There are plenty of reasons to drink a hot cup of tea, but as it turns out, combating anxiety is one of them.
Scientists have pinpointed the molecular compounds in certain herbal teas able to lower your stress levels and promote emotional resilience.
Taking the time to make and enjoy hot, aromatic tea can become a habit that brings calm to your day.
Which Tea Should You Drink for Anxiety?
The most noticeably calming, stress-relieving herbs are lavender, lemon balm, and chamomile.
In several folk medicine traditions, these herbs were brewed for relaxation.
The tea you should choose for anxiety depends on the taste you like and what you find works for you. Herbal tea is free of caffeine, which is known to contribute to anxiety when taken in excess.
If you’re looking for a coffee replacement, however, green tea is a great option for its anxiety-lowering properties.
Lavender Tea
Popular in aromatherapy, lavender has anti-anxiety compounds that soothe your nerves and ease muscle tension. Drinking lavender tea gives you the same benefits as lavender oil aromatherapy.
In a study from Taiwan involving 80 postpartum mothers, drinking lavender tea daily reduced perceived levels of fatigue and depression [1].
Another study done in Iran found that lavender tea improved emotional stability and reduced symptoms of anxiety in elderly men and women [2].
Pour boiling hot water over dried lavender buds and steep for 5 minutes to enjoy the benefits of lavender tea.
Lemon Balm Tea
Lemon balm has a minty, citrusy taste and aroma. Native to Europe and the Mediterranean, lemon balm leaves have been brewed as tea and drunk to soothe nerves for over 2,000 years.
Today, scientists have found there’s something behind it. In a clinical study on patients with anxiety and insomnia, lemon balm improved symptoms in 95 percent of participants [3].
Research on animals suggests that lemon balm works to relieve anxiety by lowering levels of the stress hormone corticosterone and by raising GABA levels [4].
GABA, or gamma-aminobutyric acid, is a neurotransmitter that inhibits excessive nerve cell activity in your central nervous system.
Steep about a tablespoon of packed lemon balm leaves in a cup of boiling hot water for 5 minutes to enjoy.
Chamomile Tea
Used in ancient Egypt and even depicted in the hylogryphics, chamomile tea has a long recorded history of use in medicine.
A 6-month study on patients with moderate to severe anxiety found chamomile worked better than a placebo in reducing anxiety symptoms [5].
Chamomile’s active compounds act on benzodiazepine receptors in the brain to induce feelings of tranquility and relaxation.
Drinking chamomile tea also soothes your digestive tract through its antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties.
If you have trouble sleeping because of anxiety, try chamomile tea before bed. It can taste bitter when steeped too long, so enjoy it after about 5 minutes of infusing the dried flowers in hot water.
Green Tea
Green tea is naturally rich in numerous antioxidant compounds, including vitamin A, l-theanine, and epigallocatechin gallate(EGCG).
L-theanine is an amino acid found to improve mental focus and reduce anxiety. The EGCG content in green tea helps
promote heart health and prevent high blood pressure.
In fact, researchers have linked regular green tea consumption with a lower incidence of heart problems [6].
A study on students determined that drinking decaffeinated green tea regularly can lower stress [7].
On the other hand, caffeinated drinks are shown to increase the risk for symptoms of anxiety.
If you’re looking for a substitute to replace coffee, green tea is a great alternative because of its health benefits and
low caffeine content of about 40 mg per cup.
Drinking Herbal Tea for Anxiety Relief
Herbal tea has been brewed for thousands of years for therapeutic benefits that help tackle both physiological and
mental ailments.
Most herbs are safe to drink as tea, however, be sure to check with your doctor if you’re taking regular medications since there could potentially be interactions.
Of course, herbal teas can’t replace professional mental health treatments like therapy and medical prescriptions.
However, a daily habit of drinking herbal tea can support your efforts to counter and cope with anxiety. Plus, it can offer additional health benefits like lowering blood pressure and providing essential nutrients.
References:
1. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26523950/
2. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32444033/
3. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3230760/
4. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21076869/
5. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27912875/
6. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23845542/
7. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28566632/
