Turmeric Ginger Tea to Relieve Joint Pain, Reduce Blood Pressure, Boost Heart Health and Immune System
Turmeric and ginger have been used for centuries for their health benefits and to spice up meals. Both ginger and turmeric have powerful anti-inflammatory properties that help relieve pain. The medicinal properties of turmeric and ginger can boost your health and help treat a wide range of health issues. For example, by combining these delicious herbs, you can make a refreshing turmeric ginger tea to help to soothe gastrointestinal problems, reduce inflammation in joints, keep your heart healthy, and even help reduce symptoms of depression.
Inflammation Affects Every Aspect of Your Health
Inflammation plays a vital role in the body’s immune system. However, many lifestyle choices increase chronic inflammation in the body and can lead to various diseases. According to Johns Hopkins Health Review, chronic inflammation is behind many diseases like cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and possibly depression.1 Because turmeric and ginger have powerful anti-inflammatory properties, they play a vital role in keeping your body healthy.
In this article, you will learn how scientific research has shown the many health benefits of turmeric and ginger in reducing inflammatory responses. At the end of the article, you can get some turmeric ginger tea recipes to try at home.
So why are ginger and turmeric have so many health benefits and are such powerful anti-inflammatories?
The Health Benefits of Turmeric Tea
The main compound of turmeric is curcumin which gives the spice its distinct color and contains most of the health-boosting properties.
The book Herbal Medicine reports that turmeric contains anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties and can help to relieve gas and boost liver health. Among the health benefits of turmeric, Herbal Medicine states that it has been used to treat joint inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic digestive problems, and treat abdominal pain.2
However, curcumin is poorly absorbed by the body. To increase the amount of curcumin the body absorbs, it’s important to add black pepper. For example, a study published in the journal Planta Medica reported that by adding piperine (found in black pepper), you can increase the absorption rate of curcumin by around 2000%.3
The Health Benefits of Ginger Tea
Ginger and turmeric belong to the same family (Zingiberaceae family) and contain some similar compounds. The health benefits of ginger come mainly from gingerols which have an anti-inflammatory effect in the body.
The book Herbal Medicine reported that as well as having properties to reduce inflammation, ginger also helps to relieve pain. In fact, some studies have shown that the pain-relieving properties of ginger are as effective as ibuprofen. Among the health benefits of ginger, the book stated that it can treat arthritis pain, rheumatism, osteoarthritis, reduce nausea, stop stomach cramping, and improve cardiovascular health.4
How Turmeric Ginger Tea Boosts Your Health
It is clear that turmeric and ginger have amazing power to boost your health by reducing inflammation and pain. Let’s look at the specific health benefits that ginger and turmeric tea provide.
Anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric and ginger
The anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric and ginger have been well researched and documented. By using the herbs separately or in a combination such as in turmeric and ginger tea, you can help reduce inflammation and relieve pain in your body.
The journal Advances in Pharmacological Studies reported that extracts of turmeric have been used for centuries to treat inflammatory conditions. Among some of these are joint swelling, indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis.5
Similarly, ginger is viewed as a medicinal herb with broad anti-inflammatory actions. The Journal of Medicinal Food published information that ginger has a similar effect to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in reducing pain and inflammation. The journal reported that the advantage of ginger over NSAIDs is that there are fewer side effects from using ginger to reduce pain and inflammation.6
Boosts brain power
Turmeric and ginger have a positive effect on cognitive power and have an antioxidant effect against some neurological diseases.
For example, research has found that the compound 6-shogaol in ginger has an anti-inflammatory effect on neurological processes and can help to reduce memory impairment and the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.7 Other studies have shown that ginger extracts improve the cognitive function of middle-aged women.8
Turmeric has also shown to have a positive neuro-effect on people with dementia. A study showed that Alzheimer’s patients who took turmeric supplements for over a year showed significant signs of improvement.9 Another study reported that in countries where turmeric is used in cooking (for example in India where curry is popular), fewer people suffer from dementia than in western countries.10
Helps digestion
Ginger on its own or a combination of ginger and turmeric can help to relieve many digestion issues.
