These are some stressful times, aren’t they? Here is a homemade herbal tea blend that will take that edge off and help you release anxious thoughts about current events. This tea contains nerve supporting herbs that will help you relax and find some enjoyment! It might even support a good night’s rest!
Raise your hand if you have a little stress in your life? (I can hear all the "Yeses" right now! Right through the screen!) :-) In these modern times, stress just comes along with the package of every day life. Even though there is a trend for us to work on relaxing, managing stress, how to deal with too much to do, all the anxious feelings, and inability to sleep well; general tension still plagues most of us.
What do you do when anxiety and (near) panic strikes? Or when you've simply had a rough day and need to unwind? Or just want to have some basic relaxation for your poor over-extended nervous system? Or need a little help falling asleep?
Try an herbal relaxation tea! And here is my favorite recipe!
Want some other ideas for relaxing using herbs and essential oils? (In case you’re not into tea?) You can grab my free eBook, How to Relax Using Herbs & Essential Oils at the bottom of this article. It’s filled with more recipes and ideas to help you relax and slow down a bit!
Below you’ll find the recipe for this tea, as well as a list of the herbs used, their benefits, and how they work to help your body and wellness!
If you’d rather watch a video as I make this herbal wonder, just scroll down to the midpoint of the article below or click this link.
FTC Disclosure: There are affiliate links scattered throughout this article. If you click through and make any kind of purchase I may earn a very small commission at no extra cost to you.
***Note: I’d love if you would pin this image for me:
Relaxation Tea Blend Recipe
This tea is easy to blend up, and you can make a large amount to save or even give as a gift to your friends…or you can make a small amount just for yourself. You’ll find out how to do this in the next section about “parts.”
About the Traditional "Parts" Method of Blending
I use the traditional folk herbalist's "parts" method of blending. This simply means that I adjust my measurement (scoop, teaspoon, cup, etc.) according to how much tea I want to blend.
This way, you use proportions of herbs rather than a traditional measurement. I can blend up a lot and store it, or I can make just a little bit for a day or two. The amount you decide to make is all about the size of the measuring tool you use.
For this tea, I didn't want to make too much, so I chose a small scoop from a supplement I used up awhile ago as my "part" measure. (Notice I’m not even using a traditional measurement tool, like a 1/3 cup measure.)
Using this scoop to measure out my herbs for the relaxation tea yielded several cups total of herbal tea.
You see, if I didn’t want that much tea, I could have used a smaller measuring instrument like a tablespoon or something similar. That’s the “parts” system. It’s all about ratios of herbs.
Ingredients (Herbs) for Relaxation Tea
2 parts Chamomile flowers
2 parts Lemon Balm
1 part Skullcap
1 part Passion Flower
1 part Oat Straw
1 part Ginger
Just measure out the proportions, then mix it up! You have a lovely, useful, fresh, herbal tea to use!
Read my article on how to make a perfect cup of herbal tea.
NOTE: The links above are for Amazon, and they are for bulk herbs. I tried to keep the costs down, but most of the bags are sold in 1 pound amounts.
You probably won't need that much to start. Starwest Botanicals does have options for 4 ounce bags of bulk herbs for MUCH less.
Why Should You Make Your Own Loose Leaf Tea, Anyway?
There are many reasons why making your own loose leaf tea is the best way to drink your herbal teas. For one, most of the teas found in those boxes on store shelves are really quite old and often stale.
Because the leaves are ground into a powder, lots of surface area is exposed to the air, which causes oxidation and therefore, stale ineffective herbs.
When you consider the fact that nobody really knows just how long it’s been since those herbs were actually harvested, you can see why making your own loose leaf tea from herbs you grow, forage, or purchase yourself is a great idea!
I buy bulk herbs from Starwest Botanicals because of the quality and the speed the herbs arrive at my door. I also like being able to buy my choice of organic or wildcrafted herbs there too.
Buying herbs in bulk is also much less expensive, and the nice thing about Starwest Botanicals, is you can buy smaller amounts of herbs too. **Also, if you don't want to blend your own tea----They happen to have some great pre-made loose leaf blends!
Starwest also happens to have a huge collection of bulk culinary spices for your cooking needs. Buying from them not only gives you some really fresh herbs, but it will save you a ton of money in the long run!
About the Herbs in the Ultimate Relaxation Tea
I love my herbs. I just really do. And I know they can be kind of scary to start using when you are new to herbalism.
You should be sure to download my free eBook I made for you, “How to Relax Using Herbs and Essential Oils.” You’ll find out how to the get into the free Resource Library at the bottom of this post!
Benefits of Chamomile:
I love the scent of Chamomile--It has a sweet scent and taste that I find delightful. I have also tinctured Chamomile to use in this form with great results! You can find out more about tinctures here!
Chamomile has been used for thousands of years, and is considered one of the premier healing herbs. It has mild sedative properties, therefore helping to calm frazzled nerves. Many people find it helps them go to sleep.
