Tea is usually portrayed as the chill sibling of hyperactive coffee.
But what few understand is that most teas, whether green or black, can actually be energizing as well. Before bedtime, a cup of green tea or black tea can make you restless and have the opposite effect as intended.
Many people tout chamomile as a relaxing tea.
Mark’s Daily Apple has a great rundown of other teas that have a calming effect:
- Ashwagandha
- Lemon Balm
- Passion Flower
- Hops (yes, the ingredient used in beer)
- Holy Basil
- Siberian Ginseng
Of particular interest (and with fewest side effects when consumed in high concentrations) is Lemon Balm, which is likely the easiest to find out of this list.
Lemon balm is known for the following effects:
When combined with valerian, lemon balm reduces lab-induced stress in human subjects. The combo also reduces restlessness in afflicted children.
Lemon balm appears to reduce cortisol concentrations and increase GABA, perhaps by inhibiting the enzyme which degrades GABA. This particular enzyme is a common target in anti-anxiety treatments.
Plus, if you forget the name, just remember that it rhymes with ‘calm’.
What are your favorite calming teas?