A study from 2008 found that ginger has a positive effect on your gastrointestinal system and can help food pass through the intestines easier.11 Other studies have confirmed that ginger reduces inflammation in the digestive tract and can prevent and treat indigestion.12
Ginger also helps to prevent nausea and vomiting due to its power to soothe the intestines. This also helps reduce abdominal pain, stomach cramping, and other symptoms of gastric distress.13
Turmeric also has an anti-inflammatory effect on the digestive system. Among the digestive diseases that curcumin has proved to be effective in helping to treat are irritable bowel disease, indigestion, stomach ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and Crohn’s disease.14
Improves heart health and lowers blood pressure
A very important health benefit of both ginger and turmeric is their ability to naturally improve cardiovascular health.
The International Journal of Cardiology published studies on how curcumin extracts have protective effects on heart health. Among these are reducing the risk of blood clots, preventing irregular heartbeat, and having an anti-inflammatory effect on the cardiovascular system.15
Ginger also contains many therapeutic compounds that help improve your heart health. Two studies from 2005 found that among the cardio benefits of ginger are its ability to reduce blood pressure and prevent palpitations.16, 17
Improves blood circulation
Improving your blood circulation naturally is also essential for a healthy heart and in that respect turmeric and ginger tea can help improve blood flow and circulation.
The journal Current Cardiology Reviews reported that ginger improves blood flow and has other cardiac benefits.18 A study into the cardiovascular benefits of curcumin also found that the spice helps blood circulation and prevents oxidative stress on the vascular system.19
Reduces cholesterol
Another way that a combination of ginger and turmeric boosts your heart health is by reducing cholesterol levels in your blood. High cholesterol can lead to heart disease and cardiac arrest.
The Journal of Nutrition found that the antioxidative effect of ginger extracts help to reduce LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol).20 The studies have shown a similar cholesterol-reducing effect of turmeric.18
Helps manage arthritis symptoms
Regularly drinking turmeric ginger tea can help reduce joint inflammation if you have any kind of arthritis. The medicinal properties of turmeric and ginger have also shown to have a proven effect in reducing pain and joint stiffness.
A report on anti-inflammatory herbal medicines that are useful for treating arthritis found that both ginger and turmeric have an anti-arthritic effect. Compounds in ginger help to inhibit inflammation and are as effective as ibuprofen in treating osteoarthritis. Curcumin in turmeric has also been successfully used in treating rheumatoid arthritis and is as effective as phenylbutazone – a pharmaceutical drug used to treat arthritis.5
Stimulates your immune system
Drinking ginger turmeric tea can boost your immune system, and help to improve your body’s response to infections.
The International Journal of Preventative Medicine reported that in many countries, ginger is used as a natural ingredient to stimulate the immune system.12 Likewise, curcumin activates the body’s immune response and can help prevent various diseases and infections by boosting and strengthening the immune system naturally.21
May help prevent cancer
Research has also been carried out on the different ways that turmeric and ginger can help protect against various types of cancer.
The journal Molecules reported that curcumin has an anti-cancer effect and can help “suppress initiation, progression, and metastasis of a variety of tumors.”22
Studies into the anti-cancer properties of ginger found that it has a role to play in the treatment and prevention of cancer, especially gastrointestinal cancers. Ginger has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can also help protect against many types of cancers including pancreatic, liver, prostate, cervical, and breast cancers.23
Studies into the benefits of using turmeric and ginger to treat cancer say that more research has to be done to come up with effective ways to use these herbs to prevent and treat cancer.
Aids in diabetes control
Ginger and turmeric are herbs that can help control the complications of diabetes by having a positive effect on blood sugar levels.
