For many years, I lived with Hashimoto’s disease. Hair, weight gain and extreme fatigue were my “normal”. Not only is it thyroid problems, but autoimmune status has skyrocketed over the past few years. What do these conditions have in common? They are all accompanied by inflammation!
Recovery is a multifaceted approach, but anti-inflammatory drugs are a great way to help the body regulate and heal itself.
Even without autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and irritable bowel disease, chronic inflammation can still be experienced. Osteoarthritis can cause inflammation when the joints wear out. Inflammatory conditions can also cause a cascade of other problems, such as hypertension and dysregulation of blood glucose.
Is inflammation responsible?
Many people accuse them of causing inflammation. However, inflammation is actually a body’s response to an overwhelmed immune system. Podcast guest and functional medicine practitioner Maggie Berhoff points to a mix of toxin exposure and genetics. It is extremely helpful to have a multifaceted approach that calms inflammation and reduces the burden of toxicity.
Many anti-inflammatory herbs have the benefits of antibiotics and detoxification to provide even more health benefits. By reducing inflammation, you can relieve pain and improve your overall health. Of course, herbs are not substitutes for prescription medications or OTC painkillers, but they can help you gently tweak your body in the right direction.
Anti-inflammatory herbs
There are many herbs that can help relieve inflammation, but they work slightly differently. It’s not as easy as grabbing some curcumin supplements, drinking organic turmeric tea, or calling it a day. Other herbs, such as chamomile, show the most promising of inflammation when used topically for skin problems.
Turmeric roots have some excellent anti-inflammatory properties, which are the ones I use frequently. Golden milk is a delicious way to benefit from it. It’s rich in rustic spices like black pepper, cinnamon and inger roots. Add a little honey to the sweetener. Turmeric is not the best choice for anyone and can even stimulate some conditions. Some people experience gi stimulation with too much turmeric, and people with congestive heart failure should generally not use it.
Other common anti-inflammatory herbs include fennel, licorice, peppermint, rose basil and sacred basil (Tulsi). Caffeine-free herbal tea blends are an easy way to get the anti-inflammatory effects of herbs. Matcha and green tea also have powerful anti-inflammatory effects. Antioxidant polyphenols like EGCG help reduce inflammation.
Make your own anti-inflammatory tea
You can find organic tea bags in the store, but they can be expensive. I often buy my herbs in bulk, including loose leaf tea to save money. There are many options for a variety of anti-inflammatory ingredients, but I wanted something that would generally be useful to most people. Drinking tea doesn’t have to be complicated!
Here’s the ingredients in this anti-inflammatory tea and why I chose them:
- Green Tea -This is the backbone of tea and gives it a robust flavor. Green tea has a higher level of epigalocatechin (EGCG), which acts as an antioxidant. Researchers have found this helps to function against a variety of inflammatory diseases. Want to skip caffeine? Rooibos tea is not caffeine-free and is also a powerful antioxidant to combat inflammation.
- Ginger Route – Ginger tea is stimulating, warming and anti-inflammatory. It also helps with nausea and relieves mild pain. Several studies reported that it worked similarly to ibuprofen due to pain and swelling in arthritis and muscle problems.
- Lemongrass – This fragrant plant has a long history of use in Ayurvedic medicine for pain and inflammation. The leaves are used topically to relieve pain and arthritis. Lemongrass essential oils also help to increase circulation and reduce joint inflammation and pain. It also adds a lovely lemon candy flavour to your tea.
- hibiscus – Tart, fruity, and hibiscus petals are high with antioxidant vitamin C. It is also rich in nutrients and anti-inflammatory polyphenols.
- Nettle – A often overlooked herb, humble nettle nettle is a nutrient powerhouse. It also functions to alleviate inflammation as an antihistamine. This makes it ideal for allergies and respiratory problems.
For the greatest benefits, use high quality herbs in your tea blend!
Herbal anti-inflammatory tea
This refreshing, fruity tea blend helps relieve inflammation. Packed with antioxidants and nutrients, it’s a great way to boost your health!
-
Bring it to a boil in a pot with the lid on it
-
Add the herbs to boiling water, turn off the heat, cover and soak.
-
Soak the tea for 4 minutes. Don’t oversqueeze or make the green tea bitter.
-
Remove the herbs and sweeten the tea if necessary.
-
Enjoy warm or cold things and store leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Nutrition Facts
Herbal anti-inflammatory tea
Price per serving (1 cup)
calorie 2
% Daily Value*
fat 0.01g0%
sodium 12mg1%
potassium 13mg0%
carbohydrates 0.4g0%
Fiber 0.1g0%
Sugar 0.01g0%
protein 0.1g0%
Vitamin a 43IU1%
Vitamin c 0.03mg0%
calcium 17mg2%
iron 0.1mg1%
*Percent daily value is based on the 2000 calorie diet.
- 1/2 tablespoon is the same as 1 and 1/2 teaspoons.
- Nutritional data is calculated without optional honey.
More Anti-inflammatory Tea Tips
- You can also mix all the dried herbs and store them in a glass jar for about 12 months. Use 1 teaspoon of herbal tea in 8 ounces of hot water.
- Fresh inger is a more powerful anti-inflammatory agent than drying, but it does dry if used with herbs if necessary.
- Cold nettle tea acts as a diuretic. AKA it helps your body release excess water, but you’ll find yourself going to the toilet more!
What is the way to combat inflammation? Are there any tips to share? Leave a comment and let us know!
