Relaxing naturally with herbal teas.

I don't think I know anyone who doesn't feel the pressure of daily life. I like to think of myself as pretty laid back. Even though I am working nights and attempting two Bachelor Degrees during the day I still feel fairly balanced. However, there are those days when it all gets to be too much. My children are grown now, but I still remember the days of coordinating soccer schedules for four children at once, plus school dances, cheer leading practice, and a multitude of other events while also making time for my husband, my job, and taking care of the house. Sound familiar? I'm guessing most of the people reading this can relate to the seemingly non-stop momentum of the typical American household. I am hoping I am not the only one with the urge to run away from it all sometimes. Of course, I would never run away, but you know what I mean. Sometimes I just want to get off the roller coaster of chaos, and enjoy a peaceful day of doing nothing. Over the years I have found a few different ways to hit the reset button allowing me to relax, rejuvenate, and start fresh. Exercise and meditation are definitely part of my "rebooting process", and enjoying nature with a walk in the woods or on the beach can definitely melt away my tension, but my favorite way to unplug is to relax with a cup of herbal tea.

Of course, the first tea I turned to was Chamomile since it is well known for its relaxing properties. Two varieties of this plant are used in herbal medicine: German chamomile [Matricata chamomilla], also called wild camomile, and Roman chamomile [Anthemis Nobilis]. Both are anti-spasmodic (making chamomile a great tea to sooth muscle and menstrual cramps), anti-inflammatory (great as a soothing topical remedy for skin irritations), and both act as a gentle sedative (to calm the nerves and aid in peaceful sleep). Another benefit...chamomile aids in digestion so your tummy will feel better too. I just want to note though that some literature suggests the Roman Chamomile is stronger and should not be used by pregnant women or young children, whereas the German Chamomile is considered safe. As with anything you eat or drink, please be sure that it is safe for your current condition.

Another favorite tea of mine is made from Linden flowers [Tilia europaea]. This plant is very soothing, and has a mild flavor. My daughter often asks me to make her some "Lindomile" tea which is what she has named a wonderful combination of Linden and Chamomile. She does struggle with anxiety, and this tea really helps to calm her nerves. I also like to add Lemon Balm leaves to her Lindomile combination. Lemon Balm [Melissa officinalis] has a heavenly aroma and flavor that mixes very nicely with the linden and chamomile teas. It also shares some of the same properties. It is very soothing both taken as a tea and as a topical compress, and it is a great digestive aid.

I tend to be a mint-junkie so of course I always add peppermint or spearmint leaves to my tea. Mint also aids in digestion and works as an anti-spasmodic so it does make a nice addition to the other teas. I grow many varieties of mint as well as lavender on the back deck every summer. It grows easily and smells fantastic when the wind blows. It's like aromatherapy heaven!

All of the teas I have listed are available in many grocery stores so they are not hard to obtain. However, if you would like to grow your own herbs to make tea with you should be aware of a few things. Drying the herbs first allows the plant parts to retain more of the important oils and nutrients so dried herbs tend to be stronger than fresh herbs. Because of this difference the average ratio is 1 ounce of dried herbs to 1 pint of gently boiling water versus 2 ounces of fresh herbs to 1 pint of gently boiling water. Also, remember to cover the cup or teapot while the tea is steeping to prevent losing the medicinal oils in the steam. Let flowers steep for 1-3 minutes, leaves for 2-4 minutes, and seeds/bark/roots steep 4-10 minutes. There are also many wonderful places to buy herbs already dried. I do use a few different companies, but the one I use the most is Mountain Rose Herbs. They have a very large selection, and I have been very happy with their product. (No, I do not work for Mountain Rose Herbs. I am studying holistic health and I use them quite often to obtain the herbs that do not grow in my area.)

Please remember that these suggestions are simply to help alleviate typical daily stress. These help me to unwind, and I thought I would share them with you to see if they could help you too. If you, or a loved one, are suffering from severe anxiety, depression, or insomnia please consult a holistic health professional or general practitioner to properly diagnose and treat your condition. They may suggest some of the herbs I have listed here but with specific dosages and/or in combination with other herbs or medications. I also want to remind you that everyone reacts differently to herbs, and what works for me may not work for you. If you are taking any other herbs or medications please consult with your physician before adding these herbs to your daily ritual as some medications and herbs do not mix well. Although I am studying to be a Master Herbalist, Nutritional Consultant, and Holistic Health Practitioner I am not one yet. The information I have provided was from personal experience and information found while studying. I want everyone to be stress free, safe, and healthy!

Harding, J. (2005). The Herb Bible: A Complete Guide to Growing and Using Herbs. Fall River Press. New York, NY

Sullivan, K. (2010). The Complete Illustrated Guide to Natural Home Remedies. Metro Books. New York, NY

This is my very first blog post. My hopes are to report on various natural remedies, current medical news, health and wellness issues, weight loss, exercise, etc. Let me know of any topics you really want to learn about (within the topics I listed), and I will try to focus on these. Also, if you have any constructive criticism to help me provide a better reading experience I am open to suggestion. Thank you for tuning in to my page!