Chamomile has also been used traditionally for soothing the stomach, diaper rash (topically), helping with conjunctivitis and eye problems. It's great for the skin too!
Contraindications: If you are allergic to plants in the Aster family (ragweed), you should exercise caution when using chamomile as you may have an allergic reaction. Most people tolerate chamomile well, and it is commonly sold commercially as a tea.
Benefits of Lemon Balm:
Lemon Balm is a member of the mint family. It has been used for over 2,000 years to help soothe nerves and calm anxiety. Lemon Balm has also been proven to improve brain function and mood, including concentration and focus when used as a tonic.
It is also a mild pain reliever and has been used to improve menstrual distress and cramping.
Lemon Balm is a safe herb and is ok to use daily and as a tonic. It is a fairly powerful anxiolytic, however, and because of this should not be used when driving or in conjunction with other sedating medications, including muscle relaxants or anti-anxiety medications.
Why Skullcap Works in This Relaxation Tea:
One of my favorite herbs, skullcap never fails to help me relax. I even tincture it and use it in this form on its own.I love this herb!
Skullcap is a member of the mint family and like lemon balm contains powerful chemicals that help calm and soothe the nervous system. Skullcap has mild anti-spasmodic properties, so using it during menstruation may help with cramps.
Skullcap contains constituents that help the body detoxify by supporting the liver and kidneys as well.
Like Lemon Balm, Skullcap should not be used if you are taking other anti-anxiety medications unless you get an ok from your doctor. In addition, taking too much may cause nausea or feelings of dizziness.
You'd have to take quite a bit, though, and I personally have never once had an issue with using any of these herbs.
About Passion Flower:
Passion Flower soothes the spirit, calms the mind, and is helpful in cooling the body. Native people in South America used Passion Flower as a mild sedative, and that is exactly how it is often used these days!
It may help you go to sleep more quickly, just like Chamomile, Lemon Balm, and Skullcap.
Contraindications: Do not use Passion Flower if you are pregnant, as it may stimulate the uterus. Otherwise, Passion flower is generally considered safe. However, please do not drive while using this herb.
Soothing Oat Straw:
Oat Straw is another nervine herb, which means it has positive actions on the nervous system. It is also powerfully nutritious and can help improve your overall energy level when used daily as a tonic herb. Oat Straw is very high in a number of minerals, especially calcium. It is thought to improve the libido as well.
You could actually drink an Oat Straw tea infusion as a liquid vitamin!
Activating Ginger:
Ginger is the stimulant herb in this herbal tea blend. This doesn't mean it will excite you or make you feel like you had a cup of coffee---What a stimulant herb does is enhance the effects of the other active herbs.
Ginger tastes delicious, and when combined with the sweet taste of Chamomile and the lemony taste of the lemon balm, it spices the taste of this tea wonderfully.
Ginger also soothes the digestive system, so if you are drinking this tea before bed, it can help your stomach out if you ate too much!
***The video below is the VERY first one I ever made….so just realize this as you watch. The first time we do anything isn’t the best, but this herbal tea is amazing! If you like my channel, please subscribe and like the video!
Final Thoughts on Relaxation Tea
This is a pretty powerful blend of relaxant and nervine herbs, so you definitely should wait until you are in for the evening before drinking this beautiful herbal tea. Drinking this tea before bedtime will help you relax and get right to sleep!
You can adjust the strength of this tea by omitting one of the active herbs (chamomile, lemon balm, skullcap, or passion flower) or by reducing the amounts of these in relation to the ginger and oat straw.
If you would like to learn more about blending your own teas and creating your very own infusions for health and pleasure, you'll love this eBook,
You might also like these related articles:
Make a Nerve Soothing Tincture,
Throat Soothing Tea,
Tea for Lung Support
and LOTS more on the blog! Just click the little magnifying glass and search for “tea”.
Do you create your own herbal teas? Have you ever wanted to try? It's fun, easy, and best of all--you know what's in your tea! Just lovely herbs. Leave me a comment or question! :-)
Hugs, Health, & Self-Reliance,
Heidi
P.S. Get the free eBook, How to Relax Using Herbs (and all the other free downloadable gifts I have for you) in the Resource Library!
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2995283/
http://www.nootropicsinfo.com/lemon-balm-tea/the-uses-and-benefits-of-lemon-balm/
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/skullcap.html
https://nccih.nih.gov/health/passionflower
http://nourishingherbalinfusions.com/Oatstraw.html
Disclaimer:
I am not a medical doctor. In no manner, stated or implied, is any statement in this article, elsewhere on my website, or in any of my publications meant to treat, cure, diagnose, or prevent any disease or health issue. Please seek advice from a medical professional if you have any health concerns. Always ask a doctor before using herbs and essential oils, especially if you are on medications or are pregnant or nursing.
Heidi Villegas, MA, CA, Herbalist
tea for relaxation, relaxation tea, herbal tea to relax, sleep tea
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