IN dealing with sick people we are forcibly reminded of the evil effects of tea and coffee upon the human organism. Frequently patients consult a physician for medical aid who have sallow skins, who complain of palpitation of the heart, or are depressed.
Upon making inquiry into their habits, they admit that they use freely tea and coffee. The wife or mother of the home may say: "I am never hungry for breakfast, but always take my cup of coffee. I could not do my morning work without it, but with it I am able to accomplish my work."
People of such habits must sooner or later visit the clinic or physician's office, because their unnatural demands upon nature finally are overdrawn, and there follows a reaction. It is truly said:
Tea and coffee produce an immediate effect. Under the influence of these poisons the nervous system is excited, and in some cases for the time being the intellect seems to be invigorated and the imagination to be more vivid. Because these stimulants produce for the time being such agreeable results, many conclude that they really need them, and continue their use. But there is always a reaction. The nervous system, having been unduly excited, borrows for present use from its future resources of strength. All this temporary invigoration of the system is followed by depression. In proportion as these stimulants temporarily invigorate the system, will be the letting down of the power of the excited organs after the stimulus has lost its force.
Chemists have examined for us the chemical and nutritive values of tea and coffee. Their report is as follows:
Black Tea
Green Tea
Water
8.20
5.96
Caffein
3.24
2.33
Albumin (insoluble)
17.20
16.83
Albumin (soluble)
0.70
0.80
Alcoholic extract
6.79
7.05
Dextrin
—
0.50
Pectin and pectic acid
2.60
3.22
Tannic acid
16.40
27.14
Chlorophyl and resin
4.60
4.20
Cellulose
34.00
25.90
Ash
6.27
6.07
Roasted Coffee (Mocha)
Caffein
0.82
Saccharine matter
0.43
Caffeic acids
4.74
Alcoholic extract (nitrogenous and coloring matters)
14.14
Fat and oil
13.59
Legumin
11.23
Dextrin
1.24
Cellulose and insoluble coloring matter
48.62
Ash
4.56
Moisture
0.63
In other words, an ordinary teacupful of tea as it is usually drunk contains fifteen grains of solid matter, chief of which are caffein, tannic acid, and volatile oil.
An ordinary cup of coffee contains 1.7 grains of caffein and 3.24 grains of tannic acid. The longer the infusion of these the greater the per cent of tannic acid. This is not true of caffein, as it is easily dissolved.
By studying carefully these figures one can see that in each cupful of tea or coffee the user gets a fairly good-sized medicinal dose of caffein; also that these drinks can not be considered foods. Hutchison says on this subject:
"All experiments go to prove that caffein tends to increase rather than diminish tissue waste. It does not prolong life in starvation, altho it may perhaps lessen the feeling of hunger. . . . We may conclude, then, that tea and coffee are in no sense foods, in that they can neither build up the tissues nor provide them with potential energy, tho they may perhaps act the parts of lubricants in the machinery of the body by diminishing nervous fatigue. It is no doubt that it is this subjective feeling which has led to the very extended use of these beverages by men in all ages and in all countries."
Since they are not foods, what are their effects upon the human body? The principal and active constituents of tea and coffee are caffein, tannic acid, and volatile oil. The effect of caffein upon the body is to stimulate. It exerts its effects upon the central nervous system even more than upon the heart. It removes the sense of fatigue, but produces sleeplessness. It produces an increased heart action, which shows itself by palpitation of the heart, a symptom which is so annoying to many people. In small doses caffein raises arterial tension. For this reason we often find patients who use coffee, suffering from high blood pressure, a symptom which produces apoplexy. In large doses caffein is a depressant to the heart and also to respiration. A noted author of materia medica (Potter) makes this statement:
"Used to excess it disorders digestion and causes functional disturbance of the nervous system, shown by headache, mental confusion, and palpitation of the heart. It increases secretion, blunts sensation, exerts reflex excitability, increases mental activity, and may produce insomnia and great nervous restlessness. It first briefly stimulates the heart and raises arterial tension, but soon depresses both."
Another active constituent of tea and coffee is tannic acid, which, as we have noticed, is contained in both in large percentage. The effect of tannic acid on salivary and gastric digestion is invariably to retard stomach digestion, and in strong infusions of tea it acts as an irritant to the mucous membrane of the stomach, especially if the stomach is empty. The same is true of the volatile oils contained in both tea and coffee, particularly coffee, so that it may be possible for these drugs, taken upon an empty stomach, to keep up a condition of chronic gastric catarrh.
Tannic acid is a powerful astringent. It precipitates pepsin and coagulates albumin, impairs digestion, stops peristalsis, and causes constipation. Its continued use disorders digestion, irritates the mucous membranes, and produces emaciation.—Potter.
One can readily see that instead of taking a food or even something which aids the digestion of food, a drug is used at the table producing the above results, which are certainly not desirable.
We then can understand how tea draws upon "the strength of the nerves and leaves them greatly weakened. When its influence is gone and the increased action caused by its use is abated, then what is the result?—Languor and debility corresponding to the artificial vivacity that tea imparted. When the system is already overtaxed and needs rest, the use of tea spurs up nature by stimulation to perform unwonted, unnatural action, and thereby lessens her power to perform and her ability to endure. The influence of coffee is in a degree the same as tea, but the effect upon the system is still worse. Its influence is exciting, and just in the degree that it elevates above par it will exhaust and bring prostration below par. Tea and coffee drinkers carry their marks upon their faces. The skin becomes sallow and assumes a lifeless appearance. The glow of health is not seen upon the countenance."
The apparent strength which tea and coffee give is false strength and not natural strength. In attempting to stop their use, particularly that of coffee, one suffers from headache, which can be relieved by the application of hot and cold to the head. The heat is applied over the eyes and forehead and sides of the face, the cold in an ice-bag at the back of the neck. Oftentimes this gives relief in a very short time, provided the patient is put to bed and kept quiet and the feet are made warm by a hot foot-bath if necessary. If the determination to stop the use of these drugs is persisted in, in a few days the tendency to headache will disappear and the patient will feel much brighter and clearer than before.
A habit which is deleterious to the action of the human body certainly should be discontinued. Some are afraid to do this, because they believe it would result disastrously with them. Such is not the case. The continuance of these hurtful stimulants is destroying nature's fine machinery, and battering down her fortifications erected against disease and premature decay. The same God who requires that we present our bodies a living sacrifice, is able to help us to overcome the effects of hurtful habits, in order that we may preserve our bodies in the very best condition of health and thus do better service for Him.
