Anti-Inflammatory Tea That’s Actually Working for Real People

Lately, I’ve been in so many conversations about chronic inflammation—from joint pain and gut discomfort to just feeling puffy and off. A long term client and good friend of mine recently shared a tea she’s been making that was passed down from her sister, and she swears it’s been making a huge difference in how she feels. The friend of mine who shared this with me has been having joint pain, and has a chronic inflammatory condition. She makes batches off it now and has her husband drinking it too! She's felt great, enough so to share it with me.

I haven’t tried it yet myself—but I’m definitely going to. I didn't want to wait to share it. If it's helpful for her, it may be helpful for others!

What’s wild is that right after she shared this with me, I had just come out of an Ayurveda workshop… and nearly every ingredient in this tea was a highlight in the resources for that class.

It’s interesting how synchronicities like that show up—how old wisdom finds its way into our lives through people we trust. This wasn’t something I went looking for as part of an Ayurvedic protocol, but the overlap is worth paying attention to.

Anti-Inflammatory Tea Recipe

This anti-inflammatory tea blends cumin, coriander, fennel, turmeric, and ginger to support digestion, ease joint pain, and reduce bloating.

Ingredients:

• ½ tsp cumin seeds

• ½ tsp coriander seeds

• ½ tsp fennel seeds

• A generous chunk of fresh ginger (washed, skin on)

• A pinch of turmeric powder or a slice of turmeric root

• 5 black peppercorns

• Cinnamon stick or ground cinnamon (to taste)

• 2.5 cups water

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Optional Add-ins:

• 1 tsp – 1 tbsp honey (add after straining)

• Squeeze of lemon or lime

• Orange slices (softens the earthy flavor)

Instructions:

1. Bring 2.5 cups of water to a boil.

2. Add all ingredients.

3. Simmer gently for 20 minutes.

4. Let it sit in the pan overnight for extra potency.

5. Strain into a jar or bottle.

6. Stir in honey and citrus just before drinking.

7. Store in the fridge. Reuse the herbs once or twice by simmering again with fresh water.

Can I use Ground Spices Instead?

Yes! If you don’t have cumin or coriander seeds on hand, you can use powdered versions—just go easy on the amounts.

• Use ¼ tsp of each powder instead of ½ tsp

• Stir well and strain with a fine mesh to avoid grit

• Expect a cloudier brew, but the benefits still hold

  
  

How this Connects to Ayurveda

Even though this recipe didn’t come from an Ayurvedic source, the ingredients line up beautifully with what I’ve been learning. Cumin, coriander, fennel, turmeric, ginger, and black pepper are all deeply rooted in Ayurvedic healing and digestion support.

This tea naturally combines warming, detoxifying, and inflammation-soothing herbs that show up in centuries-old traditions. I love that this wisdom found its way into someone’s everyday life through a family recipe—not a textbook.

! Real Talk: It's Not a Cure-All

Let’s keep it real—there’s no one tea, supplement, or practice that’s going to “fix” chronic inflammation or any long-term health challenge on its own. This tea isn’t a cure. It’s a supportive tool—one that can help manage symptoms and bring some relief.

But true healing asks more of us. Things like:

• Rest and sleep

• Food that nourishes

• Movement

• Emotional processing and regulation

• Nervous system support and connection

• Rhythmic, seasonal living

This tea can be part of the picture—but it’s not the whole picture. That said, if it helps you feel a little better today? That’s already worth something. And it’s definitely a gentler option than pharmaceuticals for some folks.

Let me know if you try this anti-inflammatory tea—especially if you're managing joint pain, bloating, or inflammation naturally. I’d love to hear how it lands for you.