5 Anti-Inflammatory Teas to Digitally Share With A Loved One During Social Distancing
By Brittany Villegas
“I say let the world go to hell, but I should always have my tea,” said Fyodor Dostoevsky, Russian novelist who authored the classic Crime and Punishment.
While it feels like the world is going to hell in a handbasket, our recent sense of isolation - especially for those of us who don’t recognize our privilege of having unlimited access to the outside world - has pushed us to relearn how to enjoy the simpler things in life to cope.
Although the act of preparing then drinking tea is simple, sharing a warm mug of liquid relief over good conversation with a loved one is a border-lining sacred ritual.
Here are some inspiring DIY tea recipes that mostly consist of ingredients you should have on hand to enjoy with a pal from afar. I originally curated this list to focus on the pain-reducing properties of each tea to help relieve endometriosis or menstrual pain, but these recipes were also created to induce calm within the most stressed of souls.
1. Anti-Inflammatory Lemon Ginger Turmeric Iced Tea
This five-ingredient tea is packed to the brim with anti-inflammatory components and tastes just as good served hot as it does cool the next day.
Lemons are versatile and naturally hydrating. They work to relieve headaches, nausea, bloating and they also aid in digestion. The ginger contains gingerol, which is a substance that's responsible for its potent anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger especially works to reduce nausea.
The turmeric is considered an anti-inflammatory superfood, and it reduces joint pain and improves liver function. Cinnamon has more than seven kinds of flavonoid compounds, which are highly effective at fighting dangerous inflammation levels throughout the body and lowers swelling, inflammation and even helps fight infections.
Although the maple syrup isn't necessarily anti-inflammatory, it's a great alternative to using processed sugar and is packed full of antioxidants.
A liquid-gold, frothy mug full of a yarrow-tea-based endometriosis super drink. © NaturalFertilityandWellness.com
2. Endometriosis Super Drink
The five ingredients in this tea-based drink work to alleviate the most common symptoms and pain associated with endometriosis or severe menstrual cramps.
Yarrow tea, the base of this drink, is an incredible resource for Endometriosis and it can alleviate bloating, reduce inflammation and strengthen the uterine wall. The whey isolate protein powder serves as a low-lactose, easy-to-digest resource for increasing amino acids in the body and also repairing muscles after strenuous use. Slippery elm powder rejuvenates the digestion tract through mucus secretion, which is especially beneficial for women with endometriosis who rely on pain medications and hormonal treatments that can strip the stomach lining.
To up iron intake after especially heavy bleeding, molasses is added. The dates are optional, but are high in fiber and chocked full of beneficial vitamins like magnesium, potassium, and copper.
A clear teapot full of a deep golden-brown burdock root tea resting on a bamboo placemat surrounded by burdock roots © OrganicFacts.com
3. Burdock Root Tea
This tea is extremely simple in ingredients and preparation. It mainly focuses on propelling the benefits of the burdock root.
The benefits of burdock root tea come from its significant levels of luteolin, quercetin, and other antioxidants, as well as vitamin B6, folate, potassium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, calcium and iron. These vitamins work to reduce inflammation, increase detoxification, improve liver function, and boost the immune system. Add honey to both sweeten the tea and boost your antioxidant intake.
A white teapot pouring mint tea into a clear mug © 2018 Oriento
4. Easy Fresh Mint Tea
For this simple recipe, all you will need is water and fresh mint leaves - either peppermint or spearmint will work well. Lemon, honey or sugar are optional.
Other than making our breath smell irresistibly fresh, mint also helps with digestion, and it has been used for thousands of years to soothe upset stomachs, protect the mucus lining of the stomach and help treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). It may also reduce nipple pain in breast feeding mothers.
A mix of different tea leaves including yarrow, peony, raspberry © 2013 DandelionRevolution.com
5. Day 1 Tea with Yarrow, Peony and Raspberry Leaves
Although the ingredient list for this tea is extensive, and there is no clear-cut recipe to follow, the colors of this tea are enchanting, and each ingredient was carefully selected to warm the body and alleviate menstrual cramps through improved blood circulation.
Along with powerful ingredients that we previously discussed like cinnamon, ginger, and yarrow, this tea also consists of milky oats, raspberry leaves, hawthorn berries, and peony.
Bring water to boil, then seep equal amounts of each herb for about 15 to 30 minutes (depending on your strength preference) in low-heat simmering water. Adjust herb amount to taste as needed and add honey for an extra boost of both sweetness and antioxidants.
Milky oats, or milky green oats, refer to the creamy oat tops, picked fresh at the height of the season. These seed-like grains simultaneously soothe the body with nutrients like magnesium while supporting energy levels by feeding the endocrine system with nutrients like potassium and iron.
Raspberry leaves help balance hormone levels and strengthen the uterine walls, while hawthorn berries regulate blood circulation and aid in digestion.
Peony is commonly used among women with PMS, PCOS, and cramps because it can block chemicals produced by the body cause muscle cramps