For example, it was found that the anti-diabetic properties of ginger help to reduce the levels of fasting blood sugar and reduce oxidative stress.24 Regarding the positive effect of curcumin on diabetes, a study from 2009 found that curcumin suppresses blood glucose levels and helps to control blood cholesterol.25
Assists in weight loss
The compounds gingerol and curcumin in turmeric ginger tea have also shown to promote weight loss and help maintain general health while on a diet. Of course, just by drinking turmeric and ginger tea without making other lifestyle changes you will probably not see effect on your weight loss. However, regularly consuming ginger and turmeric can boost your efforts in losing weight.
For example, the European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences published two studies on the benefits of turmeric and ginger in helping to lose weight. One study found that consuming ginger helped to reduce body weight while at the same time increasing levels of HDL cholesterol (“good” cholesterol).26 Another study reported that curcumin is “well-tolerated and can positively influence weight management in overweight people.”27
Antidepressant properties
Turmeric and ginger tea may also help relieve symptoms of depression and boost your mood. Various compounds in both turmeric and ginger have a positive effect on the mind and can help stimulate neurotransmitters associated with feelings of pleasure and happiness.
Curcumin has been shown to stimulate the brain to naturally produce more dopamine and serotonin. These chemicals that the brain produces have an antidepressant effect. A study from 2008 reported that curcumin is “useful and potent natural anti-depressant approach in the management of depression.”28
Also, ginger has an anti-inflammatory effect on the brain due to a compound called geraniol. This helps to protect the brain from stress and is important in the treatment of depression.
Drinking turmeric and ginger tea for depression combines the anti-inflammatory effect of both herbs and help turmeric to stimulate natural mood-enhancing chemicals.
Turmeric and Ginger Tea Recipes
It is very easy to make a therapeutic turmeric ginger tea to start enjoying all its health benefits and give your health a well-needed boost.
The recipe for turmeric and ginger tea is as follows:
You will need:
- 1 teaspoon fresh grated turmeric root (or, if using dried turmeric, 1/3 teaspoon).
- 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger root (or, 1/3 teaspoon of dried ginger).
- 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper (to aid turmeric absorption).
- Raw honey and a slice of lemon to taste.
To make the turmeric ginger tea, prepare it as follows:
- In a small saucepan, bring a cup of water to the boil. Turn off the heat and add the ginger and turmeric.
- Steep with the lid on for 5 minutes (covering with a lid prevents the oils and medicinal compounds escaping through the steam).
- Strain the tea remedy and add some honey when the tea has cooled down (as excessive heat will destroy the benefits of honey).
- Add the black pepper and stir well.
- Enjoy your anti-inflammatory turmeric and ginger tea.
Alternatively, to increase curcumin absorption, you can add a teaspoon of virgin coconut oil instead of the black pepper, as oil too aids in turmeric absorption.
Turmeric tea recipe
If you want to make a simple quick cup of turmeric tea, this is what you should do:
- Put 1-2 teaspoon of fresh turmeric root or 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder in a cup.
- Fill with boiling water, cover and let infuse for 5 minutes.
- Add 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper.
- Add raw honey and lemon to taste when the tea has cooled down.
- Drink a cup a day to help reduce inflammation.
You can also try the recipe of the popular “turmeric golden milk” – a healthy and delicious Ayurvedic drink that can be enjoyed by the whole family.
Ginger tea recipe
Similarly, you can make a cup of ginger tea to help reduce inflammation and stimulate your immune system. Ginger tea on its own has many health benefits to relieve symptoms of cold, flu, or other upper respiratory infection.
To make a delicious ginger tea, follow the recipe for turmeric tea, but replace the turmeric with ginger. You can also leave out the black pepper.
How Heat Affects Turmeric and Ginger
Many people believe that consuming turmeric and ginger in their raw form retains the most health benefits of these herbs. However studies have shown that when curcumin is heated for a short period of time, certain compounds that are not readily available in its fresh form are released. You can get all the details and studies including how to use turmeric and black pepper when cooking in my article about this subject.
