For thousands of years, tea has been used for meditation (religious ceremonies), medication and relaxation. It goes back over 5,000 years as a medication and 1,000 as a beverage. Nature’s Xanax, as I like to call it. Nothing is more relaxing than ending my day with a hot cup of green tea (that’s my favorite). Check out these available herbs that can provide you with a more natural way to stay relaxed.

Green Tea

Green tea is not only high in antioxidants that help boost your metabolism, it also contains an amino acid called theanine. Research has found that those who take theanine prior to a stressful situation have a decreased sympathetic nervous system response to the stress. Theanine is a safe and natural alternative to reducing stress.

Dose: One dose of theanine is approximately 10 cups of tea.

Passion Flower

Once used as a sedative by the peruvians, passion flower is a powerful flower/fruit that can help you relax and fall asleep. It contains a flavonoid called, chrysin which has been known to have anti-anxiety properties.

Dose: Mix 1 tablespoon of dried herbs with 1 cup of boiling water and let steep for 10 minutes.

Catnip

No wonder the cat seems so relaxed…..steal some for yourself! The same properties that make the cat sedated, have the same effects on humans, but in a more controlled way. Although there has not been deep research conducted, the NYU Langone Medical Center says that the active ingredient responsible for the anxiety relief is nepetalactone.

Dose: Steep 3 teaspoons of flowering tops of the plants in hot water (not boiling).

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is a natural herb from India that has been used for centuries as a body tonic. A study published in the Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, found that those who took Ashwagandha had 28% lower levels of cortisol, often referred to as “the stress hormone”. Cortisol can be helpful in small amounts, but can be harmful if levels are elevated for extended periods of time.

Dose: Boil 1-3 grams of root for 15 minutes in 2 cups of water.

Lemon Balm

Lemon balm is an herb from the mint family that was commonly used medicinally by the Greeks and Romans. Studies have shown that when mixed with other herbs (valerian, hops or chamomile), lemon balm lowers the negative effects of stress, anxiety and headache pain.

Dose: Mix 2 tablespoons of dried lemon balm with 4 cups of water. Let steep for 15 minutes.

Hops

Most commonly used for preserving beer, hops also makes a great bedtime tea. When combined with valerian, it can be used as a natural sedative. This would be a great option for anyone with bruxism and troubles falling asleep.

Dose: Choose a low alpha acid hop that you enjoy and add a small amount (about a quarter ounce for 8 ounces of water) to a tea ball.

Siberian Ginseng

The title can be a little misleading as this is actually not a type of ginseng. Siberian ginseng comes from a woody shrub found Northeast Asia. Unlike most of the teas we have mentioned above, there is no sedative effects with the siberian ginseng. In fact, it has an energizing effect to beat any fatigue you make be experiencing. It also helps reduce cortisol levels that cause stress.

Dose: Mix 2-4g of root with 8 oz of boiling water. Let tea steep for 5 minutes.