Jun 26, 2023

Brewing Better Mental Health: Exploring the Relationship Between Tea and Anxiety/Depression

Tea has been used for centuries not only to quench thirst but also as a holistic remedy as part of a daily wellness routine. Different tea blends can be added to help calm nerves, assist in winding down after a long day, or provide an afternoon energy boost.

Acknowledging the relationship between tea and anxiety and depression by adding it into your self-care routine can help improve your quality of life, especially when dealing with anxiety and depression.

What is Anxiety and Depression?

Anxiety is a normal part of life but for some it controls their life. Those with anxiety live with constant feelings of worry, fear, or nervousness that are often accompanied by physical symptoms such as sweating, trembling, or rapid heart rate. These unrealistic fears affect many aspects of life including relationships, work, school, and activities.

Depression on the other hand can be viewed as somewhat the opposite and while common, can be serious. It is marked by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest in activities that the person once found enjoyable. Individuals affected by depression have an altered ability when it comes to everyday tasks such as sleeping, eating, and bathing.

Are There Different Forms of Anxiety and Depression?

Yes! Both anxiety and depression disorders come in various presentations as well as levels of severity. Anxiety can present itself in the form of a general anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobias, social anxiety disorder, and separation anxiety disorder. Depression can be experienced as a major depressive disorder, seasonal depressive disorder, treatment resistant, postpartum depression, and dysrhythmic disorder.

How Can Tea be Beneficial for Anxiety and Depression?

Tea has been found by many around the world to possess the ability to calm and invigorate the lives of those that drink it. These beneficial characteristics of tea can help to improve the quality of life for those suffering with its ability to calm, reduce symptoms of insomnia, boost your mood, and give an antioxidant boost.

Help Calm: The compounds found in various teas can help to lower your cortisol levels allowing reduced feelings of stress and anxiety promoting a relaxing effect on the body.
Reduce Insomnia: Sleep is often a struggle with anxiety and depression. Certain tea blends have properties that help to allow the mind and body to relax promoting a more restful slumber.
Mood Boosting: Tea contains something called L-theanine which is an essential amino acid that has been shown to influence positive effects on one's mood as well as cognition.
Antioxidants: Tea is packed with antioxidants! The antioxidants found in tea can help boost your immunity, reduce inflammation, and decrease stress and anxiety. These antioxidants are said to impact the risk of disease to the brain, heart, and liver and have the potential to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.

How to Incorporate Tea into Your Wellness Routine

Morning Tea Ritual

To start your day with a clear mind and a sense of alertness without those coffee jitters, opt for a beverage made with tea instead.

We love to start our day with one of our energy boosting blends such as our Ceremonial Grade Matcha, Maté Boost, or Hocus Focus.

Afternoon Pick Me Up

When you are starting to feel a bit sluggish, or need some help regaining focus add in a cup of one of our energy or mood boosting blends like Mother's Helper, or making a delicious latte with our Aim Chai blend.

Evening Wind Down Ritual

To wrap up your night and begin your nightly wind down ritual, reach for one of our caffeine free teas.

We enjoy sipping on our Golden Slumbers Rooibos blend or our adaptogen blend Chill Out Cherry or Self Care Elixir to help us drift off into a restful sleep.

All Day Thirst Quench

To give your body the hydration it needs, we love to reach for our Berry Booster tea for all day hydration!

This hibiscus blend keeps your thirst quenched throughout the day.

Check out our full collection of Wellness Blends here 🤍

While proper treatment, therapy, and medications are the first step to managing these disorders, utilizing the relationship between tea and anxiety and depression by adding tea blends into your daily routine may be a source of relief and potentially improve your mental health🫶