Drinking tea is a common habit for many. Some believe tea has health benefits, while others simply enjoy it to pass the time. In fact, tea leaves have pharmacological effects such as refreshing the mind, clearing heat, relieving summer heat, aiding digestion, reducing phlegm, removing greasiness, aiding weight loss, and calming irritability. But did you know about tea's other uses? Here are 10 major health uses of tea.

1. Treat athlete's foot: Tea has antibacterial properties that can treat athlete's foot. Tea contains a large amount of tannic acid, which has strong antibacterial effects, particularly against the filamentous fungi that cause athlete's foot. Therefore, people with athlete's foot can boil tea into a strong solution and wash their feet with it every night. Over time, it may cure the condition. However, this method requires persistence, as significant results may not appear in a short time.

2. Eliminate bad breath: Tea has a strong astringent effect. Keeping tea leaves in the mouth can help eliminate bad breath. Gargling with strong tea also has the same effect. If you are not fond of drinking tea, you can rinse your mouth with brewed tea leaves to reduce the bitter taste while still achieving some effect.

3. Hair care: Tea can remove grease and dirt. After washing your hair, rinsing it with tea water can make your hair black, soft, and shiny. Moreover, tea does not contain chemicals, so it won't harm your hair or skin.

4. Wash silk garments: Silk clothing is most vulnerable to chemical detergents. If you use boiled tea leaves to wash silk garments, it can help maintain their original color and keep them looking bright and new. The same effect applies to nylon fiber clothing.

5. Relieve cold symptoms: If you have a sore throat or hoarse voice, which may be signs of a cold, drinking several cups of strong tea with rock sugar before seeking medical attention can immediately make your mouth feel refreshed and reduce discomfort. In the past, this was used as a folk remedy in rural areas.

6. Make tea eggs: Tea eggs are a delicious snack. Some people use brewed tea leaves to make them, while others use tea powder. However, oolong tea is the best choice because it is affordable and gives the eggs a reddish color and fragrant taste. The key to making tea eggs is to first boil the eggs until cooked, gently crack the shells, then add tea leaves to the water and continue boiling to allow the tea flavor to fully infuse.

7. Tea pillow: Do not discard used tea leaves. Spread them on a wooden board to dry, and over time, you can accumulate enough to use as filling for a pillow. It is said that tea pillows can refresh the mind, enhance thinking abilities, and promote mental clarity, as tea is considered cooling and invigorating.

8. Repel mosquitoes: Dry used tea leaves and burn them during summer evenings to repel mosquitoes. This method is harmless to humans and has the same effect as mosquito repellent incense.

9. Cooking ingredient: Tea contains rich pigments, especially the reddish-brown pigment in black tea, which has a wide range of uses. It can be used to mix drinks or prepare food. If you keep some strong black tea broth in the kitchen as a cooking ingredient, it is much better than chemical pigments. Homemakers who often have tea at home might want to give it a try.

10. Plant fertilizer: Brewed tea leaves still contain nutrients such as inorganic salts and carbohydrates. Burying them in flower beds or pots can help plants grow and reproduce. Many gardening enthusiasts are aware of this use, which is more convenient than disposing of them as garbage.