Mental Health Monday: Have Another Cup of Tea
Attribution: Image “Beverage Tea Breakfast” by Pexels on Pixabay
There are multiple ways in which we can alleviate the stress that sometimes consumes us. Drinking tea is one of my personal favorites. It’s something good for us physically that can also be good for us mentally. In this time between winter and spring when the cold can’t quite let go but the bugs and plants are arriving en force, it can be difficult to commit to one kind of comforting beverage. Fortunately, with tea, you don’t have to choose! You can brew cold or hot tea, so there are multiple ways to enjoy this delicious beverage:
Brewing Techniques
Cold Brew: Essentially, you pour tea bags or loose tea into a pitcher filled with cold or room-temperature water. Leave it in the fridge for 6-12 hours. If you used loose tea, you must strain it before consuming.
Hot Brew: Heat up water on the stove or in the microwave, then add tea to hot water and let it steep (add more flavor to the water) for a few minutes, depending on how strong you want your tea to be.
Anxiety-Busting Tea
Once you’ve decided if you want a cold or hot drink, you can choose which type of tea you’d like. Here are some of the basic teas that are commonly recognized to relieve stress or anxiety:
- Licorice root
- Peppermint
- Chamomile
- Lemon balm
- Rose
- Lavender
- Passionflower
- Green tea
Some other less-mentioned teas include St. John’s wort, kava (kava), gingko, ashwagandha, ginseng, jiaogulan, holy basil, golden root, five-flavor fruit, motherwort, hawthorn, Chinese jujube, chrysanthemum, lemongrass, safflower, gotu kola, common marigold, linden flower, peony, hops, catnip (yes, catnip), rhodiola, rooibos, marshmallow root, and tilia estrella flower.
Personal Touches
Don’t forget, there are so many add-ins for tea!
- Honey
- Sugar or sugar substitutes
- Milk or milk substitutes
- Spices and herbs such as rosemary, sage, saffron, jasmine, turmeric, fennel, ginger, cardamom, spearmint, orange peel, cinnamon, nutmeg, and chicory
Read more:
- https://cookieandkate.com/cold-brew-iced-tea/print/23881/
- https://www.ohhowcivilized.com/wp-json/mv-create/v1/creations/11/print
- healthline.com/health/anxiety/tea-for-anxiety
- mindbodygreen.com/0-29726/we-tried-all-the-calming-teas-here-are-the-ones-that-actually-eliminated-our-anxiety.html
- huffpost.com/entry/6-natural-tea-remedies-fo_b_10619928
- jasongutierrez.me/blog/herbal-tea-for-anxiety
- sipsby.com/blogs/functional-herb-spotlights/best-teas-for-stress-anxiety
- cupandleaf.com/blog/best-tea-for-anxiety
- onegreenplanet.org/vegan-food/10-teas-for-relaxation/ simplelooseleaf.com/blog/life-with-tea/30-top-teas-to-help-with-stress-and-reduce-anxiety/