Next time you have a pain (or if you suffer from chronic pain), you might want to try my turmeric tea recipe. It’s an excellent alternative to taking an anti-inflammatory or over-the-counter pain medication.
Trust me, I am someone who very much understands how difficult it is to live with pain. I totally understand that sometimes it is absolutely necessary to take “real” pain medication.
For example, there is NO way I could have not taken something for pain during a major surgery. I underwent a 7-hour surgery for a femoral derotational osteotomy almost 2 years ago. By the way, this turmeric tea recipe would not have cut it back then!
But ALL pain medications, even the seemingly harmless over-the-counter ones, have negative consequences.
Natural Turmeric Tea Recipe for Nutrient Depletion
It is truly amazing that this Turmeric Tea recipe can prevent nutrient depletion from over-the-counter pain medications.
Taking Advil or Aleve plus prescription anti-inflammatory medications can all interfere with B-vitamin metabolism. This combination causes depletion to your B-vitamins. Did you know that birth control pills also deplete B-vitamins?
And all pain killers with Tylenol deplete one of your body’s most important detoxifiers, glutathione. Pretty much any medication has some sort of side effect.
Turmeric is a “Whole Food”
Although turmeric is a “whole food” (or spice, I suppose I should say) and not a medication. It absolutely has potent “medicine-like” benefits such as reducing inflammation and protecting against the oxidation that accelerates the aging/ disease process. It also supports the health of your heart and liver and so much more.
With turmeric you get “side benefits” rather than side effects—and there’s a BIG difference!
Always an Exception to Pain Medication
When I was recovering from my surgery ordeal, I did take pain meds because the pain was so severe. I literally would have lost my mind without them. However, once I weaned off the meds I got in the habit of making the turmeric tea recipe below every day. My “tea” took 5 minutes to make and consisted of the following ingredients:
PrintTurmeric Tea Recipe
Turmeric Tea Recipe Can Prevent Nutrient Depletion from Over-the-Counter Pain Medications (such as Advil and Aleve) and ease pain naturally.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
- Category: Tea
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- ¼ cup organic coconut milk
- Juice from 1 whole lemon
- 1 teaspoon raw manuka honey
- 1 teaspoon organic turmeric
Instructions
Place all ingredients in a small saucepan and heat on the stove for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently. Sip hot.
New Chapter Turmeric Force is a Great Alternative to My Turmeric Tea Recipe
If you are not able to make the turmeric tea recipe you can consider supplementing with “whole” turmeric capsules. I would avoid isolated turmeric compounds in the form of curcumin.
Isolated compounds are more like taking a medication. They do not contain the full spectrum of phytonutrients, antioxidants and other beneficial compounds found in the “whole” food. You can think of isolated compounds such as curcumin as being like refined food. Then, turmeric as being an unrefined “whole food”.
New Chapter is one of my favorite brands for turmeric capsules. It includes the complete spectrum of beneficial phytonutrients in their “whole” and natural profile.
You can purchase New Chapter Turmeric Force here.
Kaneez says
How much fresh turmeric root can you substitute for the powdered?
Thanks
Ivy Larson says
Hi Kaneez, As a general rule of thumb: 1 inch fresh turmeric = 1 tablespoon freshly grated turmeric = 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
Hope this helps?
cameron says
I literally just made this for my man and two 5 yo boys. Delicious. Is it naughty that I added 1tsp of cinnamon and when finished a scosh of organic half and half and a sprinkle of nutmeg? I thought it would be festive.
★★★★★
rose says
Ivy, I originally got the idea to make this tea from your book. I have since then modified a hundred times and now I am making it with fresh Turmeric Root that I got at Whole Foods here in NJ. It really does wonders for pain.
Ivy Larson says
Hi Rose! Oh I am so glad you are drinking the tea regularly 😉 And yes, it really does do WONDERS for pain! It’s pretty amazing, actually. Thank you so much for commenting and sharing your experience.
Lori M. says
My body seems to have an issue with coconut milk (bloating, cramps). From the reading I did, I got the impression that coconut has a high inflammatory index. Is that true? Is there an alternative to coconut milk for the recipe (I can’t do almond milk either) or it ok to use regular organic milk?
Ivy Larson says
Hi Lori, Coconut milk does have a high saturated fat content and while normally animal-based saturated fat is considered inflammatory, coconut milk is a type of plant-based saturated fat that is totally different biochemically from the animal-based saturated fat you would get from say, butter or meat. Normally, coconut milk should not be inflammatory, however, if it does not agree with your body and you experience bloating, cramps, etc. then it IS inflammatory for YOUR individual body. My recommendation is to just avoid it and instead use hemp milk (the protein in hemp milk is VERY easy to digest). Be sure to let me know if you have an issue with the hemp milk too though…