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Turmeric Tea (Good for Arthritis Patients)


1 serving

The potential health benefits of turmeric tea are wide and varied, but one of the most interesting properties of this super-healthy drink is its ability to reduce inflammation and joint pain in rheumatoid arthritis patients. But before we explore in detail why turmeric tea is so good at reducing arthritis pain and joint stiffness, let's take a look at the steps involved in making this popular Indian home remedy:

Turmeric Tea Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 scant cup water
  • 1 teaspoon pure turmeric powder
  • 1 teaspoon honey

Directions

  • In a tea cup, prepare a golden yellow paste by mixing the turmeric powder with the honey.
  • Pour hot water into the cup, and stir well to dissolve the turmeric paste into the liquid. Drink your anti-arthritis turmeric tea once it has has cooled down a bit.

Note: Turmeric can stain anything it comes in contact with, including hands, clothes, and kitchenware.


Where to Buy Tea Blends Featuring Turmeric

The basic recipe for turmeric tea only calls for a few basic ingredients. However, drinking plain turmeric tea may get boring after a while. To keep your taste buds happy, try jazzing up plain turmeric infusion with spices like cardamom, black pepper, cloves, cinnamon, ginger root, lemongrass, or vanilla. You can also buy pre-mixed tea blends featuring turmeric. These blends have been carefully formulated to provide the best culinary experiences. If you want to buy a pre-mixed herbal tea blend featuring turmeric – rather than create your own from pure turmeric powder – check out these products and online shops:

  • Blend of ginger, licorice, turmeric, lemongrass, and citrus in USDA organic quality; Available from Amazon here
  • Yogi Tea's "Joint Comfort" blend of decaffeinated green tea, turmeric, lemongrass, peppermint, cat's claw, yucca root and more has been specifically formulated to support joint health. Available from Amazon here.
  • Trying to find a turmeric tea blend in the UK? Try Pukka Tea's hot & spicy blend of ginger, galangal, and golden turmeric – available from Amazon's UK branch here (if you live in North America, you can buy this blend here)


Why Turmeric Tea is Good for Joint Pain

In India, Ayurvedic healers and other practitioners of traditional medicine commonly use turmeric tea to treat arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. In recent years, also Western scientists have acknowledged the strong anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritis properties of turmeric. According to a study published in the November 2006 issue of the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism, the three main curcuminoids in turmeric are responsible for its anti-arthritis effects.

If you've ever followed a diet for rheumatoid arthritis sufferers, you may already know that foods rich in quercetin are considered particularly good for arthritis patients due to the anti-inflammatory properties of quercetin. But turns out, turmeric tea may be an even better natural remedy for inflamed joints than quercetin! A study published in the April 2006 issue of the journal Inflammation Research found that while both curcumin from turmeric and quercetin were capable of alleviating the inflammatory aspects of rheumatoid arthritis, curcumin showed more anti-arthritis activity.

Most of the scientific research on turmeric and arthritis has focused on rheumatoid arthritis, but, turmeric may also provide benefits for people with osteoarthritis, an age-related arthritis that is caused by 'wear and tear' on joints. A study presented at the 2011 World Congress on Osteoarthritis in San Diego showed that a combination of curcumin extract from turmeric root and boswellia extract was superior to the prescription drug celecoxib in relieving joint pain and increasing the distance osteoarthritis sufferers were capable of walking. After the 4-week trial period, 93% of the patients who received the herbal remedy consisting of turmeric and boswellia extracts could walk more than 1,000 meters, compared with 86% of the patients in the celecoxib group. The beneficial effects of the herbal supplement were even more impressive when joint pain was measured: a staggering 93% of the subjects in the turmeric-boswellia supplement group reported an improvement in or elimination of pain, compared with 79% of the patients in the celecoxib group.

Early research suggests that turmeric is likely safe for arthritis patients when used in normal amounts. A pilot clinical study published in the November 2012 issue of the journal Phytotherapy Research analyzed the effects of curcumin in patients diagnosed with RA, and found no adverse reactions associated with the doses used in this study (500 milligrams of curcumin). However, pregnant women might want to avoid drinking turmeric tea as turmeric is potentially emmenagogic and abortifacient. Furthermore, people with gallstones or other gallbladder problems as well as people who are scheduled for surgery might want to avoid using turmeric. You should also talk to your doctor if you're planning to use turmeric tea as a medicine while taking other medicines.




Book You May Like
Book on Arthritis and Diet This science-based all-in-one guide by registered dietitian Kim Arrey and practising rheumatologist Dr. Michael Starr explains how specific medications, nutritional supplements, foods, and lifestyle factors affect the pain and inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Packed with invaluable tips and tasty anti-inflammatory recipes and sample menus, this meticulously-researched guide and cookbook is a must-have for all RA-sufferers. To learn more, or to order a copy from your local Amazon store, click here.