MANHASSET, N.Y., Nov. 8 (UPI) -- A U.S. study suggested a component of green tea might be useful in treating severe sepsis -- an abnormal immune system response to a bacterial infection.

Haichao Wang and colleagues at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research studied the therapeutic effects of dozens of Chinese herbal compounds in reversing sepsis, which kills 225,000 people in the United States annually.

In a mouse study, the scientists found a green tea extract -- EGCG -- caused survival rates of mice suffering sepsis increased from 53 percent in those not receiving EGCG to 82 percent in those that did.

"Clinically, even if we could save 5 percent of patients, that would be huge," said Wang. "In this study, we saved 25 percent more animals with the green tea."The researchers said their findings could pave the way for clinical trials.

The study, conducted in collaboration with Wei Li and Dr. Andrew Sama chairman of emergency medicine at North Shore University Hospital, appears in the online journal PLoS One.

Simply put 3 grams (approximately one teaspoon) of loose Green Tea into a ceramic cup (6 ounces to 8 ounces) or inside the ceramic filter of the cup if there is one. Then pour freshly boiling water (for best results please use water at the temperature of 80 degrees Celsius or 170 degree Fahrenheit) into your ceramic cup. Put a cover on top of the cup, and let it sit for 3 minutes.

Appreciation of Green Tea is not limited to the taste of drinking. You can use your other senses as well. When you open the cover of the cup, smell the tea first to enjoy its pleasant aroma. Then take a look at the bright green color of the tea and you will find the leaves gently unfolding in your cup. Allow yourself to relax and slowly sip your first taste of the tea. Let it roll down your tongue and savor the subtle scent of the sweet grass. Slowly, you will enjoy every sip of your Green Tea.

When one third of the tea is all that is left in the cup, you can add more hot water. You can repeat the above procedure with the same loose Green Tea leaves up to three times or more.

Green tea has been credited with providing a wide variety of health benefits, many of which have not been validated by scientific evidence. These claims and any for which academic citations are currently missing are listed here:

• Stopping certain neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
  The prevention and treatment of cancer.
  
• Treating multiple sclerosis.
  
• Preventing the degradation of cell membranes by neutralizing the spread of free radicals which occur during oxidation process.
  
• Reducing the negative effects of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) by lowering levels of triglycerides and increasing the production of HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol).
  
• Increasing fat oxidation (helps the body use fat as an energy source) and raising metabolism.
  
• Joy Bauer, a New York City nutritionist, says [the catechins in green tea] increase levels of the metabolism speeding brain chemical norepinephrine.
  
• Japanese researchers claim that drinking five cups of green tea a day can burn 70 to 80 extra calories. Dr. Nicholas Perricone, an anti-aging specialist, appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show and told Oprah's viewers they can lose 10 lbs (4.5 kg) in 6 weeks drinking green tea instead of coffee.
  
• Some green tea lovers restrict their intake because of the caffeine it contains — about a quarter the amount as is found in coffee. Too much caffeine can cause nausea, insomnia or frequent urination.

There is archaeological evidence that suggests that tea has been consumed for almost 5000 years, with China and India being two of the first countries to cultivate it. Green tea has been used as traditional medicine in areas such as India, China, Japan and Thailand to help everything from controlling bleeding and helping heal wounds to regulating body temperature, blood sugar and promoting digestion.

The Kissa Yojoki (Book of Tea), written by Zen priest Eisai in 1191, describes how drinking green tea can have a positive effect on the five vital organs, especially the heart. The book discusses tea's medicinal qualities, which include easing the effects of alcohol, acting as a stimulant, curing blotchiness, quenching thirst, eliminating indigestion, curing beriberi disease, preventing fatigue, and improving urinary and brain function. Part One also explains the shapes of tea plants, tea flowers, and tea leaves, and covers how to grow tea plants and process tea leaves. In Part Two, the book discusses the specific dosage and method required for individual physical ailments.

Green tea is a "true" tea, meaning it is made solely with the leaves of Camellia sinensis, that has undergone minimal oxidation during processing. Green tea originates from China and has become associated with many cultures in Asia from Japan to the Middle East. Recently, it has become more widespread in the West, where black tea is traditionally consumed. Many varieties of green tea have been created in countries where it is grown that can differ substantially due to variable growing conditions, processing and harvesting time. Over the last few decades green tea has begun to be subjected to many scientific and medical studies to determine the extent of its long purported health benefits, with some evidence suggesting regular green tea drinkers may have lower chances of heart disease and contracting certain types of cancer.