Herbal Teas That Calm The Mind And Relax The Body

There’s something instantly nurturing and soothing about steeping a cup of aromatic herbal tea and enjoying the taste of nature one sip at a time, but did you know that the medicinal herbs used in your tea can help take your calm and relaxation to a whole new depth? Herbal tea is a simple, delightful, and truly effective way to work with plant medicine, and many of them can be used to calm the mind and relax the body in ways you may never have expected.

Herbs, like most medicines, make changes in the body through chemistry. When we ingest herbs through capsules, tinctures, or teas we are allowing their benefits to come into our systems so that positive changes can be made. In the modern day, one of the greatest changes we can receive from healing plants is the removal of stress. When you choose the right herbal teas, you can give your mind and body the support they need to release tension, stop negative thought cycles, and truly step into the moment. Herbal tea is easy to work with, enjoyable to experience, and a great starting point for getting to know many medicinal herbs in a very personal way.

When selecting your next herbs for tea, think about adding any of the following to your favorite blend or enjoying them on their own to experience just how relaxing and stress-relieving tea can be!

Chamomile

There’s a good reason why chamomile herbal tea is one of the most enjoyed teas across the world. It carries a delicious flavor that’s somewhere between a fresh apple and the smell of spring. The name chamomile actually means ground apple, and is a testament to its earthy, apple-like flavor.

Chamomile is relaxing for the muscles as well as the nervous system as a whole. It helps the entire body relax while also soothing the mind and the emotions. Many people love a warm cup of chamomile herbal tea before bed because it helps release the day and welcome a wonderful night of healing rest.

Some of chamomile’s other benefits include relieving aches and pains in the muscles and joints, calming the digestive system, and relieving nausea.

Lemon Balm

Sometimes the best way to relieve stress is to simply replace it with feelings of well-being. Lemon balm is known for its ability to bring on the joy while also soothing the nerves and delivering a sense of wellness and contentment.

A hot or iced cup of lemon balm herbal tea goes to work relieving the body of tension while also lifting the weight of negativity and depression from the mind. In cases where stress and strain are wrapped up in sadness or lack of happiness, lemon balm is the perfect go-to herb.

Prized for its delicate lemon-like flavor and fragrance, lemon balm is a wonderful herb to use as a base for creative herbal tea blends or as a daily sipping tea. If you’re a fan of lemonade or limeade, try steeping some fresh lemon balm leaves in your drink for added flavor, aroma, and health benefits!

Skullcap

While chamomile and lemon balm are truly effective herbal teas in combating stress and strain, sometimes it takes a little more power to get the job done. Skullcap is a great herb to turn to in cases where stress turns into anxiety, and when strain becomes locked up feelings of tension.

Skullcap herbal tea gets a lot of respect by herbalists and tea experts alike. This gentle herb has a whole array of minerals that help soothe the nervous system and bring the body down from the heights of tension. When the body relaxes, the mind soon follows. Regular use of skullcap herbal tea is also used by many experts to help protect the body and mind from the long term effects of constant stress and anxiety. Skullcap is such a powerful nervine relaxer that many people rely on it to help combat the stressful effects of withdrawal, life crisis, and panic.

Sage

This is perhaps one of my most favorite herbs to deal with all things tension, strain, and pain. Sage (Salvia officinalis) is an amazing muscle relaxer – and when the body is able to fully relax the mind isn’t far behind! For times when your mind has gotten your body wound up in knots, or when stressful feelings have caused strain to enter into the deepest parts of your muscles, sage is a wonderful herb to rely on.

If you’re dealing with sore muscles, check out the post I did focusing specifically on muscle relaxant herbal teas you can make in your own kitchen.

Sipping herbal tea is a simple, enjoyable, and effective way to bring the power of plant medicine into your life every day! Try experimenting with herbal tea in both hot and iced styles, and get excited about all of the amazing herbs that are out there to try!

DIY Anti-Stress Herbal Tea Recipe

Combine the following…

3 parts Chamomile Flowers
2 parts Lemon Balm
1 part Skullcap
1 part Lavender
1 big pinch Peppermint (optional, for taste. Add more or less as desired)
1 big pinch Sage (optional, for body stress and strain)

Steep in 8 ounces (regular mug size) of boiled water for 6 minutes. Strain and sip! Sweeten with coconut oil for added nourishment and flavor. Sip several cups each day for deep relaxation!

This also makes an amazing iced herbal tea!

If your anxiety and stress seem to happen all the time, or if it’s been a problem for a long period of time, there are two things you may want to look into. First, seeking the help of a mental health professional can be a wonderful way to step away from your anxiety in a new way and get some amazing tools to help you live a life of calm confidence. Next, take some time to explore an herb that’s played a vital role in my own anxiety and stress healing process – Ashwagandha. This root, a staple in India’s Ayurveda healing system, is worth looking at in depth to see if it might be a good fit for your own healing journey. See the specific type of Ashwagandha Root tincture I use every day.

For a deep look at herbal tea for anxiety, stress, worry, and fatigue, check out these posts – as much info as a small book, but right to the point…

Herbal Tea for Anxiety

Herbal Tea for Stress

Herbal Tea for Worry

Herbal Tea for Fatigue

Enjoy!