Stress Less with Calming Teas

Reader Contribution by Staff
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Erin is the Communications Manager at Mountain Rose Herbs and a graduate of the Columbines School of Botanical Studies. She spends her days photographing flowers, creating herbal treats, and wildcrafting medicinal plants in the magnificent Oregon Cascades.

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 wellbeing. Read on to learn how to stress less.

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 like 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 herbs and calming teas that can be enjoyed daily. Feel free to play with the ratios to find the best cup of tea for your needs.

Good Morning Tonic Tea

• 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 as it helps promote mental focus.

+ Yerba mate is rich in vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants and caffeine for a stimulating boost that’s mellower than coffee.

+ Milky oat tops is a classic tonic for the nervous system when taken daily

Afternoon Uplift Chai

• 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 and react to incoming stressors with calm.

+ Chai is spicy, mildly stimulating and warming. 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

• 1 teaspoon chamomile flowers
• 1 teaspoon catnip leaf
• 1 teaspoon skullcap leaf
• 1 teaspoon rose buds

+ Chamomile is a mildly sedative herb that also 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, helps ease anxiety and relaxes tense muscles. 

+ Roses help elevate your mood and can offer antidepressant effects.

+ This is a gently relaxing blend to be sipped 1 hour before bed.

  • Published on Mar 27, 2012
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