[caption id="attachment_159" align="alignright" width="300"] Enjoy iced tea and celebrate National Ice Tea month![/caption] Sparkling, sweetened, chilled or frozen: Whatever you prefer, it’s time to relax and enjoy America’s favorite summer beverage -- iced tea! Did you know that June is National Iced Tea Month? According to legend, ice tea was invented at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis. Visitors were turning down free hot tea because of the sweltering weather, so a  clever tea vender created a chilled version and word spread quickly. But delightful as it is, tea is much more than a pleasant sip on a steaming day. It’s an ancient beverage with powerful healing powers. From green or white tea, to herbal infusions, teas can sooth and heal aching joints. At the end of this article, find out how to make simple, delicious iced tea from scratch, as you raise a glass to National Iced Tea Month.

Iced Tea to Chill Joint Pain

Here are 7 wonder brews for your joints. 1. Green tea Green tea has become the “hot health drink” in recent years, and with good reason. This mild-mannered drink has some of the highest natural antioxidants of any beverage, called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which is not found in black tea. Research shows that EGCG helps stop the body from producing certain inflammatory chemicals, including those involved in arthritis, and that other compounds in the tea may prevent cartilage from breaking down, thereby preserving joints longer. Green tea is delicious hot or cold. You can add lemon or mint, or any other natural flavors you like. For best health results, drink several glasses or cups of green tea a day. [caption id="" align="alignright" width="300"] Enjoy a variety of iced teas to soothe joint pain.[/caption] 2. White tea White tea is brewing its way to a star beverage. Study after study shows the health benefits, from preventing heart disease and fighting off cancer, to keeping joints pain free. White tea is the least processed of all teas. The white leaves and buds brew to a pale yellow color, with a delicate fragrance and flavor. With strong anti-inflammatory properties, white tea may reduce the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. If you suffer from joint pain, white tea may reduce inflammation and ease the aches and pains of arthritis. 3. Ginger tea Ginger has a reputation as a warming, comforting tea, and a remedy for anyone with arthritis, rheumatism, or osteoporosis. It’s a known anti-inflammatory, and has been used for more than 2000 years. When you drink ginger tea, you can almost feel the renewed circulation, making it easier to move your joints. You can drink it hot or cold, or combine it with other herbal teas or green tea. In summer, a marvelous way to tame ginger’s spice is to blend it with peppermint, creating an exhilarating, cooling effect. 4. Burdock tea Burdock is a plant with a reputation as a blood cleanser. It’s a member of the thistle family, and pioneers used it to keep their blood pure. Excess uric acid can lead to calcification in joints, causing muscle and joint pain. Burdock is one of the best cleansers for uric acid and wastes, making it a natural remedy for arthritis, rheumatism, and sciatica. A surprising bonus tip is that it’s even a good source of protein. A time-honored remedy is to drink burdock tea with honey and milk three times a day, to chase the aches away! 5. Chamomile tea You probably think of a warming cup of chamomile tea as the perfect bedtime drink.  With a rich, floral taste, it has a mild sedative effect that helps you relax and sleep peacefully. You probably didn’t know that chamomile tea provides full body relief for muscle aches, strains and arthritic pain. Chamomile tea is a traditional medicine, and new research shows that it’s a powerful immune-system booster, with anti-inflammatory properties. You can steep this aromatic tea to soothe the pain and swelling of rheumatoid arthritis. Make a pot of tea at night for your nightly cup, and stash the rest in the fridge for a delicious cool drink the next day. 6. Cinnamon tea Sweet, spicy, and a little exotic, you can enjoy the flavor and many health benefits of cinnamon tea whether you drink it as a pure cinnamon brew, or blend it with other teas. Cinnamon is known to improve circulation, and poor circulation can cause many health problems, from varicose veins to constipation, to painful joints. Cinnamon tea is warming and helps to increase blood flow, so it naturally reduces swelling and the aches and pains of arthritis. You can buy cinnamon tea in bags or as part of a blend of other teas, but you can also make a simple cinnamon tea from a rolled cinnamon stick that you steep in hot water. Try it hot or cold, blended or pure. You can even use leftover cinnamon tea to sauté vegetables or add to your morning smoothie. 7. Dandelion tea One of the best remedies for treating joint pain may be the weed you’re pulling out of your backyard: fresh young dandelion leaves. In France, young dandelion leaves are used in spring salads, and in Britain, the flowers are used to make wine. European herbalists have used dandelions in anti-pain recipes for years. With high concentrations of vitamins A and C, these wild greens help your liver clear toxins out of your blood, and help repair damaged tissues in your joints. Dandelions make an invigorating spring tonic. They cleanse your body of toxins so you feel energized yet calm in the warm weather. To make a tea, steep just 1 teaspoon of dried leaves or 3 teaspoons of fresh leaves (make sure they are not sprayed with pesticides) in 1 cup of boiling water. Serve with your choice of lemon, honey, or mint.