“Do you have a citation that states that Camellia sinensis is the reason tea is against the Word of Wisdom? I’m a bit sorry to admit that I used to drink tea—both black and herbal—before joining the Church of Jesus Christ, but have never done so since my baptism because it was—and is—my understanding that tea means tea, period.” (Jeff)
Thanks for writing, Jeff.
Camellia sinensis is tea.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea
Herbal tea is fine because it is not made from the tea plant, or is not steeped using parts of Camellia sinensis plant. In other words, it’s not tea.
One thing I tell my friends who want to know more about me and why I can drink herb tea is that herbs are good for our bodies. I used dried herbs to make soups and broths. In the case of herbal tea, you could call it herbal broth since you could use it to make soup or broth. In fact, Celestial Seasonings used to put out recipes using their herb teas to make soups- my mom makes some of them.
When coffee and tea were defined as the hot drinks specified in the word of wisdom he didn’t say “coffee and Camellia sinensis.” He just said coffee and tea. Herbal tea’s can be just as harmful to the body as tea made from Camellia sinensis. Drink too much and you could thin your blood too much, quicken your heart rate, or relax your muscles to the point of non-operation. All tea’s (any drink made by steeping leaves in water) have specific medicinal effects, and we shouldn’t drink them unless we are specifically trying to medicate ourselves. If Camellia sinensis is banned for the effects that it has on the body, then all other teas should likewise be under suspicion for the same reason.
Study and prayer is key to understanding this, Satan has tried very had to make things that were once clear very grey to us now. It doesn’t take long of a study of the people in Joseph Smiths day to realize that it was common knowledge that hot drinks did in fact mean coffee and all teas made from the plant Camellia sinensis. They all knew that black, green, white, and yellow teas where made from the same plant and consisted of the same stimulants. I have spent a lifetime studying plants, and can say wholeheartedly that there is no possible way anyone could consume any herb categorized by tea bag makers as herbal teas, and have their blood thinned to much, heart rate quickened, muscles relaxed to the point of non-operation in any way. You will not find any of the sort of these types of reactions to any amount of these herbs. Now could you find a substance in one of these plants, synthesize a chemical from similar characteristics and produce drugs from these chemicals that will have these adverse results? Not from these herbs, but from many other plants yes of course, its called the pharmaceutical industry, and yes I do recommend to stay away 🙂 This in nothing like what you will consume from herbal teas. If you add a plant based substance to any of the teas made in the herbal tea classification, the name is changed to Chai, signifying that there is a stimulant now mixed in the herbal tea. All of the plants used in the herbal tea class of drinks, are what would be considered to the early saints as wholesome herbs. These drinks have been the same for thousands of years documented throughout the world, they have never changed. It is referred to in D&C 89:10, and also happens to be the only thing that we can consume without qualification. Can herbal plants(and drinks made from them) have effects on our body? Oh yes, they regulate our heart rate, they regulate our blood pressure, they kill harmful bacteria, etc. etc. Study these things out and prayer for understanding, don’t make assumptions. The promises of doing it right is unbelievable, read the blessings at the end of D&C 89, they are for all saints, but there is one in particular that will save us literally when the tribulations before the second coming of the Savior begin!