Similarly to turmeric, research has also shown that short cooking increases the antioxidant levels of 6-gingerol in ginger – see more information in my article about the amazing benefits of cooked and dried ginger.
Precautions When Taking Turmeric and Ginger
Although turmeric and ginger are natural healing ingredients and are generally safe for normal consumption, the medicinal compounds can interfere with other medications.
You should seek medical advice before taking turmeric and ginger for medical use if you are taking certain medications or have some underlying health issue. You should avoid turmeric and ginger if:
- You are taking medications to thin the blood or prevent blood clots.
- You take medication for diabetes. However, if you control diabetes through diet only, then turmeric and ginger may help to control blood glucose levels.
- You take medication for high blood pressure.
- You have a tendency to suffer from gallstones and kidney stones.
Also, consuming these herbs in medicinal amounts is likely unsafe in pregnant and breastfeeding women. See more information in my articles:
Read my other related articles:
- This Drink is a Medicine for More Than 60 Diseases
- Turmeric Golden Milk – The Ancient Drink That Will Change Your Life
- Kill Your Infections With This Natural Antibiotic
- JohnHopkinsHealthReview. Understanding inflammation.
- NCBI. Turmeric: the golden spice.
- Planta Med. 1998 May;64(4):353-6.
- NCBI. The amazing and might ginger.
- Adv Pharmacol Sci. 2016; 2016: 9130979.
- J Med Food. 2005 Summer;8(2):125-32.
- Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2014 Jun 20;449(1):8-13.
- Evid Based Complement Alternat Me 2012; 2012: 383062.
- Ayu. 2012 Oct-Dec; 33(4): 499–504.
- Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2008 Jan-Mar; 11(1): 13–19.
- Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2008 May;20(5):436-40.
- Int J Prev Med. 2013 Apr; 4(Suppl 1): S36–S42.
- Integr Med Insights. 2016; 11: 11–17.
- Syst Rev. 2014; 3: 71.
- Int J Cardiol. 2009 Apr 3;133(2):145-51.
- J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2005 Jan;45(1):74-80.
- Vascul Pharmacol. 2005 Oct;43(4):234-41.
- Curr Cardiol Rev. 2010 Nov; 6(4): 274–279.
- Nitric Oxide. 2014 Nov 15;42:44-53.
- J Nutr. 2000 May;130(5):1124-31.
- J Clin Immunol. 2007 Jan;27(1):19-35.
- Molecules. 2015 Feb 5;20(2):2728-69
- Gastroenterol Res Pract. 2015; 2015: 142979.
- Iran J Pharm Res. 2015 Winter; 14(1): 131–140.
- Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2009; 41(1): 40–59.
- Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci . 2013 Jan;17(1):75-83.
- Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2015 Nov;19(21):4195-202.
- Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2009 Mar;92(1):39-43.
- Physiol Behav. 2015 Dec 1;152(Pt A):264-71.
I prefer using the fresh Tumeric and Ginger roots, but the powder is good if you get it from the health food store.
Hi I just wanted to know if using powder is better than using dried slices?
You can use any type of turmeric: fresh, dried or powdered.
I make a tea with fresh tumuric , ginger then finish it by adding green tea, honey, pepper, and apple cider vinegar and some dried turmeric. Take a few shots every day.
Hi… I just want to ask if can I make this tea good for one week and store it in drinking jar inside the fridge? I’m planning to put it in my lunch box everyday. Does it matter if the tea is warm or cold? Can I boil some peppercorn together with it instead of putting a pepper after? Can I mix the lemon and honey too before putting it in the jars? Tnx
Hi Charlene, you can drink it hot or cold and you can make it in a larger quantity and store in the fridge. However a few notes: the vitamin C in lemon is relatively unstable hence it’s best to add it fresh to the mix rather than letting it sit in the fridge for several days. I don’t know how heat affects the piperine in black pepper so I would add it after the boiling stage. When you add honey and you don’t intend to drink it straight away but rather store it in the fridge, wait for the water to cool down a bit and don’t add the honey to boiling water as excessive heat will destroy the nutrients in honey.
