6 Amazing Teas For Arthritis Symptoms

If you're troubled by the painful symptoms of arthritis, relief may be a cup of tea away.

“I believe all tea can be beneficial,” says Mahsa Tehrani, MD, a rheumatologist in Vienna, Virginia.

“Tea has fantastic anti-inflammatory properties which can theoretically help with the underlying inflammation associated with arthritis,” she says.

Drinking tea can be a great complementary arthritis treatment that helps lessen pain, eases joint stiffness, and even prevents the condition from getting worse.

Still, it's important to check with your doctor first, and to always follow instructions for medication and other lifestyle changes.

After you've checked with your doctor, you may want to consider sipping on these teas for arthritis relief.

1. Ginger tea.
Early research shows that the phytochemicals in this aromatic, versatile spice may be helpful in alleviating arthritis pain, thanks to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and analgesic properties.

Ginger root is easy to purchase at any grocery or health food store; simply slice it and steep in hot water, or add to green tea (after talking to your doctor first).

Note: Ginger can act as a blood thinner, so anyone on blood-thinning medications should take special care to consult with their doctor before consuming it.

2. Green tea.
Is there anything this health-boosting drink can't do? Loaded with antioxidants, green tea helps boost metabolism and lower risk for certain diseases.

Green tea may even help reduce inflammation and arthritis pain because of its active ingredient, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a powerful catechin that works to stop production of certain inflammatory chemicals in the body.

“There can certainly be medication interactions,” says Dr. Tehrani, so it's important to discuss drinking green tea with your doctor or rheumatologist.

“For instance, it's been proposed that green tea can interfere with folic acid metabolism, so this can be important for pregnant patients who require a certain amount of daily folic acid in their diets,” she says.

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3. Rose hips.
Have you ever noticed the reddish ball that forms on rose plants when they’re not flowering? “That’s rose hips,” says Trevor Cates, a naturopathic physician in Park City, Utah, who adds that the ingredient, which is very high in vitamin C, is commonly found in many herbal teas.

“In a study of people with osteoarthritis of the knee or hip, supplementing with rose hips powder significantly reduced pain, joint stiffness, and overall disease severity,” says Dr. Cates.

Rose hips makes a bright red, tart, fruity tea that's often blended with hibiscus; check a health food store or specialty tea shop (and double-check with your doctor before using it to ease arthritic pain).

4. Black tea.
A cup of simple black tea is rich in quercetin, a bioflavanoid that has anti-inflammatory effects. Research has shown that quercetin plays a role in relieving the inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis and preventing joint damage.

Black tea is high in caffeine, which can make you jittery or affect certain medications, so be sure to discuss with your doctor before making it a new part of your routine.

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5. Willow bark.
Tree bark in your tea? Believe it. The use of willow bark for relieving pain dates back centuries in parts of China and Europe.

Though more research is needed, several studies show that willow has anti-inflammatory properties similar to aspirin and is effective at reducing pain from osteoarthritis, due in part to a chemical called salicin, as well as powerful anti-inflammatory plant compounds called flavonoids.

Consult with your doctor before slipping some into your tea. People who take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications regularly, beta-blockers, blood-thinning medication, those who are pregnant, and anyone under age 16 should not take willow bark.

6. Nettle leaf tea.

The stinging nettle plant has been used for hundreds of years, especially in Europe, to treat muscle and joint pain, arthritis, and gout. The entire plant is covered with tiny stiff hairs, mostly on the underside of the leaves and stem, that release stinging chemicals when touched. T

These chemicals have been shown to lessen pain by reducing levels of inflammatory chemicals in the body.

Be sure to discuss it with your doctor before using the tea as part of your arthritis management plan.

By Debbie Strong From Everyday Health
Image By Getty

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