Knowing how to manage stress effectively is imperative for your health. While stress is a normal reaction to life’s constant challenges, and a small amount can even be good, giving you the motivation to do well, when left unchecked and unmanaged, it can become dangerous to your health. That’s why it is essential to take steps to deal with it when you feel like you are being pushed beyond your ability to cope. While management techniques such as meditation and regular exercise are common knowledge, the natural stress-relief benefits of tea shouldn’t be forgotten.
Scientific evidence shows that there is something to the relaxing ritual of sipping on a warm cup of herbal tea. Many show to have proven stress-alleviating properties amongst other health benefits. If you are looking for some help in stress management, tea can be an effective, natural tool. Here are some favorites to leave you feeling a bit more balanced.
Chamomile tea
Getting enough sleep is essential for managing stress, calming, and giving the body time to repair itself. While everyone is different, the general recommendation from health professionals calls for 7-8 hours of sleep every night to improve your concentration, decision-making processes and regulate your mood. If you find that you need help getting to sleep each night, try sipping a mug of chamomile before you go to bed. Chamomile has been used in natural medicine for years, aiding sleep and calming nerves making it the perfect drink for managing stress. It does this by increasing your melatonin and serotonin levels so that you are left feeling relaxed but without any drowsiness.
Ingesting this easy-to-sip-on tea helps you to get a better night’s rest, and research suggests that even just the smell of it is enough to send you to sleep. A hugely popular and versatile tea, it’s caffeine-free, meaning that it won’t set off anxiety and can be consumed day or night. Last but not least, it can also help soothe headaches and relax the muscles, both of which are commonly associated with high-stress levels.
Kratom tea
Kratom is used by people worldwide to combat the stress they are suffering due to either their professional or personal lives. Similar in its properties to that of an opioid, Kratom contains the active ingredient mitragynine. It attaches to the brain’s receptors, which causes it to release the happy hormones serotonin and dopamine to make you feel more positive and less stressed. Kratom has been used in alternative medicine for centuries and is also thought to possess immunity-enhancing and anti-inflammatory effects. Read more on red Hulu kratom to find out the full benefits.
Peppermint tea
Peppermint tea acts as a natural antispasmodic that helps to relax both the body and mind. It is known for its calming and gentle effects on the stomach and is a great natural aid for the digestive system, flaring up during bouts of increased stress and anxiety. It’s a refreshing tea and can be had hot or cold, helping to relax muscles and tension headaches. It is also an excellent natural treatment to boost energy when you are feeling drained. Peppermint tea also acts as a natural sedative helping you to feel calm. Its strong smell, when inhaled, is enough to leave you feeling balanced and relaxed.
Green tea
Famous for its various health benefits, green tea is also a great stress reliever thanks to the amino acid theanine, which promotes relaxation and alleviates anxiety. While more research is required, preliminary studies suggest that theanine can also help lift mood and enhance brain functions. One study even found a significant reduction in stress after participants consumed the tea for ten days. As green tea is one of the highest sources of theanine compared to all other food and drink, consume daily to feel these effects for yourself.
Lavender tea
Lavender is renowned for its ability to settle anxiety and calm the body. However, it’s not just the smell that promotes these stress-relieving benefits. Ingesting the dried buds from the lavender plant in delicious tea form will give you the same benefits- soothing anxiety and the digestive system. It also acts as a natural anti-inflammatory to relieve headaches and muscle pain. These benefits make it a great addition to any tea collection. It comes in many combinations with various blends, including earl grey and black tea, meaning that there is something for everyone.
Oat straw tea
Oat straw tea may not be as famous as some of its other tea counterparts but is just as effective in easing chronic stress, anxiety, and insomnia. Taken from the parts of the oat plant that remain after the grain is extracted, it has been proclaimed a natural energy booster, keeping that dreaded afternoon energy crash at bay. Studies into the effects of oat straw tea are limited. Still, initial research is promising, showing that the oat plant could have many health benefits, lowering inflammation and enhancing health by lowering cholesterol in the body to support the healthy function of the heart.
Rosemary tea
High-stress levels increase cortisol, the hormone connected to stress response, disrupting the body’s functioning and natural processes. Therefore, long-term exposure to chronic stress can put you at risk of various health problems such as depression, heart disease, stroke, weight gain, and memory impairment, so it’s crucial to manage your stress effectively.
Research shows that consuming and inhaling the aroma of rosemary can lower the stress levels in your body, and subsequently, the cortisol in your blood. There is also evidence that rosemary can stimulate brain activity that involves mood control, enhancing the health of the brain and sharpening the mind.
Valerian Root Tea
Valerian root has been used for its calming properties and natural sedative effects for thousands of years. Valerian contains several compounds that help promote better sleep and regulate GABA levels in the brain, helping lower stress, anxiety, and blood pressure. The perfect tea for managing stress-related anxiety long-term, valerian root has been dubbed nature’s valium. However, it can interact with certain medications, so it’s always best to double-check any potential side effects before use.
Wrapping up
Stress is an undeniable fact of life, but it’s crucial to find the right tools to manage it effectively before it starts to impact your physical and mental health negatively. Herbal teas have been used for many years for their calming and healing properties and are effective when combined with other stress-management tools such as yoga and meditation.
Remember to always consult with your doctor if you are on any prescribed medication before using herbal teas as an alternative to stress management to avoid any interactions.