Hi, how many times a day can one consume the ginger & tumeric tea?
Once or twice a day. Ginger and turmeric are generally safe to consume in normal food quantities. However some people need to restrict the amount of consuming these spices. See more information in my articles: Ginger Should Be Avoided By These People and Turmeric Should Be Avoided By These People.
I find it a bother to do fresh turmeric or ginger every time, so I grate and store in jars in the fridge…. The turmeric And ginger am using now has been in the fridge for 2 weeks…. Does the storage affect its potency?
Hi Winnie, I have read that the best way to store ginger is to keep it whole, unpeeled in a resealable plastic bag, with the air pushed out, in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator. If part of the ginger has been cut or peeled, you need to blot it dry with a paper towel before storing. If the ginger is grated, it’s best to keep it in the freezer. It is similar with turmeric: fresh, unpeeled turmeric will keep in the refrigerator for two to three weeks. To store, wipe dry, wrap in a clean paper towel and place in a locking plastic bag. When you’re ready to use the turmeric, cut off just what you need. Then, rewrap the remainder and refrigerate. You can also freeze grated turmeric. It will be mushy when it thaws out, but fine to add to your dish.
I want to make turmeric & Ginger Tea , but I do not want to boil the tea being made so I do not reduce the strength of the turmeric valu. I want put the prepared tea on a warm place on my wood stove and let ingredients steep for 8-12hours. I do this when I brew my Chagall tea to prevent destroying important enzymes. Also prefer to add flax seed oil, or black pepper only in the freshly poured cup of tea. Please give me you,re thought and feeling as to my brewing method. Thank You! Bruce Maheu
Hi Bruce, I’ve heard that prolonged heat can affect to a certain extent the potency though 7-15 minutes for preparing a tea is acceptable in many tea recipes. But there are several preparation methods available and you can prepare it the way you’ve suggested. Also as per the recipe, you add the oil or black pepper after the tea is ready (I will make it more clear in the recipe).
When I make a turmeric/ginger/pepper tea it gives off an aroma. What it gives off is being removed from the tea I drink. Would it not provide a more complete “tea” if the ingredients were mixed in cold or lukewarm water and then drunk immediately?
Preparing herbal tea (infusion or steeping) is just one way of using herbs as a medicine. The infusion extracts the chemical compounds from the herb/plant so they are suspended in the liquid. But there are other ways to consume the herbs/spices, for example adding them to smoothies/juices/other drinks, eating them etc. So there is flexibility regarding how to consume them and you can utilize other ways of consuming them, such as what you’ve suggested.
I’ve heard about the turmeric/ginger/pepper tea from a friend’s mother who is from India. She told me that if I make it right in my coffee pot and drink it, just like water/tea it will give me the same benefits as being boiled. I now make several pots on the weekend and place it in the fridge. It is great cold and warm. About two years ago, I was placed on a chemical medication for my arthritis, the pill caused so many side effects that the doctor had me go through many tests, I thought I would lose my mind with appointments. Now, everything is back to normal, in less than three months. I will be 60 years old and the only one at my job that will play with the children at recess time. I think it’s great!
Can I use cayenne instead of black pepper?
I’ve read that cayenne pepper does not contain the piperine that is in black pepper and therefore will not have the effect that black pepper has.
Hi I was just wondering… Is a prepared tea (such as Twinings Lemon Ginger Tea) as effective as a homemade tea? Thank you!
I don’t think there is any issue with drinking a tea made from “store bought” tea bags. Perhaps the only issue is that when you make a “homemade” tea, you have a better control over the quantities of the ingredients you use in the brew. For example, looking at the ingredients of Twinings ginger lemon tea I saw that there are other ingredients in the mix, such as lemongrass, linden, blackberry leaves and citric acid. This is not a bad thing, but I don’t really know how much ginger (for this matter) there is in the mix. But other than that I think it comes to a personal preference.
