Whether or not people are aware of it, they experience inflammation and during the process, they will experience swelling, pain, redness, and heat. And contrary to popular belief that this is not normal, it is in fact the body’s natural process of healing itself. The immune system causes inflammation to fight against harmful intruders such as injuries, irritants, infections, pathogens, and toxins. When this intruder attacks and damages the body, the body will then release chemical antibodies, proteins, and increase blood flow to the damaged area, causing inflammation. Fortunately, one does not need to immediately drink medicine for this, a simple cup of tea can help relieve inflammation.
Types of Inflammation
According to the medical editor of Understanding Inflammation from Harvard Health Publishing and an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Robert H. Shmerling, “Some inflammation is good. Too much is often bad. The goal is to recognize when inflammation is simply doing its job, and when it can potentially cause problems.”
This is why you need to understand the two types of inflammation: acute and chronic.
Acute inflammation
It takes place for a short duration, more or less two weeks. Since it is often severe, symptoms appear more quickly. Here’s where the redness, swelling, and pain become evident around the injury.
Chronic inflammation
When this acute inflammation shows up for a very long time and turns up too high, the immune system will continue to fight the attacker, prolonging the process, often taking up to years. The problem with this however is the white blood cells attack the healthy cells, tissues, and organs, increasing the risks to major health problems.
Top Tea Remedy for Inflammation in the Body
Tea is known for its health benefits, one of which is relieving inflammation in the body. With several types of tea available in the market, here is a list of the best teas that can help you relieve your aching, painful inflammation.
NO.1 Recommended Tea for Any Type of Inflammation: Green Tea
As one of the most-researched tea for its anti-inflammatory properties, green tea is an excellent and flavorful way to impede inflammation. Teas contain catechins that help reduce inflammation. But green tea has the most powerful catechin type called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). This specific tea is one of those who contain the most ECGC that works with flavonoids, all responsible for preventing free radicals from increasing cell damage resulting in inflammation.
Part of the family of Camellia sinensis, the second most consumed beverage in the world, green tea is said to not only reduce inflammation but to improve the health of the heart. Aside from it has shown impressive benefits in fighting against obesity, cancer, diabetes, and even neurodegenerative diseases.
Drink green tea for the following inflammation:
- Arthritis
- Joint pain, swelling, stiffness, or loss of joint function
- Fatigue due to inflammation
- Numbness and tingling
- Limited range of motion
- Stomach pain
NO.2 Recommended Tea for Any Type of Inflammation: White Tea
Similar to green tea, white tea is one of the best tea types that fight too many free radicals, species that help in damaging the cells. Free radicals are linked to a weakened immune system, chronic inflammation, and even aging. White tea however is packed with polyphenols that further prevent any type of inflammation in the body.
Test-tube studies showed that the extract found in white tea helped protect the nerve cells of animals against damage from hydrogen peroxide, a kind of free radical. Another study showed that white tea powder helped lessen inflammation from free radicals specifically in human skin cells.
Though both green and white teas are promising to the health industry, human-based research for its benefits is needed.
Drink white tea for the following inflammation:
- Arthritis
- Joint pain, swelling, stiffness, or loss of joint function
- Fatigue due to inflammation
- Numbness and tingling
- Limited range of motion
- Stomach pain
NO.3 Recommended Tea for Any Type of Inflammation: Black Tea
Another part of the Camellia sinensis family, black tea is amongst the most processed tea compared to green tea and white tea, undergoing a very long period of oxidation and resulting in a rich, roasted, robust black or brown color.
Black tea contains flavonoids, its main inflammatory compound. So apart from eliminating free radicals in the body, this type of true tea is also responsible for preventing oxidative stress.
Drink green tea for the following inflammation:
- Arthritis
- Joint pain, swelling, stiffness, or loss of joint function
- Fatigue due to inflammation
- Numbness and tingling
- Limited range of motion
- Stomach pain
NO.4 Recommended Tea for Any Type of Inflammation: Rooibos Tea
Consumed as an alternative to black and green tea, Rooibos tea, pronounced as roy-bos, is a red herbal tea from South Africa known to be caffeine-free but contains abundant flavonoids. Its main flavonoids are aspalathin and nothofagin, both known as stronger anti-oxidative than other flavonoids. These two are used to treat chronic inflammatory conditions, preventing DNA damages caused by free radicals and oxidative stress.
