茶書에 나타난 茶의 藥理的 效能에 관한 硏究

Abstract

This purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of Korean indigenous tea by examining the contents and the statistics of four Daseo published in the Choson dynasty. To date, the most well known representative ancient literature (Daseo 茶書) describing the efficacy of the tea in the Choson dynasty are Tabu (茶賦 다부), Bupunghyangchabo (扶風鄕茶譜 부풍향차보), Dongdagi (東茶記 동다기), and Dongdasong (東茶頌 동다송). To analyze the indigenous tea, Chinese-medicinal analysis and scientific analysis were performed based on the contents of "Donguibogam", which is a representative Chinese-medical literature in Korea, and other various publications. In addition, sensory analysis of tea quality was carried out on residents in Jeju, and the results were evaluated by statistical analysis. Without proofing scientific evidence, it turned out that our ancestors fully realized the efficacy of this tea through an accumulation of experience over a long period. It is important to understand our historical tea culture in these modern times using previous literature and information as well as comparing today's scientific findings with past empirical Chinese-medicine that describes the valuable components and efficacy of tea. The healthy effects of tea have been thoroughly understood through the experience of drinking tea. The efficacy of four types of Daseo in the Choson dynasty can be described as follows; Dongdasong (東茶頌) has been shown to produce various beneficial effects such as an anti-aging, skin care, physical recovery, preventing drowsiness, alleviating hangover, headache and mental disease. Tea was reported to ameliorate headaches, digestion, hangovers, anti-cancer, chest pain, colds, cough, diarrhea, pox, and malaria in Dongdagi (東茶記). Bupunghyangchabo (扶風鄕茶譜) described the efficacy of tea in regards to paralysis, dyspepsia, cold, cough, hot, chilliness, and reducing fever as well as obesity. Tabu (茶賦), which was the first ancient publication concerning Korean tea, reported that tea could alleviate mental instability, thirst, anti-aging, moderating headaches and hangovers. In particular, all four Daseo were reported to relieve headaches, and three Daseo were found to alleviate hangovers. Furthermore, two Daseo were shown to decrease drowsiness as well as to enhance digestion, anti-aging, rejuvenation, and cold cure. In conclusion, Daseo was shown to describe the efficacy of tea in the Choson dynasty, and the conclusions of these studies were based on scientific and empirical information. Most of the currently known effects of tea were clearly described in Daseo. In addition, it is expected that the application of tea in the livestock industry will help prevent the prevalence of infectious diseases such as flu or FMD (foot and mouth disease). It is very important to prevent infectious diseases in poultry including horse, pig and cattle by utilizing tea as a feed additive as well as to develop new drugs that contain the essential component of tea. In a survey on tea consumption, the younger generation (around 20 years old) was found to prefer instant tea products. On the other hand, people over 40 years old had a higher preference for prime tea products including hand-made tea leaves. Therefore, these results indicate that there may be a demand to develop personalized tea products for an individual consumer.

Finally, there is a need to develop an indigenous Jeju green tea with enhanced medicinal properties and higher preference. In particular, Citrus, wild Chrysanthemum, bamboo, Shiitake mushroom, and mistletoe, as specialty of Jeju, could be applied to produce an indigenous Jeju green tea with higher functional properties. Ultimately, the development of new green tea products will result in the expansion of the tea industry in Jeju in the future.