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Does Tea Help With Anxiety

The Science Of Teas Mood

Is green tea good for anxiety? | THE RIGHT WAY to use green tea for anxiety relief

For centuries, people across the globe have testified to the relaxing and invigorating qualities of tea. The traditional calming effects of the plant Camellia sinensis have elevated the drink, which is produced from its leaves, to a role beyond quenching thirst it is drunk as an aid for meditation, to help soothe the nerves or simply to unwind. But although the mental-health benefits of C. sinensis are common knowledge among tea drinkers, scientists are only now beginning to examine how tea exerts its effects on mood and cognition.

Researchers have found, for instance, that drinking tea lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol. And evidence of long-term health benefits is emerging, too: drinking at least 100 millilitres of green tea a day seems to lower the risk of developing depression and dementia.

The effect of tea on behaviour is slightly paradoxical, says Andrew Scholey, a psychopharmacologist at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia. Tea is calming, but alerting at the same time, he says, while sipping a cup of Earl Grey tea.

Explorations into the effects of tea on behaviour and mental health come at a time of growing scientific interest in the role of nutrition in mental health and preventive medicine. Physicians need more ways of tackling anxiety, depression and age-related cognitive decline these conditions place a huge burden on health systems, and treatment options are limited.

How Drinking Tea Can Relieve Anxiety

There are many ways to treat an anxiety disorder. Some people use drugs, yoga, acupuncture, vitamins and the list goes on. But did you know that drinking tea can help relieve anxiety?

Tea contains a unique anxiety reducing amino acid called L-Theanine that helps create a calming sensation. The irony is that tea often contains caffeine. Nonetheless, people who drink tea often say that they feel calm after having a cup.

In addition to reducing anxiety, studies have shown that L-Theanine may be effective in promoting concentration, strengthening the immune system, lowering blood pressure, and increasing the formation of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA . Its also thought to increase dopamine levels, while having no known side-effects.

So, how do we know that tea is safe to drink in quantity? Well, for starters, tea is the most consumed beverage worldwide after water and has been consumed for thousands of years. Plus, studies on rats have shown that consuming high doses of L-Theanine has no harmful effects.

To get the full effect of L-Theanine in tea its recommended that you have 1-3 cups of tea daily. This is yet another natural remedy that you can throw into your anti-anxiety tool box. Its also a reminder that anxiety relief is everywhere if you know where to look for it.

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Here Are Some Of My Favorite Social Anxiety Tools

Thanks for reading! I hope you found some helpful tips. Since this site is about social anxiety, I wanted to also share some tools I use that I hope youll find helpful. Some of these are affiliate links, so if you decide to try them, Ill earn a commission. However, I only recommend things I have used myself and would recommend to a friend or family member.

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Green Tea Versus Coffee

Tea

Caffeine in coffee makes you alert because it blocks adenosine, a brain neurotransmitter that promotes sleep. Caffeine gives you energy and makes you more alert because it increases other brain chemicals that counteract adenosine.

But the effect of caffeine is different for people with anxiety because it also inhibits GABA, a calming neurotransmitter. GABA is responsible for relaxing mood and increasing happiness, and low GABA levels are linked to anxiety and panic attacks.

For people with anxiety, green tea is a better option for calming anxiety, managing stress and boosting alertness and concentration. And according to the Mayo Clinic, green tea has a long list of other health benefits from protecting your heart health, lowering blood pressure, reducing inflammation, improving bone health and memory and reducing your risk for certain cancers.

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Herbal And Chamomile Tea For Anxiety

Herbal tea for anxiety is easy to prepare. Just like the other variants of tea which help in dealing with depression, tea comprising of herbs induces sleep.

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The same can be said about chamomile tea. Advanced research has made it crystal clear that proper sleeping patterns of an individual reflect their state of body and mind. Those who suffer from lack of sleep at night are left to deal with anxiety and the stress factors, which trigger the movement of stress hormones in the body. The calm influence of both herbal and chamomile tea can go a long way toward easing stressful feelings in the mind at the psychic level.

You can prepare these variants of tea with ease by boiling fresh leaves of chamomile or herbs in water and simmering them for at least five minutes after that. Next, strain and enjoy a hot cup of this tea.

The forms mentioned help deal with the problem of depression. They work in an almost similar manner: these variants of tea relax the body and mind and induce sleep. However, pregnant women and individual with specific medical conditions should consult a doctor before adhering to this regime.

How Long Does It Take For Chamomile Tea To Work

It depends on what youre using chamomile tea for. If its to help you relax, then chamomile may start having an effect within a half-hour.

Also, one of the main bioactive compounds, apigenin, has a half-life of over 90 hours. This means that consuming multiple cups of chamomile tea will raise concentrations and have a stronger effect.

Chamomile tea also has many other benefits, such as lower cholesterol, but these effects may take longer to occur.

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How Stress Can Affect Our Bodies

  • Brain- stress can affect the way we think making it difficult for us to concentrate, make us more moody. and brain fog.
  • It can aches and pains in our joints due to increased inflammation.
  • It can cause a weakened immune system causing easier sickness and longer recovery time.
  • Stress can cause hair, nails, and skin to be dull, and dry.
  • Stress can cause a decrease in libido.
  • Stomach issues like diarrhea, constipation, and gut problems.
  • It can affect the endocrine system causing the adrenal glands to produce cortisol or stress hormone which can cause weight gain around the midline.
  • It can cause difficulty in sleeping and getting rest.
  • It can cause an increase in heart rate and can affect heart rhythms.
  • And many more!

Our bodies are our responsibility and ignoring the stress isnt helping us. By ignoring it we are only hurting ourselves and the people we love.

Im going to share with you six ways we can help reduce and manage stress affordably and effectively.

