5 Cups of Calming Tea for Anxiety You Need to Try
- Griff
Table of Contents
A cup of tea is like a hug in a mug – for many people worldwide, tea has a universal comforting, feel-good factor that helps the mind and body relax.
Nowadays, tea comes in such wide varieties as herbal, caffeinated, and decaffeinated, with milk and sugar, hot or cold – the options are endless.
It’s also scientifically proven that many types of tea leaves contain antioxidants, with green tea having the highest levels, plus amino acids like L-theanine, which lower cortisol levels and relieves stress.
Other health benefits include reduced anxiety symptoms, improved memory and concentration, and better sleep.
So here’s our top five list of calming teas for anxiety to get you drinking:
Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea comes from a plant similar in appearance to something from the daisy family, from which the flowers are dried and then infused in hot water to create a herbal tea.
It’s caffeine-free, so a great alternative to green or black tea, and it can have quite a light and naturally sweet aroma. One of its main positives is that it can help you feel sleepy or at least very relaxed.
Chamomile flowers are abundant in antioxidants, one of which is apigenin, which helps you feel tired and is supposed to improve sleep quality.
Try a cup of soothing chamomile tea around 30 to 45 minutes before bedtime while taking some quiet time – perhaps as you read a book or rest in a dimly lit room.
We suggest that you drink the tea without any honey or sweetener. Feeling calm and relaxed is not just about reducing stress levels but also ensuring that your physical state is comfortable too.
Chamomile also contains anti-inflammatory properties to help relax the stomach muscles.
Here are my top 5 favorite Chamomiles teas
Top 5 Chamomile Teas
Lavender Tea
Lavender is not only a very fragrant and beautiful flower but if you boil the purple buds – whether fresh or dried- in hot water, it’ll make a tea that’s generally believed to be calming and help you sleep better.
Lavender has anti-inflammatory properties, which is why lavender oil is commonly rubbed on the skin.
There’s less research on lavender tea than on other herbal medicines, but it’s safe to say it’s natural woody, herbal and fragrant taste will make it a relaxing beverage and help you unwind after a long day.
At MindEasy, we often look out for organic lavender flowers without any additives added, and we’re also partial to Honey Lavender and Chamomile mixed together.
The latter can often be found in tea bags at your store
Here are five great Lavender teas to try to help you relax before bed
Top 5 Lavender Teas
Mint Tea
Mint tea is probably the most popular herbal cups of tea out there as it has so many positive properties – it can help ease any discomfort in the stomach and aid digestion while freshening breath, lessening headache pain, as well as having anxiety relief properties.
For those who want to grow their own herbal blend, you can literally take a handful of leaves from the mint family and brew it in hot water.
If you fancy a colder beverage, why not leave it to cool and then add some ice for a refreshingly cold mint tea? Perfect for any time of day.
Popular mint tea brands include Twinings Pure Peppermint, Teapigs Peppermint Leaves and Pukka’s three mint organic bags and their mint refresh selection.
Mint leaves are full of antioxidants and phytonutrients, with traces of vitamin A, vitamin C, and B-complex, phosphorous, and calcium, as well as anti-bacterial properties.
You’ll also find iron, potassium, and manganese, which can boost hemoglobin levels and enhance brain function.
As well as aiding digestion- given that it can help relax the stomach muscles, some healthcare professionals also suggest using mint to help combat asthma, as it’s a relaxant and can help ease chest congestion.
Mint is also known to help unblock a stuffed nose with menthol, making breathing easier and calming the irritation caused by a cough.
These are my five favorite refreshing mint teas.
Top 5 Mint Teas
Valerian Root Tea
Valerian is commonly used to help sleep disorders, including insomnia and anxiety, and has been extremely popular as a herbal remedy since ancient times and is still used as a traditional medicine to treat mental health issues worldwide.
You should note, though, that it’s still uncertain how valerian root works, but researchers think that the root could increase the levels of a chemical known as gamma-aminobutyric acid in the brain, which helps to calm the mind, reduce symptoms of stress and help induce a restful sleep.
Valerian root tea can be found in powdered form or teabags, but it’s worth noting the dosage.
We’ve found research that suggests 300 to 600 milligrams of valerian root a couple of hours before bed, can be very beneficial. Still, if you’re planning to take valerian root for an extended period of time, you should consult your doctor first.
Side effects from taking valerian root may include headaches, drowsiness, dizziness, stomach upset, or restlessness.
Try these five Valerian root teas to help you get more restful sleep.
Top 5 Valerian Root Teas
Lemon Balm Tea
Lemon balm is another calming herb from the mint family that comes from the lemon balm plant known as Melissa officinalis, which has a fresh lemony taste as opposed to a minty one.
The leaves from lemon balm can be brewed to make a soothing tea that can help calm the nervous system and leave you relaxed and in a better mood.
It’s believed to help aid sleep, and while there is some scientific evidence that it helps with generalized anxiety disorder, depression, and stress, as well as many other potential benefits.
As well as making a tasty tea from the leaves, you can also buy lemon balm supplements, which are usually popular with people who suffer anxiety levels because they’re a natural mood lifter and can quickly help you drift off to sleep.
These five lemon balm teas are absolutely divine.
Top 5 Lemon Balm Teas
Griff Williams
MindEasy founder & meditation teacher
Griff Williams is an accredited meditation teacher and founder of MindEasy. He spent 12 years working as a London firefighter before changing paths to pursue building MindEasy. He received his diploma in meditation teaching from The British School of Meditation.
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