Your morning cup of Tea has many fantastic qualities. Studies suggest it can improve cardiovascular health while reducing diabetes risks, as well as aid digestion. But did you know Tea for anxiety is an excellent choice, too? This is what we’ll be exploring here.
The article below will establish the best Teas to help with anxiety. It will cover varieties such as Chamomile Tea, Peppermint Tea, Lavender Tea, Green Tea and even Hemp Tea.
Many of your frequently asked questions (FAQs) will also be answered. And once you know the facts, you can buy Tea from The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company.
Table of Contents
Does Tea Help with Anxiety?
In the UK, around 1 in 10 people live with anxiety, a condition characterised as an often incessant feeling of worry, fear or nervousness. A variety of triggers can cause it, including stressful events, life changes, and being in danger.
Some who experience anxiety, however, will find it surfacing during ordinary, routine moments. When left unchecked, it can have a significant impact on health and wellbeing.
So, is Tea for anxiety the answer? Not exactly, but it can certainly help. Indeed, drinking Tea at times of turmoil is far from a new phenomenon.
During the Second World War (1939-1945), British Prime Minister Winston Churchill believed that a good, hearty cuppa could boost the country’s morale. Such was his determination to provide Britons with Tea for anxiety, in fact, that he stopped at nothing to get it!
In 1942, as Axis forces gathered in occupied Europe, the British government’s largest purchases were bullets, Tea, artillery shells, bombs and explosives respectively.
In other words, the calming effect of one’s favourite brew took precedence over importing weapons! The “keep calm and carry on” attitude of the UK prevailed – and in more than one way!
How Does Tea Help with Anxiety?
Brewing up a cup of Tea for reducing anxiety can work in many ways. And in many respects, it depends on the Type of Tea you choose. Shortly, we will be looking into the best Teas to help with anxiety.
Right now, however, we will explore the fundamental (if not quite scientific) reason why your choice beverage, no matter the variety, could help.
The consensus is that chronic stress and anxiety disrupts our sleep and blood sugar levels, which leads to increased hunger and comfort eating. Ironically, though, this then leads to even higher levels of stress and even more disrupted blood sugar levels. Such a cruel circle not only causes unhealthy levels of body fat, but also increases the risk of developing type-2 diabetes.
Stopping stress and anxiety at the source is the potential answer. And what could achieve this better than putting on the kettle for Tea? Although it isn’t a long term treatment, choosing Tea for anxiety can, at least, work as an accompaniment to prescribed medication. (Just check with a doctor first as some tea types might interact with prescription medicine.)
Best Tea for Anxiety
There are four primary types of Tea to originate from the Camellia sinensis (Tea) plant. In order of the amount of processing they undergo, these are White, Green, Oolong and Black Tea.
Each type is an excellent choice of Tea for anxiety, although the least-processed varieties have the most to offer. This is because both White and Green Tea contain large quantities of L-theanine.
L-theanine is an amino acid capable of reducing anxiety by increasing the production of Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), serotonin and dopamine. GABA, in particular, plays an essential role in behaviour, cognition and the body’s response to stress. Serotonin and dopamine also have a similar effect on the body, regulating emotions, mood and concentration.
According to research published in the Journal of Nutrition & Intermediary Metabolism, L-theanine reduced anxiety in 104 participants experiencing stressful situations. Another study shows that it can increase relaxation without causing drowsiness.
Finally, evidence from the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, which focused on people with schizoaffective disorder, recognises how L-theanine improves symptoms and can help with anxiety.
But there is also many a Herbal remedy worth considering as a Tea for anxiety. Lemon Balm Tea, for example, is often dubbed “the calming herb” due to its anxiety-relieving qualities.
In one study, 18 healthy volunteers experienced reduced levels of anxiety after a 600 mg extract of this Herbal Tea. This clearly showcases its potential, although there are, of course, other options.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do you still have questions about the best Tea for anxiety? Keep reading, and you might find them answered below. If your query isn’t here, however, then please feel free to contact us.
The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company, after all, is always willing to help our customers.
Yes. There is clear evidence that Chamomile Tea is one of the Herbal Teas capable of helping with anxiety.
Perhaps most famously, this floral infusion contains phytochemicals that have a positive influence on neurotransmitters in the brain. This, in turn, helps to induce sleep, thus making it an excellent choice of Tea before bed.
And according to research published in the journal Phytomedicine, it’s these same chemical compounds that also make it the perfect option as Tea for anxiety. The study noted how phytochemicals in Chamomile Tea significantly reduce symptoms associated with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD).
While this beverage contains large quantities of L-theanine, it’s worth noting that Green Tea caffeine might have the opposite effect. This is because caffeine is a naturally occurring stimulant that blocks adenosine, a neurotransmitter that relaxes the brain.
In doing this, it essentially makes you feel more energised and less sleepy. However, for some, it also comes with side effects.
Overconsumption of caffeine can cause jitteriness, sleeplessness and dehydration. Additionally, it can fuel our stress hormones, which may impact our mental health while simultaneously increasing blood pressure.
If you experience any of these Effects of Caffeine, it’s paramount that you seek medical attention. First and foremost, we care about the welfare of our customers.
