Relieve Stress with Tea

If you've tried everything to calm down and relax at the end of a stressful day, but aren't finding any relief, turn to your tea pot. Green tea, black tea and herbal teas taste great and can help your stress dissolve. Even the process of putting on the kettle, steeping the tea, and sipping it slowly can help you relax. If you'd rather not drink the tea but get its relaxing benefits anyway, consider making a face mask using tea or breathing in tea vapors.

Preparing Relaxing Teas

 * 1) Brew a cup of peppermint tea. Peppermint contains menthol, which can relax your muscles and calm you. To brew peppermint tea, place 1 big teaspoon of dried peppermint or 2 stalks of fresh peppermint in the bottom of your tea cup. Pour boiled water over the peppermint and let it steep for 5 to 10 minutes. Strain the peppermint and sip it. [[Image:Relieve Stress with Tea Step 1.jpg|center]]
 * 2) *You can flavor peppermint tea with honey, cinnamon or a squirt of lemon juice.
 * 3) Drink your favorite black tea. Studies show that drinking black tea over time can reduce your stress levels by helping you relax. It can also lower cortisol, a steroid hormone that your body releases when you become stressed. Even the ritual of brewing the tea and sipping it it slowly can help you unwind after a long day. Choose your favorite black tea and prepare it however you like (adding milk, sugar or lemon).[[Image:Relieve Stress with Tea Step 2.jpg|center]]
 * 4) *If your cortisol levels are normally high, you could develop a number of health issues caused by stress.
 * 5) *Keep in mind that black tea contains caffeine, so if you're worried about it keeping you awake, you should limit your intake throughout the day.
 * 6) Make chamomile tea. Although more research is needed, early studies indicate that chamomile extract can relieve stress in people with generalized anxiety disorder. For a relaxing cup of chamomile tea, place 1 heaping teaspoon of dried chamomile tea or flowers in your tea cup. Pour boiling water over the chamomile and let it steep for 5 to 10 minutes. Strain the tea and drink it slowly. [[Image:Relieve Stress with Tea Step 3.jpg|center]]
 * 7) *The flavor of the tea will become stronger the longer it steeps. If you like a flavorful tea, let it steep the full 10 minutes.
 * 8) Drink lemon balm tea. Research suggests that lemon balm may improve mood and cognitive performance. To get the benefits of lemon balm, you can steep 1 tablespoon of dried lemon balm or 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon balm in boiling water for 20 minutes. Since lemon balm doesn't have very much flavor, consider steeping it along with: [[Image:Relieve Stress with Tea Step 4.jpg|center]]
 * 9) *Dried rose hips
 * 10) *Dried orange peel
 * 11) *Dried lavender
 * 12) Brew a pot of passion flower tea. Studies have shown that passion flower extract reduced levels of generalized anxiety. To get similar relief at home, brew up some passion flower tea and sip away. Place 1 tablespoon of dried passion flower in your tea cup. Pour boiling water over the passion flower and let it steep for 10 minutes. Strain the tea and sip it slowly. [[Image:Relieve Stress with Tea Step 5.jpg|center]]
 * 13) *You can also look for herbal tea blends or tisanes that list passion flower as one of the first ingredients.
 * 14) Make a cup of green tea. Green tea has become popular for its many health benefits, like its ability to reduce stress. To brew green tea, place 1 teaspoon of dried green tea into your tea cup. Pour hot water that's almost come to a boil over the tea in your cup and let it steep for 1 to 3 minutes. Strain the tea and carefully sip it. [[Image:Relieve Stress with Tea Step 6.jpg|center]]
 * 15) *A scientific study found that drinking 5 cups of green tea a day could reduce your stress by 20%.
 * 16) *Remember that green tea does contain caffeine. If you're sensitive to the effects of caffeine, limit your intake during the day.
 * 17) Drink tea made from rose petals. Rose is often used in Ayurvedic medicine to reduce stress and anxiety. Some believe it can help you relax and calm your mind. To make a tea from rose petals, place about 1 tablespoon of dried or washed fresh petals into your tea cup. Pour boiling water over the rose petals and let the tea steep for 5 to 10 minutes before you strain it. [[Image:Relieve Stress with Tea Step 7.jpg|center]]
 * 18) *The petals will turn dark the longer they steep.
 * 19) *Choose organic roses or roses that haven't been sprayed with pesticides.

Using Tea to Relax

 * 1) Make a chamomile face mask. You can also use some of your brewed chamomile tea in a facial mask. Place 1/2 cup of quick oats, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and 1 tablespoon of honey in a mixing bowl. Stir in 2 tablespoons of the tea and let the mixture sit for 5 minutes. Spread the chamomile mixture over your face and leave it on for 5 minutes before rinsing it off with cool water. [[Image:Relieve Stress with Tea Step 8.jpg|center]]
 * 2) *Avoid storing the chamomile face mask. It should be used as soon as you mix it up since the oats will begin to soften immediately.
 * 3) Breathe in calming tea vapors. Place 1/8 of a cup of green tea leaves, 1/4 of a cup of dried lemon balm, and 2 teaspoons of dried peppermint into a large basin. Carefully pour boiling water into the bowl and drape a towel behind your head. Bend over so that you're about 12 inches away from the water and the towel is draped over your head and the bowl. Close your eyes, relax and breathe in the vapors for 5 to 10 minutes. [[Image:Relieve Stress with Tea Step 9.jpg|center]]
 * 4) *If the tea is no longer steaming, simply reheat it until it steams and continue to breathe in the vapors. You can do this repeatedly until the water evaporates.
 * 5) Try tea aromatherapy. If you'd rather create a pleasing aroma to fill your space, use tea in an aromatherapy oil warmer. All you need to do is place dried tea or herbs (like peppermint, passion flowers, or lavender) in the top of the oil warmer. Light the candle underneath it so the heat releases the scent of the tea over time. [[Image:Relieve Stress with Tea Step 10.jpg|center]]
 * 6) *You won't need to use oil or traditional essential oils in the warmer when you use dried tea.

Relaxing with Your Tea Ritual

 * 1) Enjoy the ritual. Studies have shown that many people feel calmer just by putting on the kettle, steeping tea, and preparing their own cup of tea. Many cultures have intricate tea ceremonies that respect the ritual surrounding drinking tea. While you don't need to have a complicated system for making tea, just enjoy the simple act of brewing your favorite tea. [[Image:Relieve Stress with Tea Step 11.jpg|center]]
 * 2) *Try to keep all of your tea making supplies easy to get to. This way, you won't become even more stressed by finding the tea, kettle, cups, etc.
 * 3) Relax as you sip your tea. Try to use your tea time as a break from whatever is bothering or troubling you. Clear your mind and focus on each sip of tea. Or choose to think about something that calms and soothes you. If you can, make yourself as comfortable as possible so you can really enjoy the experience.[[Image:Relieve Stress with Tea Step 12.jpg|center]]
 * 4) *For example, instead of dwelling on work problems, wrap yourself in a blanket with your cup of tea and think about enjoying some time off.
 * 5) Share tea with a friend. If you still can't unwind while drinking your tea or you are still thinking about your troubles, consider asking a friend to tea. Talking with a friend will help you relax and take your mind off of what's stressing you.[[Image:Relieve Stress with Tea Step 13.jpg|center]]
 * 6) *Ask your friend to bring their favorite tea to brew up and share. You can brew up multiple types of tea for a tea tasting. This can also distract you from your troubles and help you have a little fun with your friend.

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