Tea is the second most widely consumed beverage item in the world after water, as per the official statistics by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
While coffee is the go-to choice for most Americans, the Tea Association of the U.S.A. records that 80% of American households have some form of tea. It is consumed by almost 160 million Americans daily.
And the good news for all tea lovers – it is actually a pretty healthy beverage, especially for relieving stress and anxiety.
This is because tea has actual benefits when it comes to dealing with stress and anxiety. A study by psychologist Dr. Malcolm Cross from the City University London confirmed something millions of tea lovers have long vouched for. So, if you are upset, stressed, or anxious – it significantly helps to brew yourself a cup.
On that note, in this post, we will dive deeper into the best teas for stress and anxiety relief to help you find the perfect one for yourself.
But first, how does tea help with stress?
Have you ever felt relaxed and rejuvenated after having a warm cup of tea?
Well, it’s definitely not a coincidence because tea has been one of the best remedies for dealing with stress and anxiety. Most commonly, teas that help with stress contain herbal ingredients proven to help people relax.
Anti-stress teas contain herbal components that are anti-inflammatory and have significant benefits for the human body. These compounds include the following:
- antioxidants that help in reducing stress,
- antibacterial and antiviral compounds,
- components that can reduce inflammation, and
- ingredients that can reduce the risk of blood clots.
Drinking herbal tea daily has been linked with good health and stress relief in the long term. As per research by Javid Ghazizadeh and team, lemon balm tea can help improve symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, the aroma of tea and the process of brewing a cup for yourself is therapeutic and helps calm you down.
Now that you know the benefits of tea for your body, let’s discuss the best teas for stress and anxiety relief, along with what science says about their impact. Let’s dive in.
The Most Effective Teas That Help With Stress
1. Chamomile Tea
Chamomile is one of the best herbal teas for stress and anxiety relief. It also helps with the healthy functioning of the nervous system. The herb is so powerful and therapeutic that it is called ‘zutraut’ or the plant that can do anything in Germany.
A rigorous study on chamomile tea extract published in the National Library of Medicine found that it can significantly ease the signs of anxiety and stress when consumed regularly over eight weeks.
Chamomile is calming, soothing, aromatic, and relaxing – making it one of the best teas for stress relief. If you are looking to unwind after a long day, having it a few hours before bed can yield the best results.
2. Peppermint Tea
Peppermint was widely used for health purposes in early Greek and European societies. It is no wonder that the herb is still one of the most popular remedies for dealing with stress, headaches, and digestive issues.
While there is no credible proof about the use of peppermint tea, studies have shown that its smell can effectively reduce stress and anxiety. A study by Fatemeh Akbari and the team found that peppermint aromatherapy helped reduce anxiety and relieve pain for cardiac patients and those admitted for childbirth.
Apart from this, peppermint tea can be an excellent energy boost if you have been feeling drained and fatigued after a tiring day.
3. Lemon Balm Tea
A minty relative of our favorite lemony aroma, the lemon balm is tea good for stress, sleeplessness, and depression. It helps reduce cortisol, or the stress hormone in the body, without making you feel drowsy. As per research by Dae Young Yoo and team, it helps with stress by boosting a neurotransmitter, GABA.
Another research published on Clinical Nutrition ESPEN found that lemon balm tea reduces stress, anxiety, insomnia, and depression in people with angina (a heart condition).
So, if you want to elevate your mood and enhance your sleep schedule, lemon balm is one of the best herbal teas for stress relief.
4. Passionflower Tea
Passionflower is one of the best herbal teas for stress relief that has also been used to improve sleep schedules. It has also shown marked benefits for anxiety, menopause symptoms, pain, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
While there is a lack of consolidated research around its use, some studies show that passionflower helps ease anxiety symptoms before surgery. As per a 2017 study, 40 patients going for tooth extraction were given oral doses of passion flower or midazolam (used for induction of anesthesia). Both showed similar anti-anxiety results.
In a review of nine clinical trials, passionflower successfully reduced anxiety symptoms without having any adverse effects.
5. Green Tea
Green tea is not a secret. Its health benefits in terms of metabolism have been the talk of the town. But there is some secret when it comes to anxiety and stress.
As per research by the Journal of Functional Foods, green tea was found to induce a calming effect and reduce the absorption of caffeine. Additionally, the anti-stress effect of green tea is much more pronounced when using green tea with low caffeine.
So if you are looking to dip your anxiety levels, elevate your mood, and uptick your sleep schedule – green tea with less caffeine is the perfect anti-stress tea for you.
6. Valerian Root Tea
Valerian root has been a go-to medicine, given its sedative properties. And the best part – it can be used as a tea good for stress and anxiety relief.
Valerian helps regulate the levels of GABA (neurotransmitter) in the brain. This way, it can help manage your nerve impulses, thereby inducing a calming and relaxing effect. Moreover, if you have been feeling frazzled and distracted, a cup of valerian root tea can help boost your focus and concentration.
To top it all off, valerian root also helps maintain and regulate norepinephrine and serotonin levels, making it one of the best herbal teas for stress and anxiety relief in the long term.
7. Rose Tea
If you are looking for a yummy, aromatic, caffeine-free drink that also functions as a tea that helps with stress – rose tea is your answer.
Rose tea is an excellent caffeine-replacement drink that serves as your instant morning or afternoon boost beverage. Studies have shown that rose tea has marked benefits for physical and mental relaxation and reduces pain and anxiety symptoms.
8. Ashwagandha Tea
Ashwagandha is an anti-stress herb native to India and has been a significant part of the world’s oldest medicinal system, Indian Ayurveda.
Ashwagandha helps develop marked improvement in our body’s ability to tolerate physical and mental stress. It helps build long-term resilience making it one of the best herbal teas for stress relief and anxiety.
In order to reap maximum benefits, it is advised to drink ashwagandha tea for three to four weeks regularly. Apart from being an excellent anti-stress tea, it is a natural antioxidant that helps with immunity-building, keeping your body healthier.
9. Oat Straw Tea
Oat straw comes from the grass surrounding oats and is one of the best teas for stress and anxiety relief. While there is limited research on the effects of oat straw, its sweet taste and mild flavor are herbalist- favorites.
Drinking it daily can significantly improve stress levels. It is one of the best teas for stress relief on days when you feel overwhelmed with your life. Moreover, oat is rich in magnesium and calcium, adding to the overall health benefits of the tea.
Disclaimer: Before adding any of these anti-stress herbal teas to your diet, it is important to consult a health professional. While generally deemed safe, some health risks are associated with herbal teas. For instance, chamomile also acts as a blood thinner. Apart from this, some herbs might react with the medicines you consume. Therefore, it is best to consult a professional beforehand.
Conclusion:
Drinking tea can have a significant positive effect on your stress and anxiety levels. Apart from this, it can also help improve your sleep schedule and reduce fatigue. While a cup of tea will not solve your mental health issues entirely, it can certainly be an excellent lifestyle induction to enhance your overall ability to deal with stress.
We hope this list of the best teas for stress and anxiety relief will help you find the perfect anti-stress tea for yourself.
Not a tea person? Here are the best stress-relieving drinks for you.
To continue learning more about stress and mental health, subscribe to Your Mental Health Pal.