely to have severe atherosclerosis, which can lead to heart attack or stroke, than those who did not. According to the October 11, 1999 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, the more tea they drank, the lower their risk. Researchers speculate that the tea antioxidants help to prevent "bad" (LDL, low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol from promoting plaque buildup, thus helping the arteries supply nourishing blood to the heart and the body.
Herbal teas or "plant extractions" or "infusions" usually contain extracts from the plant used to make them---e.g. chamomile, mint, spearmint, etc. Many of these teas do not contain polyphenols derivatives in any abundance, although herbal teas may have other soothing or beneficial properties.
SERVICE
Palms 104:14 speaks of herbs serving humanity. The Bible has a lot to say about service. These are just a few scriptures:
1 Peter 4:9-11 ESV
Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of GOD's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of GOD; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that GOD supplies—in order that in everything GOD may be glorified through JESUS CHRIST. To HIM belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:10 ESV
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of GOD's varied grace:
Galatians 5:13 ESV
For you were called to freedom, brothers [and sisters]. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
Matthew 20:26-28 ESV
It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give HIS life as a ransom for many."
Isaiah 58:10 ESV
If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.
Romans 12:11 ESV
Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the LORD.
Mark 10:45 ESV
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give HIS life as a ransom for many."
Just as you might try out a number of different teas, today meditate on a few Bible verses about service. See what effect GOD's WORD has on your body and spirit. Just as tea must "steep" (i.e., soaked in a liquid in order to soften, cleanse, or extract an element) so must our minds and spirit "steep" in GOD's word.
Today, relax, enjoy and steep and BE Blessed.
