5 Ways Herbal Teas Can Treat Or Reduce Anxiety And Help You Relax
Drinking herbal teas, especially ones like chamomile, and various herbal blends, is often seen as a powerful and effective way to relax. This article explores five ways in which herbal teas can help you to relax, making an effective, natural, and inexpensive treatment for anxiety
1. Medicinal Effects:
Herbs have various chemical components which act on the mind and body a lot like prescription drugs, but in a gentler, safer, and more balanced way. Many of the herbs commonly used as teas have been established scientifically to have relaxing or calming effects. The herbs with some science supporting their use for relaxing include chamomile, tulsi (holy basil), lemon balm, lavender, sage, passionflower, valerian, and kava. Many of these are common ingredients in herbal blends, especially those designed to promote relaxation.
2. Warmth:
Imagine curling up in a warm blanket with a hot cup of something. Even thinking of this sort of thing can help us relax. Warmth relaxes us, and this is not just due to our minds, it is due to the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, which reduces the stress response. Drinking herbal teas can help relax us by warming us up.
3. Aroma:
Aromas can be very powerful. Think of how certain smells can bring back vivid memories, often evoking strong emotions associated with those memories. Some chemicals are even able to produce measurable effects on the mind and body even at levels so low that they cannot be consciously detected. Infusions of richly aromatic herbs have great potential to impact our mood through their smell. Many of the herbal blends people drink to relax have been chosen and blended specifically to have a calming or anxiety-reducing effect. This effect can be powerful and immediate, helping us to relax even before we take the first sip.
4. Mindfulness:
Mindfulness is a powerful way to combat anxiety and related problems like depression. The act of focusing on the here and now can help us to be happier and work effectively. Herbal teas can be a focal point for our mindfulness, as we pay attention to the taste and smell of the cup of tea we are drinking, and as we take time out of our day to enjoy our herbal tea, which leads into our final point:
5. Enjoyment:
People often approach anxiety and stress like it is a medical problem; while there is some merit to this approach, it is also true that at times, we just need to kick back and enjoy ourselves. If you want to drink herbal tea to relax and to help reduce your anxiety level, the best way to do so is to pick an herbal tea that you enjoy the most, and drink it because you like the way it tastes. Your enjoyment will help you to relax more as well!