Can you make this tea in a big batch and store in the fridge, to reheat as needed? Or will that affect the potency? Thanks
You can make a larger batch and store in the fridge for several days.
I am a Type 1 Diabetic, do I have to use honey in the recipe or can I use artificial sweetener and get the same results?
You can replace the honey with stevia – have a look at my article about stevia to find out what to watch for when buying commercial stevia. Don’t use artificial sweetener.
why should you NOT drink ginger and turmeric tea if you have had kidney stones before? happened years ago and have not happened again since i don’t believe but what’s the problem with ginger and turmeric in relation to kidney stones?
Please refer to my article “Turmeric Should Be Avoided By These People” for more information.
I assume your recipe includes honey and lemon juice as flavourings and not as active ingredients. Am I right? As honey is said to have a mild anti-bacterial effect, should we not avoid it unless we want to disrupt the good bacteria in our gut as well as the bad?
Hi Keith, you are right, lemon and honey can be added as flavorings. As for the effect of honey on gut flora, from what I’ve seen in this study, honey can inhibit the harmful bacteria but it didn’t mention that it reduces the good bacteria (the study was on mice).
Hi I was told recently that by adding honey and lemon to this mix it’s effective for detox and a gradual weight loss. Would that have any truth
Generally speaking, lemon water aids digestion (and ginger and turmeric themselves aid digestion and are good for liver cleansing). The lemon reduces the amount of mucus production in the body, helps dissolve gallstones and acts as a liver cleansing and detoxifying. It may also help your diet as lemon is full of pectin fibers that make us feel satisfy for longer. Read here more about the benefits of lemon water – https://www.healthyandnaturalworld.com/8-health-benefits-of-drinking-lemon-water/ – however it’s not a magic solution. If you continue consuming unhealthy diet, then this is alone will not do the job.
Jenny. Hi. So its okay to drink turmeric and ginger mix without pepper? What is the taste of with pepper?
You need the black pepper to increase turmeric absorption, but you can replace it with some type of fat (like coconut oil) which also aids turmeric absorption.
I have made Turmeric and ginger tea instead of adding pepper to it I pop a couple of peppercorns with it.
Due to some overtraining i was lucky enough to receive really bad shoulder pain, like from the underam to the top of the shoulder. For weeks. I started looking at some options that arent iboprufen. Saw this tea after a week of just stretching wasnt fixing it. Now with the tea i am feeling much better each day. It could just be timing as i spent a week or so just stretching, but it was the very next morning after the tea that i felt better. Due to these results ive started having one in the mnorning and one in the evening. Started to do a herbal ‘sleepy tea’ instead of green in the evening to drop the caffeine. Would 2 cups a day be too much?
2 cups a day is fine.
Hi. Can turmeric tea help with liver inflammation? For how long do you need to drink it? Thanks
Turmeric has many health benefits, most notably reducing inflammation, and it may also protect and heal damaged and diseased liver, however it depends how much the liver is damaged. Obviously if the inflammation is serious, you cannot rely only on turmeric and medical advice is needed. There is no established amount of time as to how long you need to drink it, but probably it takes several weeks to take effect. It can also be part of your daily diet if you consume it in normal food quantities. Turmeric and ginger may interact with some medications, so if you take certain medications, talk with your doctor.
Although I have not yet tried this particular recipe, I already approve of it! None of the ingredients have any side effects provided they are taken in such controlled and normal quantities. Unless you are allergic or some strong medicines in which case just skip that ingredient or consult your doctor. Trust me…I’m Indian and we know our home remedies. Turmeric (esp. raw) is such an underrated medicine! It is also a blood purifier and has antiseptic properties. You can drink it, chew it or use it topically on wounds. I have sensitive and acne prone skin. Once I started drinkin 3-4 tbsp of fresh turmeric juice every morning for a month and I kid you not my skin became visible clearer, brighter and glowy! I would’ve continued it if I weren’t so lazy. 😛
Hi this might be a silly question, but when using ginger root in teas, do I peel the skin off or leave it on (or does it not matter). Thank you
Hi Lisa, peeling is optional, if you have washed it well.
