Introduction
Relaxing herbal teas are great to drink to help you unwind naturally. Here are five delicious herb teas to help you relax at the end of a long day.
Lime blossom
Lime flowers (Tilia spp.) make a great tasting tea whilst being relaxing and sedating. Drink lime blossom tea on it’s own or use as a tasty base to blend with other relaxing herbs. There are a number of Tilia species Tilia europa, Tilia cordata and Tilia americana. All have similar properties. Herbalists use lime flowers in anxiety, panic attacks, stress and insomnia. Other benefits include helping to lower fever and decongest a stuffy nose in colds and flu. Try drinking lime blossom tea in the evening to help you relax or sleep.
Rose
Rose (Rosa spp.) makes a strong floral tea that may taste a little overwhelming for some. To balance the flavour try blending with one or two other herbs. The main species of rose used are Rosa damascena (Damask rose), Rosa centifolia and Rosa gallica (the Apothecary’s rose). For it’s relaxing qualities use the petals. Considered a nerve tonic strengthening the nervous system during stress. Used to both lift mood and to help relax. Therefore, herbalists use rose in stress, anxiety and low mood.
Rose can also help with menstrual cramps. A cooling herb also used during menopause for hot flushes. For further reading on menopausal hot flushes see my blog post Natural Menopause – How to Manage Hot Flushes and Night Sweats. However, rose is quite subtle herb, so it is best to blend with other similar herbs. It blends wells with lavender and lemon balm. Do not use rose during pregnancy.
Lavender
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), is another plant with a strong flavour. You may find it too overpowering in which case you can blend with other herbs. A beautiful plant that both gently relaxes whilst lifting mood. Lavender is used for anxiety, stress, nervous tension, and insomnia. Used for migraines and headache, especially when these are related to stress. Lavender has a calming antispasmodic action that is used to help with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It blends well with rose, lime blossom, lemon balm and/or passion flower.
Lemon Balm
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is one of the best herbs for the nervous system. Helping to calm and relieve tension use it when your mind is overactive and concentration is poor. It is quite a slow acting herb and so you can blend with other herbs for more instant relief. Take longer term for support during stress, anxiety and agitation. You can use the fresh herb if you have it growing in your garden. Lemon balm is, like lavender, an antispasmodic used to relieve symptoms of IBS. It blends well with lavender and rose. Can interfere with thyroid so do not take if you are on thyroid medications.
Passion Flower
Passion flower (Passiflora incarnata) is an exquisite flower that has very relaxing and sedating properties. Use to help in tension, anxiety, panic attack and insomnia. Best taken in the evening to help you unwind, relax and sleep. Blend with rose and lavender for relaxation and with lime blossom and lavender for sleep problems. Can interact with some medication, including anti-depressants. Check with a medical professional before using if you take any medications.
How To Make Your Herbal Tea
Before you go ahead and make herb teas to help you relax here are a few pointers on how to make your herbal cuppa.
If you want to use a single herb, then simply add the herb to a teapot. For a herbal tea blend select two or three herbs and weigh equal amounts and mix well. You can adjust the ratios to suit your palate. Use 1-2 teaspoons of dried herb per cup of boiling water. For fresh herbs double the quantity.
Add boiling water to the teapot and leave to infuse for 10 minutes. Make sure you leave the lid on the teapot so that the volatile oils do not evaporate.
When ready pour your herbal infusion into a cup using a tea strainer. Some teapots have straining inserts in built.
Sit back, drink your herb tea and relax!
Choosing Your Herbs
If you have low mood or depression, then lime blossom and passion flower may be a little too sedating, so try sticking to the more uplifting herbs. If you struggle with sleep or feel very tense, then adding a more sedating herb can be useful.
You can blend as many herbs together as you wish. A useful rule is to stick with two or three herbs, more than five might start to complicate the flavour. Although rose and lavender are strong tasting that extra flavour can be delicious when added to other herbs. Play around to discover which single herb teas you prefer, and which blends you enjoy the most. Enjoy experimenting and making delicious herb teas to help you relax.
For more ideas on managing stress please read my blog My Absolute Top 5 Easy Ways to Empower You to Beat Stress Naturally
Cautions
Consult your Medical Herbalist, GP or pharmacist before using herbs if you:
- Take any medication
- Have a medical condition
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
If you are struggling with anxiety, depression or stress please seek advice from a medical professional. It is best to not try and deal with these difficulties alone.
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Disclaimer
This article does not substitute for professional medical advice or treatment
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