Coffee (Ka Fei)

Botanical Name: Coffea arabica, C. canephora var. Robusta

Coffee is high in antioxidants and caffeine, a stimulant that boosts energy and counters depression. It improves mental clarity and new research indicates it can help prevent type 2 diabetes and cancer. In Traditional Chinese Medicine both roasted and natural green coffee beans are used.

Watch a short video, from Ann Christensen, Founder and Creator of White Rabbit Institute of Healing™ – What’s the difference between green and roasted coffee?

Below is an overview of coffee, combining the best of Western Science, Oriental Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Shamanism, Folklore, and a wide range of healing modalities. Gain a balanced and thorough understanding of the healing properties of coffee.

Parts Most Frequently Used: Roasted Beans, Green Beans, Fruit (Red Cherry)

Flavors/Temps: Roasted Beans and Fruit – Bitter, Slightly Sweet, Warming. Green Coffee Beans – Bitter, Slightly Sweet, Cooling.

Caution: Considered safe. Overdosing can cause anxiety, interrupt sleep, and raise blood pressure. Added cream and sugar can counter coffee’s benefits.

Key Constituents: Caffeine, Chlorogenic acids (CGAs), Cafestol, Caffeic acid, Glutamic acid, Manganese, Potassium, Magnesium, Vitamin B2, B3, and B5

History/Folklore: Initially, coffee was made from green, unroasted beans to make a tea-like beverage. 13th century Arabs are credited with being the first to roast coffee beans. In modern times coffee has been a popular habit that was not necessarily considered healthy. It can be (and often is) overindulged and may be inappropriate for those who suffer certain health conditions. That said, it would be unfortunate to miss out on the proven health benefits of moderate coffee consumption.

Coffee has not been a traditional beverage in China or particularly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Its popularity has grown there in response to interest in Western food and culture. Through observation and study have been applied to the use of the beans, both roasted and unroasted it was determined that, while indulging in more than 1 to 3 cups of roasted coffee beans per day can cause anxiety and palpitations, green coffee from the unroasted beans can be a tonic to help Regulate Liver Qi, support the nervous system, and aid metabolism and roasted coffee can help Regulate Menstruation and Cleanse the Gallbladder.

They also consider the red berry (called a red cherry) that surrounds the beans to be especially supportive of Heart health. Coffee is a vasodilator that can improve circulation and cognitive function. In TCM, roasted coffee beans are said to be warming, while green coffee beans are considered to be cooling and both are Qi Dispersing. In TCM, coffee is not recommended for those who are Qi Deficient, as it is considered too moving.

Green coffee bean extract is high in antioxidants, regulates blood pressure and cholesterol, and can help reduce fine lines and wrinkles on the skin. It may help with weight loss and regulating blood sugar levels. It also helps boost metabolism.

Coffee has a long history as a ritual and medicinal beverage. In Arabia, coffee was traditionally enjoyed by men but given to women to help ease menstrual cramps. Today coffee is blended with milk, cream, milk substitutes, mushrooms, and other coffee flavorings and sweeteners.

Coffee is sometimes called “joe” because it is considered the common man’s drink and “joe” is slang for a “regular guy”.

Coffee has psychoactive properties that can promote addiction. In boosting energy and mental clarity people can, over time, become dependent on coffee to get them going and lift their moods. Weaning oneself from coffee is possible, but it can cause headaches for a few days, especially in those who drink large amounts every day.

The compounds chlorogenic acid (CGAs) and caffeic acid, found in coffee have been shown to have antidepressant and anti-anxiety properties. They also reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. New research suggests chlorogenic acid helps to regulate blood sugar. Higher coffee consumption has been related to reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.

The compound cafestol, found in coffee, may adversely impact cholesterol levels. Its impact can be reduced by grinding coffee, however, if you already have issues with cholesterol levels, coffee may be best avoided.

Coffee is very high in antioxidants that help reduce the risk of cancer and other ailments caused by free-radical damage. The chlorogenic acids (CGAs) found in coffee are especially powerful antioxidants that can protect you from free-radical damage caused by poor diet, medications, environmental factors, or UV light exposure.

The WHO’s International Agency of Research on Cancer has taken coffee off its list of suspected carcinogens, with some research even suggesting that coffee may help reduce the chance of colon cancer and reduce the risk of it returning after treatment. Other research indicates that coffee may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and dementia.

While caffeine can boost brain function and stimulate alertness, too much can also cause dehydration, anxiety, jitters, and prevent a good night’s sleep. An 8 oz cup of coffee typically contains about 80mg to 100mg of caffeine. Less than 400mg per day is a common recommended dose.

Several studies suggest that drinking coffee can reduce the risk of depression and improve mental and cognitive function. Coffee improves alertness and reaction responses. It can give a short burst of energy to the system. Coffee also promotes bowel movements and urination.

Women do not metabolize caffeine in the same way that men do. It can stay in a woman’s body for up to 24 hours and generally is active in a man’s body for only up to 5 hours.

Coffee enemas have been used to detox the liver and cleanse the colon. The evidence that this approach is effective remains inconclusive though many swear that it works wonders.

The caffeine in coffee essential oil does not absorb into your body from the skin. A few drops of coffee essential oil in a diffuser can be a wonderful way to start your day or to settle into a period of mental focus and learning.

A single coffee tree can produce enough beans for 40 cups of coffee per year. The bean is removed from the fruit for drying and stored for a year before being roasted. Once roasted the beans begin to lose their flavor and are best used within several weeks. Shade-grown coffee is coffee that is being grown in an area that has not been deforested to increase yields. Deforestation harms biodiversity, especially for birds, and causes soil erosion. The species Coffea arabica makes up 70% of the world’s coffee production. It is self-pollinating and typically has a lower caffeine content than C. canephora.

Coffee trees contain saponins in their bark and foliage that are toxic to dogs and other pets.

Do not store coffee in your refrigerator. It acts as a deodorizer and will absorb the aromas in your fridge compromising the flavor of your coffee. Coffee is best stored in opaque (out of sunlight), air-tight containers at room temperature.