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Pictured: Karina Francois
Stress is the buzzword of the moment. Everyone is stressed about something, but really stress is simply your body’s way of responding to any kind of demand or threat. When you feel pressured, your nervous system responds by releasing a flood of stress hormones; including adrenaline and cortisol, which are designed to prepare the body for action.
The term stress is often used to diagnose a range of symptoms from mild anxiety to debilitating depression. Therefore, people are often left confused about what stress actually is and how best to treat it. Today, the technologically advanced world we live in has made life more fast-paced than ever before with constant deadlines and demands. As a result, many of us will experience stress at some stage of our lives, for some it’s actually a routine part of everyday life.
Herbal tea has been used as a stress remedy for centuries and is often considered to have a calming effect on the mind, body and soul. The process of drinking the tea itself is relaxing and the heat of the beverage works to soothe you from within.
However, whilst the latter can be applied to almost any warm beverage, some herbs have been scientifically proven to possess healing qualities which are thought to alleviate anxiety and stress. For example, the main ingredient in green, oolong and black tea that helps you relax is the amino acid theanine. In fact, research shows that this amino acid promotes alpha waves in the brain, which are linked to relaxation¹.
Herbal teas have quickly become a popular healthy alternative to caffeinated drinks, sugary juices and soft drinks. But while many may believe that drinking large amounts of herbal teas will ‘cleanse’ their bodies, this is only a half-truth. There is a hidden side to the commercial tea industry that producers try to avoid: pesticides. Pesticides have been widely documented for their negative effects on the environment, as well as human health. Therefore, you should always choose your herbal teas from a reputable herbalist or naturopath.
The following herbs are my personal favourites when it comes to alleviating stress and quietening the mind. The herbs can either be taken as teas or herbal tonic mixtures.
CHAMOMILE – A firm favourite when it comes to a relaxing cuppa. Chamomile is known for both its calming and sedative properties on the nervous system, as well as the tummy. This is the perfect remedy if you’re struggling to relax before bed or get to sleep, or if you have an upset stomach.
HOPS – Besides being used in beer, as herbalists we would also recommend hops for its sedative and antispasmodic actions on muscles. It is thought that hops also help you to have a more restful sleep.
EMON BALM – As the name suggests, this is a soothing and calming tea for stressed nerves. It invigorates yet relaxes the nervous system at the same time. It helps put you to sleep and can also be used to reduce aother ailments connected to the nervous system like insomnia, cramping, headaches, muscle tension and soreness. Best of all, it tastes delicious!
PASSIONFLOWER – My favourite of all favourites! It is an incredible sedative used to combat nervousness and anxiety, to tranquilize the mind and assist with sleep. When you take passionflower you can sleep more deeply.
SKULLCAP – A delicious delight used to treat anxiety and stress. Skullcap is a great herb for general relaxationand can help those suffering from insomnia, anxiety and nightmares.
VALERIAN ROOT – It’s definitely not the most fragrant herb, but it offers a whole host of benefits; it is used to treat anxiety, headaches, insomnia, muscle cramps, nervous tension and stress. Valerian sedates and regulates the nervous system allowing for a peaceful sleep as well as clarity of mind.
Clean Eating, Clear Thinking Tea
I created this tea for its suggested therapeutic benefits. The herbal combination is designed to assist all your elimination organs to function better, thus keeping the body’s systems ‘clean’. Chamomile and peppermint is amazingly soothing to the gut and helps the nervous system relax, while lemongrass can be cleansing and relaxing. Clivers has been traditionally used to reduce fluid retention and help keep the kidneys and lymphatic system clean. Dandelion and liquorice assist with improving gut, liver and bowel function. Lemon balm is soothing to the gut and nervous system. Fennel helps with wind.
The tea is a perfect addition to your clean eating lifestyle. You can drink it hot or cold and preferably with breakfast and lunch as it contains hibiscus flower which is very high in chromium, a trace mineral that has been shown to help balance blood sugar and reduce cholesterol.
The tea can assist with the following issues:
- Natural detox processes of the body
- Insomnia
- Immunity-antibacterial and antiviral
- Menstrual cramps
- Anxiety/stress/depression
- IBS, digestion, pain and discomfort
- Soothing to the gut
- Period regulator
- Useful in skin irritations
- Body fat and cholesterol lowering
- Blood pressure regulation
- Anti-oxidant
- Blood sugar control
- Rich in vitamin c
- Heart tonic
- Gallbladder/liver and thyroid support in graves disease
- Headaches
About the Author
Karina Francois is a leading Australian naturopath and herbalist, who has run her own clinic in Melbourne for the last 14 years. She also published her first book last year, Clean Food, Clear Thinking, has a weekly health segment on Star FM Gippsland’s Breakfast program with Mandy and Elliott (owned by SCA radio), and regularly runs workshops for both individuals and businesses on nutrition, mindset and natural remedies. For more information visit her clinic website at www.infinitehealthpractice.com.au
References:
1. https://examine.com/supplements/theanine/