There are several alternative therapies and many of them come from natural ingredients such as plants and herbs. This includes the use of teas, which have been present in the lives of many people for millennia.
With that in mind, we have separated some important information about teas that can be beneficial especially in cases of anxiety . Check and see the indications, types and more:
Contents
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is a common sensation that affects all people. It is a natural response of the body to certain situations, causing muscle tension and a state of alertness – as a preparation for a dangerous situation that will happen.
However, excessive anxiety should not be part of everyday life. The healthy is only when it occurs sporadically, due to a certain circumstance.
When the problem becomes frequent and / or intense, it is very likely that it is a disorder, so that professional intervention is necessary (doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, etc.).
In such cases, the person not only displays a state of alertness and concern in the face of certain situations. But he also suffers from other physical symptoms: dry mouth, palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pain , tremors, etc.
Treatment may include the use of medication to relieve symptoms, together with professional care to understand the causes and be able to treat appropriately. Complementary therapies can also be used to help, see more about one (the use of teas):
Can teas alleviate anxiety?
-Yeah . Many plants have sedative, calming properties that contribute to the feeling of well-being and relaxation. In that sense, by consuming the tea made from them, the person can benefit from such effects.
However, it is necessary to make it clear that teas work by relieving some symptoms of anxiety, such as agitation, increased heart rate and excessive worry. That is, they do not cure the disorder, which can only be done with specialized medical help.
Therefore, teas are a complementary treatment option – their single use can only be indicated in very mild or sporadic cases of anxiety.
Following, you can see what are some of the beneficial teas and their specific uses:
What is the best tea for anxiety?
The teas commonly indicated for cases of anxiety are: chamomile, lavender, lemongrass (melissa), passionflower (passion fruit flower) and valerian. This, due to the tranquilizing properties and even a mild sedative action of these plants.
But it is common for anxiety to be accompanied by other problems – such as fear and depression . Or, it is also capable of triggering complications such as binge eating or insomnia .
In these cases, you can choose teas that help to relieve more than one symptom or make a mixture with more than one. Check out some tips:
Tea for anxiety and fear
In addition to the symptoms caused by anxiety (palpitations, chest pain, worry, etc.), it is common for people to suffer from issues such as fear , which may (or may not) be related to another disorder: panic syndrome.
The symptoms of fear are similar to those of anxiety, and can also cause changes in heart rate and chest pains, for example. As well as the constant feeling that there is some real (physical) danger and high levels of tension.
Thus, lavender and valerian tea can help relieve symptoms of both anxiety and fear. They are ideas to provide a feeling of tranquility and assist in the control of accelerated beats.
Tea for anxiety and insomnia
Insomnia is a symptom that is often associated with cases of anxiety or stress , considering that these two problems cause many physical changes in the body. Like, for example, the release of cortisol and adrenaline .
Among other functions, these two hormones increase the brain’s alertness, which is an impediment to rest and relaxation.
This, together with the symptoms of anxiety, makes the sleep period very difficult.
In this case, the ideal is to bet on teas that can favor the feeling of calm, reduce stress and induce sleep. So, you can bet on lavender , valerian and lemongrass (melissa).
In addition, basil tea can also be an ally, as it acts in the release of endorphin , a hormone that provides a greater sense of well-being. Therefore, since anxiety and insomnia can increase stress, this action helps the body to relax.
Tea for anxiety and depression
Passionflower tea is the most suitable for cases of depression, in addition to being recommended to alleviate the symptoms of anxiety.
In addition to reassuring the person and helping against symptoms such as insomnia, this tea favors the feeling of well-being and improves concentration – a factor that can be a problem for people who suffer from depression.
However, in this particular case, moderate consumption should be considered, since the excess could cause an intense sedative action. Which is not ideal for those who have depression, as these people tend to feel more discouraged and this could get worse.
Tea for food anxiety
Binge eating, contrary to what some people think, is not a “gluttony” for food, but it is a serious disorder in which people really cannot control their eating habits.
In this case, it happens that the person eats many times a day and in an exaggerated way, even when he is not hungry. In addition, it usually discounts problems and concerns in the food, characterizing the compulsion.
As with other disorders, the use of tea is a complementary treatment for this problem. So the help of a professional is essential.
Basically, tea will act to control anxiety in this case, since the compulsion may be related to factors such as restlessness, agitation and stress. Then, you can make use of teas such as chamomile , lavender and passionflower .
It can also complement the care of teas such as hibiscus and cinnamon , which favor the immune system and have a thermogenic action – which can be beneficial, since the person with binge eating may, in some cases, need to lose weight.
Apple tea can also be an ally, as it helps in the feeling of satiety and calm.
How to drink tea to relieve anxiety?
Tea to relieve anxiety, regardless of which one is chosen, should be used as a complementary measure . Except in milder or sporadic cases, that is, when the problem does not constitute a disorder.
Regarding consumption times, it is necessary to adapt according to the individual’s individual routine. For example, if you need to be more willing during the morning, it is not ideal to take the teas during this period, as the tranquilizing action can hinder chores.
In general, many people choose to drink tea near the end of the day and / or before going to sleep, when a feeling of calm is desired, in addition to positive interferences in sleep.
In addition, if you have an unexpected moment of anxiety due to an issue or circumstance, teas can be taken immediately – in order to quickly minimize the symptoms of this problem.
Who should not take it?
In general, there is no contraindication to the use of teas as an extra care in cases of anxiety, but those who use controlled medication for the disorder (which is quite common) must first align with the doctor about that possibility.
Because, despite being made from natural ingredients, there may still be interaction with the action of the drug in the body, which could harm the treatment.
In addition, whoever has a previous health problem or falls under specific conditions (pregnant women, nursing mothers, the elderly, etc.) needs greater caution. Considering that, in these cases, there may be a contraindication to some tea according to the individual condition.
Does tea replace anxiety medicine?
No . People who use anxiety medication are people who suffer from this problem in a serious way, constituting a disorder and not an occasional situation – that is, that occurs due to sporadic circumstances.
Therefore, it corresponds to a medical treatment like any other, so that it cannot be suspended or changed without the guidance of the responsible professional.
Certainly alternative therapies, such as the use of teas, can provide physical and mental health benefits. However, they are not measures that allow the cure of diseases or disorders such as anxiety.
For this, it is necessary to maintain conventional therapy (medication) and follow-up with psychologists and psychiatrists, following the guidelines regarding the form and duration of treatment.
If you liked this content and want to know more about other alternative therapies, which can help in cases of anxiety and others, visit the ” Alternative Therapies ” tab .
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