Take a few minutes to brew, sip, and enjoy the best tea for stress and anxiety blends using skullcap, holy basil and other adaptogenic herbs.
Stress is something that we all experience on some level in our everyday lives. While a little stress can help motivate us to do the things we want to do, too much stress can take a toll on our bodies and our emotional well-being.
After giving energy to family members, work projects, home duties, and friends, there is often little time left for ourselves! Taking a few minutes to brew, sip, and enjoy herbal tea provides an easy and much-needed opportunity for personal reflection and self care during an otherwise hectic day.
Adding herbs with calming, nervine, and adaptogenic properties to your favorite tea blends can benefit your whole body and mind by strengthening and preparing your nervous system for the busy day ahead.
Herbs, including skullcap, milky oats, holy basil, and chamomile can help ease anxiety, irritability, sleeplessness, aches and pains, muscle tension, and can support us during times of heartbreak and grief. Thank goodness for the generous healing comfort they offer!
Here are a few of my favorite calming herb tea recipes that can be enjoyed daily. Feel free to play with the ratios to find the best cup of tea for your needs.
Best Tea For Stress And Anxiety
Good Morning Tonic Tea to Start Your Day
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon skullcap leaf
- 1 teaspoon peppermint leaf
- 1 tablespoon yerba mate
- 3 droppers of milky oat tops tincture
Skullcap is a wonderful nervine herb that is nutritive to the nervous system and helps ease anxiety. Peppermint is a great choice for the morning, because it helps promote mental focus. Yerba mate is rich in vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants, and caffeine for a stimulating boost that is mellower than coffee. Milky oat tops are a classic tonic for the nervous system.
Afternoon Uplift Chai
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon holy basil leaf
- 1 tablespoon Firefly Chai or loose-leaf chai of your choice
Holy basil is an important adaptogenic herb in India that helps the mind adapt to incoming stressors. Chai is spicy, mildly stimulating, and balancing. You can use a rooibos, green tea, or black tea chai for this blend, depending on the amount of caffeine you want in the afternoon.
Sunset Tea for Good Sleep
Ingredients
- 1 tsp chamomile flowers
- 1 tsp catnip leaf
- 1 tsp skullcap leaf
- 1 tsp rose buds
Chamomile is a mildly sedative herb that helps promote healthy digestion. Catnip is another mild sedative that can be helpful for headaches and is gentle enough for children. Skullcap is a wonderful nervine herb that is nutritive to the nervous system and helps ease anxiety. Roses help elevate your mood and can offer antidepressant effects. This is a gently relaxing blend to be sipped 1 hour before bed.
Wishing you much peace and relaxation.
Erin McIntosh of MOTHER EARTH NEWS FAIR sponsor Mountain Rose Herbs.
