The Best Kind Of Tea To Drink When You're Sick

When you're sick and have chills, nausea, and body aches, the best tea to make is ginger tea. A 2015 study found that ginger can treat pregnancy and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and a 2014 study backed up that ginger is safe and effective for treating nausea and vomiting caused by pregnancy. A 2018 study showed that drinking a beverage with ginger extract helped people with mild cold sensitivity — it warmed them up a bit, so it could help with chills when you're sick. A 2010 study published in the Journal of Pain found that ginger can even help with muscle pain. The science backs up that ginger tea can help with the chills, body aches, and nausea. Ginger tea can also help with an upset stomach.

You can use store-bought or homemade ginger tea. If you have store-bought ginger tea, it's usually a combination of ginger extract and a mixture of herbal, caffeine-free teas (via NBC). The store-bought tea will help with your symptoms, but homemade is even better.

To make your own fresh ginger tea, you'll need four cups of water, four teaspoons of honey, and a quarter cup of freshly grated ginger. This delicious recipe is from none other than Martha Stewart. Bring the four cups of water to a boil, and add the grated ginger to an empty teapot. Once the water is boiling, turn off the heat, and pour it into your teapot. Strain and serve with a teaspoon of honey per cup, which has its own health benefits. You can adjust this recipe to make as much or as little as you want. It's even better if you can have someone else make it for you while you rest in bed. 

The next time you're feeling ill, whether it's from a cold, the flu, pregnancy, or chemotherapy, try a hot cup of freshly made (or store-bought) ginger tea. It can help warm you up, soothe muscle aches, reduce nausea, and ease vomiting.