Do I have to cook it? Can I mix and drink?
You don’t have to steep the herbs. You can also mix and drink it.
Hi, will coconut milk be OK instead of coconut oil,I don’t particularly like the oil.
The role of the coconut oil in this mix is to increase the turmeric absorption in the body (turmeric has a low bio-availability and needs some kind of fat for better absorption). If you don’t like coconut oil, you have several other options: you can use other type of cold pressed oil. If you don’t want to add oil to the mix, you can add instead a pinch of black pepper which also aids turmeric absorption. The third option can be to add coconut milk which has a high fat content and will aid turmeric absorption.
I’ve Been Making Ginger And Tumeric Root Tea But Didn’t Know About Adding Coconut Oil Or Milk For Extra Absorbtion. That Sounds Like A Tasty Beverage For Your Insides And Out. I Just Recently Got Turned On To Tumeric And Ginger Root Tea. The Ginger Helps In Digestion And The Tumeric Root Is A Anti Inflammatory. What A Perfect Combination. Thank You.
Coconut oil or black pepper. You can add milk for the taste, or if the milk contains fat (not the type of low-fat milk) than it can aid absorption too.
Would like to try this.I work 2 jobs need to know since I never tried ginger or turmeric, will I get the runs from this? Can’t afford to be running to the bathroom all the time.
Hi Laura, some herbs may have a diuretic effect (and I’ve seen ginger mentioned in several places) and obviously the more liquids you drink, the more you will get the runs. I guess you need to experiment and see what quantity works for you. It’s also a good idea not to drink it late in the evening so you will not need to go to the toilet in the middle of the night.
I’m looking into making this tea. How much of each ginger and tumeric if I was using a powder? Also does it matter if I make it one cup at a time or a pot of the mixture? Thank you.
Hi Steve, if you use ground turmeric and ginger, use 1/3 teaspoon each. Because dried herbs are generally more potent and concentrated than fresh herbs, you’ll need less – typically third the amount of fresh herbs. You can make a pot of the mixture and drink throughout the day, but avoid over-consumption as ginger and turmeric can interact with certain prescription medications.
When my hands are swollen from RA, slicing and cutting are difficult. I have ginger tea and ground tumeric. Is it OK to use the tea bags and make a mixture that way?
Yes, it is.
I am so grateful for your Recipe, as my husband suffers from Arthritus in his hips, and he is diabetic. The only thing that worries me is that you mention that if one is on medication, to be careful of using this remedy. Dr. has precribed pain tablets, but it does not relief the pain at all. Is he safe to use it, and for myself, I have been put on High Blood Tablets that had an after effect on me now. I am continuously coughing with an irritation in my thoat. I am also on thyroid treatment ( using Euthyrox), but I also cut off from it now.
Could yoou please advise. Regards and thank you.
Hi Mildred, you can find more information in my articles:
Turmeric Should Be Avoided When Taking Certain Medications
Ginger Should Be Avoided When Taking Certain Medications
If you are not sure, it’s always best to consult with your doctor to be on the safe side.
Hi Jenny. What would be the measurements of powdered turmeric and fresh ginger if I wanted to make a quart size mason jar to store in the fridge and how long before it would turn?
Hi Kat, the amounts that I use in the recipe are per 1 cup. Each quart contains on average 4 cups (depending on the cup size). For 1 cup I use: 1/3 teaspoon powdered turmeric and 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger. The reason I use only 1/3 tsp. of powdered turmeric is due to the fact that powdered herbs are more concentrated that fresh herbs, and the conversion rate is usually 1 tsp fresh herb = 1/3 tsp dried herb. So for a quart size you will need to multiply the amounts in 4: 1 1/3 (1.33) tsp. powdered turmeric and 4 tsp. grated fresh ginger. Store in the fridge for several days.