Stress & Anxiety
This month's featured herbal remedy is a tea I blended to help with anxiety and everyday stress. In such uncertain times, I can't think of a better way to care for yourself. Tea is such a simple yet powerful way to bring the health benefits from plants into your daily diet. I will often brew a large batch in the morning and drink a blend like this throughout the day... Just adding more hot water. As the days warm up, this would also do quite well iced. In this blend, I specifically focused on bringing herbs together that are gentle enough to drink daily while bringing relaxation to different areas of your nervous system.
A bit about the nervous system
The nervous system is a fascinating part of our body. It is made up of two parts and moves throughout your body. Effecting almost all areas of your mind state, mood, skin, heart, digestive system… Really almost all areas of your body are effected when your nervous system is being triggerd. When you are under stress, it can show up in the stomach, the heart, as a headache, the inability to sleep. My Chinese medicine doctor used to say that the nervous system is the first alarm that goes off when something is wrong in the body. SO with that in mind- working with our nervous system can help halt bigger long term issues, such as high blood pressure, chronic migraines, chronic skin conditions, Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and many other very serious chronic issues.
Calming Support Tea Recipe
1 part Milky Oats
1 part Rose Buds
1/2 part Lemon Verbena
1/2 part Tulsi Basil
1/4 part Elcampane root
I hope you enjoy this tea as much as I do!
If you want to enjoy the tea without making it
you can buy it here
About the Herbs
I blended a unique assortment of plants that are known to be nervines (A nervine is a plant remedy that has a beneficial effect upon the nervous system in some way). Milky oats is one of my go to's for any tension and anxiety that arrives in the belly and intestinal tract. If this is where your stress goes, milky oats can help relax the muscles around your digestion, relieving tightness and can help with digestion. Lemon verbena is a beautiful plant, tastes minty and lemony and has been used to treat sleep issues and depression. It works directly on the nervous system to relax the nerves. I personally have used this to completely relieve restless leg syndrome. I brought in Holy Basil or Tulsi, for it's deeply supportive qualities for the nervous system and the adrenals. It helps with lethargy, mental fog and strengthens the nervous system. And what support tea would leave out the wonderful rose?! I could probably put roses in every blend I ever make! But, knowing what I know, that is not so wise as roses can disrupt hormones if used to frequently as the are high in estrogen. However. To add to a calming blend is a great place for them to shine. Not only for their unmistaken flavor profile but also because roses help ease depression, anxiety, irritability, and even help uplift the emotions while providing a sense of ease. And because I love the flavor so much, I added the root of Elcampane to aid in daily lung strengthening and support.