“Tea can be beneficial,” says Mahsa Tehrani, MD, a rheumatologist and cofounder of the Arthritis and Rheumatology Clinical Center of Northern Virginia in Vienna. “Tea has fantastic anti-inflammatory properties, which can help theoretically with the underlying inflammation associated with arthritis,” she says. Research published in August 2021 in the journal Arthritis Research & Therapy found that people who drank two or more cups of tea a day were either less likely to develop RA if they didn’t already have it, or, if they already had RA, were less likely to have antibodies signaling more severe RA than those with RA who drank less tea each day. The study, conducted in Sweden, included more than 2,200 people with RA and more than 4,660 people without — in one of the largest RA studies to date. Before trying complementary treatments, talk to your doctor to make sure they won’t interact with your RA medication, other prescriptions, or over-the-counter products that you use. Teas are supplements, and they aren’t regulated by the U.S. Drug and Food Administration (FDA) — they could contain ingredients not listed on the label or provide irregular doses. In some cases, drinking tea could increase your risk for developing drug side effects. As disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, known as DMARDs, are the standard treatment for RA, they should never be replaced with tea or any other complementary or alternative supplement. Check with your doctor if you want to start drinking iced tea; after you get the green light, sitting on your porch sipping tea may become your favorite part of the day.
Recipe for Mint Ginger Iced Tea
2. Blueberry Green Iced Tea
A heart-health aid and brain booster, blueberries are antioxidant superstars that may also help reduce the joint pain and swelling caused by RA. An animal study published in February 2016 in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatology found that the phytochemical in green tea, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), may help block the effects of RA without impacting other cellular functions. A 2019 study of more than 60 adults ages 45 to 79 in the journal Nutrients found that daily blueberry consumption helped people with knee arthritis reduce their pain and stiffness and helped them walk more easily. Safety note: Green tea may interact with Tylenol (acetaminophen), codeine, and other drugs.
Recipe for Blueberry Green Iced Tea
3. Strawberry Nettle Iced Tea
The stinging nettle plant has been used for hundreds of years, especially in Europe, to treat muscle and joint pain, arthritis, and gout. A study published in the journal Molecules found that the antioxidant activity in nettle leaf extract inhibits one of the key enzymes that affect the inflammation process. You can buy nettle in most health food stores, but it’s not recommended for pregnant women or those with kidney or bladder issues. Nettle leaf is also used as a topical skin treatment for joint pain.
Recipe for Strawberry Nettle Iced Tea
4. Rose Hip Iced Tea
That orange-red ball that forms on the stem of rose plants when they aren’t flowering is a concentrated source of vitamin C, and a study published in the journal Australian Family Physician found that one of its phytochemicals, galactolipids, has anti-inflammatory properties that can benefit those with both osteoarthritis and RA. The study author found that rose hip powder “consistently reduced pain scores, and that the patients allocated to rose hip powder were twice as likely to respond to rose hip compared to placebo." Be mindful: Rose hip may interact with antacids and estrogens.
Recipe for Rose Hip Iced Tea
5. Lemon Iced Black Tea
The standard for traditional teatime, black tea is rich in quercetin, a bioflavanoid that has anti-inflammatory effects. A study published in the journal Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics found that quercetin reduced inflammation and increased antioxidant defense in animal test subjects. But be careful: Depending on brewing method, black tea can be high in caffeine, a stimulant that may impact the effectiveness of certain drugs. Does it make you feel jittery? Try decaf instead.
Recipe for Lemon Iced Black Tea
Additional reporting by Cheryl Alkon.