Additional Benefits Of Green Tea

Chamomile Tea Review (For Sleep & Anxiety)

While there are great mood and body benefits of green tea, as evidenced by research, there are four other positive qualities of green tea.

  • Hydration. There has been evidence dehydration worsens anxiety and panic attacks. Drinking any beverage is helpful, but green tea is healthier than other drinks because it doesnt contain harmful additives.
  • Opportunity to Relax. A primary benefit to drinking green tea – whether caffeinated or not – is that it allows you a chance to sit down and relax. Tea is just one of those beverages that are naturally calming, and that can do wonders for your peace of mind.
  • Routine. In general, routines are naturally relaxing. Pour yourself a cup of tea and enjoy a book or watch your favorite TV, and just simply enjoy your life.
  • Antioxidants. Green tea is loaded with natural antioxidants, which are beneficial for your health overall. And when your body feels healthy, you’re less prone to extreme anxiety.

None of these green tea benefits of will cure your anxiety, but every little bit helps to reduce symptoms, calm your mind, and increase your focus.

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Honey Lavender Stress Relief

Its mid-afternoon and youve been going nonstop since you got up. Youve got a slight headache coming on and a full evening ahead of you. Maybe its time to press the pause button and try a cup of this tea.

Its got a complex taste that makes you find something different in every sip. Plus, it tastes different as it cools down. You can spend a good 15 minutes or more just drinking this tea and not get bored. Its an invitation to mindfulness in a teacup.

It may also slow you way down, so by the bottom of your cup you might be ready to push your start button again.

Ingredients

  • The tea has a complex flavor and tastes good hot or cold.
  • It offers a strong relaxing effect.
  • It contains a wide variety of relaxing herbs.
  • Most ingredients are organic.

What to look out for

  • Theres a strong earthy aroma to the teabag and hot tea when you first brew it. Its a kind of grassy fragrance that diminishes as the tea cools.
  • This is a strong tasting tea, which we love but it may take you a couple of cups to get accustomed to it. You may wish to try a lightly brewed cup the first time around by steeping it for a shorter time than the box recommends.

What Tea Is Good For Anxiety

Valerian

Valerian is a root known for its ability to help you fall and stay asleep as well as relieve jittery anxiety. It is likely the most potent herb in the nervine family. Valerian works on both the central and peripheral nervous system, so it calms both your mind and body. While it can make some people restless, the usual effect of valerian root is a calm sleepiness.

Valerian is also well known for its distinct smell and taste, so I was incredibly excited when I tried Plum Deluxes newest addition to the herbal scene, Night Cap. The tea connoisseurs that create these teas really outdid themselves blending mint, chamomile, and other tasty herbs to make this blend a pleasurable experience.

Linden

Linden flower is a calming and uplifting sweet nervine that is good for the whole family. Kids can get anxious, too, so its good to have on hand some gentle, calming teas for kids. Slowly Unwind is a lightly fruity blend that shows off lindens sweet flavor and soothing properties for everyday stress.

Chamomile

St. Johns Wort

St. Johns Wort is known as the happy herb and is used primarily to treat anxiety, seasonal affective disorder, and mild depression. This herb does have a downside: St. Johns Wort can interfere with how medication is processed in the liver, making it less effective. It can also increase sensitivity to sunlight.

Lemon Balm

Tulsi

Rose

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The Republic Of Tea Get Relaxed

This one is all about those florals it smells and tastes strongly of lavender and rose, so if you’re not into that, this might not be the one for you. If you are, however, it offers potent aromatherapeutic benefits. It also has rooiboswhich adds a lovely sweetnesspassionflower and chamomile. This one left me almost as calm as the Cup of Calm, but slightly less tranquilizedwhich was actually a good thing, depending on the circumstances. While I’d reach for Cup of Calm when I was having an acute panic episode, Get Relaxed was perfect for sipping throughout the workday to feel mellow and chill, no matter how much was on my plate.

Diy Stress Relief Tea

Tea That Helps with Anxiety: Does it Really Work?

If you know anything about herbalism you know there are hundreds if not thousands of herbs available for different purposes. Some help you to relax, some help you to sleep, some help with pregnancy and some can help prevent headaches. Theres pretty much an herb for everything. This DIY Stress Relief Tea is my preference for herbal tea to help reduce stress. There are some great herbs out there that I didnt include because they either a) arent the best testing b) difficult to find or c) overcomplicated the recipe .

I chose these 5 herbs because they include a variety of herbs to help with both managing and decreasing stress. Lets get into them:

Chamomile most people are familiar with chamomile, and for good reason its effective! Chamomile is a relaxing nervine that helps encourage restful sleep. Better sleep = decreased stress.

Lavender like chamomile, lavender is a relaxing nervine that helps encourage better sleep. In addition, multiple clinical trials have shown that lavender decreases anxiety and perception of pain .

Lemon balm my love for lemon balm began last year when I got shingles. I discovered the superpowers of this herb and havent looked back. As an antispasmodic carminative, lemon balm is useful when stress or anxiety affects digestion because it acts on both the digestive and nervous systems. Also Im convinced it tastes like fruit loops!

Now that we know the constituents, lets whip up this tea!

Also Check: How To Deal With Anxiety And Depression

The 8 Best Teas For Soothing Anxiety

Do you feel nervous or suffer from an anxiety disorder? Finding ways to unwind and de-stress in today’s digital world can be difficult. Fortunately, having a cup of tea can be an easy and delicious way to relax and focus on the important things in life.

Not all teas are created equal. Some offer better relaxing properties than others. We’ve gathered a list of the best types of tea you can drink to help relieve some of the symptoms of anxiety.

Whether you like herbal teas or true teas, you’re sure to find something you love on this list that can help you lower your stress levels.

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