Tea is ancient, gentle medicine that works wonders for anxiety. Because you can get most herbal teas at your local grocery store, it also means that calm is only a few minutes away whenever you need it.
Here are my top 5 favorite calming teas that you can buy in your local grocery store. As always, buy organic if you can.
Lemon balm is a beautiful antiviral and anti-anxiety herb that has a mild taste.
Chamomile helps with digestion, stimulates the vagus nerve to activate the parasympathetic nervous system.
Lavender is as effective as several prescription medications for alleviating anxiety. Keep this tea covered while it steeps to capture all of the brilliant calming essential oils that this flower contains.
Holy basil / Tulsi is an adaptogen, which means that over time it will help to rebalance your nervous system. It's also incredibly nourishing, and has been studied for it's healing properties extensively by scientists and indigenous healers all over the globe.
Sleepy teas: Many herbal tea blends designed to help with sleep can be quite calming. You can steep them for less time than a normal cup of tea to make them weaker, which should induce a relaxing, rather than sleepy, effect. Alternatively, you could add one tea bag to several cups of hot water to dilute it's effect. Talk with a naturopathic practitioner for more details and to see if this method could be a fit for you.
Please always remember that this blog contains helpful information, but no medical advice. Talk with your naturopathic physician about what teas may be right for you. If you'd like to discuss your options with me, visit drkatehenry.com to learn more about how to schedule your first visit at my office.
Warmly,
Dr. Kate