According to Elemental Bottles, rooibos has natural anti-inflammatory properties that can help condition including the gastrointestinal tract, bloating, skin issues, and headaches.
Drink green tea for the following inflammation:
- Skin itching
- Joint pain, swelling, stiffness, or loss of joint function
- Fatigue due to inflammation
- Stomach pain
NO.5 Recommended Tea for Inflammation in the Gut: Ginger Tea
It may be spicy in the tongue but ginger tea plays a major role in the inflammatory process as well. Ginger contains gingerol and shogaol, compounds that help decrease inflammation in the gut and fight oxidative-stress related ailments such as cancer types.
According to the Arthritis Foundation, drinking ginger tea may work as an effective painkiller, specifically non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which reduces pain and targets cellular-level inflammation caused by injuries or infections. Apart from that, ginger tea is a good help in reducing pain due to inflammation such as arthritis.
Combine your ginger tea with a slice of honey and a dash of honey to neutralize the taste and to add more nutrients in the beverage.
NO.6 Recommended Tea for Arthritis: Turmeric Tea
Turmeric is different from ginger but both of them come from the same family of plants. The former is made from a more vibrant yellow root and contains the active ingredient called curcumin. This ingredient helps reduce chronic inflammation, which plays a central role in developing conditions such as cancer, heart diseases, diabetes; It also fights autoimmune conditions like inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine published a study revealing that curcumin hampers the molecules that play a part in the inflammation process. It also referenced six human trials outlining the safety and success of turmeric in treating inflammation. So, drinking turmeric tea is both safe and helpful.
While it is known as a powerful anti-inflammatory beverage, turmeric tea can relieve chronic pain caused by arthritis. Some studies show it is as effective as anti-inflammatory medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen.
NO.7 Recommended Tea for Arthritis: Masala Chai Tea
Masala Chai tea is a blend of a range of spices that carries tons of benefits. Its common ingredients are black tea, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, fennel, clove, black pepper, and sometimes, star anise. This specific tea kind helps reduce pain associated with arthritis and other inflammatory-causing diseases.
Researchers say that the spices used in masala chai tea can help protect the cells of the body from harmful free radicals that can result in chronic diseases such as cancer. The added spices, specifically ginger, can reduce inflammation on a cellular level while antioxidants target free radicals and eliminate them. On the other hand, the spices and black tea leaves also offer pain relief as they reduce inflammation.
NO.8 Recommended Tea for Rheumatoid Arthritis: RoseHip Tea
A tea made from berries of a rose plant, rosehip tea is another beverage recommended to drink when enduring inflammation. While it has a delicate floral flavor, it is packed with vitamin C that helps boost the immune system and reduce inflammation.
The Arthritis Foundation cites research that shows rosehips were effective in treating symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis including inflammation and joint stiffness. It also helped significantly decrease the pain intensity and joint stiffness. Aside from the vitamin C found in rosehip tea, the researchers attributed the inflammatory effects to galactolipids found in rosehips.
NO.9 Recommended Tea for Stomach Inflammation: Chamomile Tea
When there is an inflammation in the lining of the stomach, it may result in infection and cause gastritis and stomach ulcers. Chamomile tea contains chemical compounds that may reduce this kind of inflammation.
There are a few studies that say its anti-inflammatory properties have the potential to fight diarrhea. Also, a study in rats found that chamomile helps prevent stomach ulcers, as it reduces acidity in the stomach and impedes bacteria growth that contributes to developing ulcers.
Aside from its potential in protecting the body against diarrhea, stomach ulcers, nausea, and gas, chamomile tea is a helpful beverage in reducing skin inflammation.
NO.10 Recommended Tea for Stomach Inflammation: Fennel Tea
Made from the licorice-flavored spice, fennel tea is known to relieve pain due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Similar to rosehips, fennel is full of anti-inflammatory phenolic compounds which include the most active ones naming caffeoylquinic acid, rosmarinic acid, quercetin, and kaempferol.
Fennel tea is used as a remedy for stomach inflammation which causes stomach upset, flatulence, or diarrhea. Moreover, compounds found in fennel tea reduce pain, especially menstruation-related pain due to its powerful anti-inflammatory compounds.
In conclusion, it may be as easy as a cup of tea, but drinking these particular teas will help reduce and relieve inflammation in your body. May it be skin irritation, stomach pain, or arthritis, true and herbal tea will surely aid your aching body due to acute or chronic inflammation.
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