It depends. As we’ve already established, your favourite cup of Tea might possess qualities that enable it to reduce anxiety. Paradoxically, some of its chemical compounds, namely caffeine, might in fact increase the risk of experiencing anxiety.
Caffeine sensitive individuals, for instance, should avoid consuming too much caffeine – although there’s a silver lining.
Almost every type of Herbal Tea, excluding Yerba Mate, is 100% void of caffeine. So, in other words, beverages such as Rooibos, Lemongrass, Ginger and Turmeric make for fantastic alternatives to so-called “real” Tea.
Furthermore, many of these brews contain a wealth of vitamins, minerals and other Antioxidants in Tea that have health benefits of their own.
“Too much of a good thing” very much applies when it comes to Tea for anxiety – even without the presence of caffeine.
This is mostly due to the fact that almost every type, be it “regular” or Herbal Tea, has side effects upon overconsumption. Indeed, regardless of whether you choose White Tea Benefits or Camomile Tea benefits, there is always a risk.
Take Hibiscus Tea, which despite having several health-promoting properties, including reduced blood pressure, can also cause jitteriness.
This, in turn, can lead to anxiety for obvious reasons. Then there is Mace Tea, a variety which, according to a 2006 report, has antidepressant effects. However, drinking too much can have the opposite impact on your health.
Due to the processing of Black Tea, this type contains the most caffeine (approx. 50 mg per 8 oz cup). This means that the risk of experiencing jitteriness or sleeplessness increases (not as much as caffeine in Coffee, though).
Yet, it isn’t without its anxiety-relaxing abilities as, after all, Black Tea does also have L-theanine in it, too.
What’s more, and as alluded to previously, any brew you enjoy has at least SOME potential to relieve anxiety. This is because, fundamentally, there is nothing like stopping for a nice, warming cuppa when things get tough. Wouldn’t you agree?
Lavender Tea is another great option as a Tea for anxiety, as well as for stress in general. A 2011 study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine can explain why.
It discovered that participants who inhaled lavender oil experienced significantly reduced stress levels. Drinking Tea, specifically Lavender, no doubt has a similar effect.
Furthermore, a 2005 study published in Physiology & Behavior saw 200 people awaiting dental treatment consume Lavender Tea. The results indicated lessened anxiety and improved mood in almost all participants. In other words, they were less bothered by the dreaded dentist after trying this delectable, nutritious Herbal Tea!
When it comes to the best Tea for anxiety, the chances are Linden Flower Tea isn’t one of the first to come to mind. In fact, few people think of this sweet, floral beverage much at all! And yet it has much to offer, including its ability to significantly reduce stress and anxiety levels.
One research project published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that Linden flower extract reduced anxious behaviour.
Additionally, a study published in the same journal discovered that this herb lengthened the sedation time of animals who received sleep-inducing drugs. So it appears that Linden Flower is an excellent choice of Tea before bed, too.
Peppermint Tea is, unmistakably, the most popular type of Herbal Tea available. But is it a good Tea for anxiety?
Few scientific studies directly establish that this beverage can reduce anxiety levels, although it might help in somewhat more obscure ways.
Its menthol content, for example, can work as a natural muscle relaxant. This might work to release tension in the body and, in turn, the mind.
Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory properties of Peppermint Tea Benefits could reduce blood pressure and body temperature, which might subsequently lead to a feeling of relaxation. Nevertheless, more research is required.
We’re back to caffeine again, specifically the caffeine in Coffee that causes anxiety. Many will know already that your morning cup of joe contains significantly more of this stimulating chemical compound than Tea.
Indeed, the consensus is that Coffee can boast up to 100 mg more caffeine than Black Tea. This is a benefit to some people – but not to all.
So Tea wins this round. However, if you can’t do without Coffee, even despite your anxiety, then there’s always the option of going Decaf. The process of decaffeination essentially removes the vast majority (not all, though) of caffeine out of Coffee beans. This means, among other qualities, that you can drink it without increasing the risk of experiencing anxiety.
Hemp Tea benefits the mind, body and soul in a plethora of ways. In recent years, it’s become increasingly popular due to its abundance in cannabidiol (CBD), which, unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) found in marijuana, isn’t psychoactive. Instead of offering the “high” of THC, CBD famously reduces anxiety.
CBD in Hemp Tea positively affects the brain’s receptors for serotonin, a neurotransmitter with anxiolytic (anxiety-relieving) qualities.
Evidence exists in a 2011 study that saw participants with social anxiety disorder (SAD) take an oral dose of 400-mg of CBD or a placebo. It concluded that the CBD group experienced overall reduced anxiety levels.
Conclusion
Drinking Tea for anxiety has many benefits. Fundamentally, a nourishing brew will always ease the mind, although there’s science behind it, too.
Depending on the type of Tea you choose, it might contain constituents such as L-theanine that help promote one’s wellbeing. When it comes to Herbal remedies, particularly infusions like Chamomile and Linden Flower, certain phytochemicals often take on this role.
Whether you decide on Lavender or Valerian Root; Rose Petals or Passionflower Tea, you can count on us. The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company pack every Loose Tea, Tisane and Coffee fresh to order. This ensures not only quality but also consistency.