We all live in a bit of a state of “high alert” these days. Besides the stress with our everyday lives, there are so many things going on in the world that can jack up our stress levels a notch or two. It’s completely understandable that many of us sometimes find it difficult to relax, particularly when we go to bed at night.

“Fight or Flight” Activation

Living in a heightened state of worry and anxiety is not good for anyone, but it’s especially problematic because of how it affects the immune system. When we’re stressed or worried, we activate out sympathetic nervous system – our “fight or flight” response. A simple explanation of a rather complex system, activating our sympathetic nervous system stimulates the release of cortisol and suppresses the immune system – definitely not ideal for anyone. Another problem with being in this state is that our bodies cannot heal when we’re in “fight or flight”. It actually also doesn’t digest well, make babies, sleep…so many things we want to be operating properly! The sympathetic nervous system is all about saving us from immediate doom… for example, if we were being chased by a tiger, that system kicks in to make sure the only systems operating in the body are those that will save us from the tiger – i.e. anything we need to run fast! It’s great security system to have in the event of something catastrophic and life threatening, but the trouble is that our body switches into that mode even when we’re stressed by something not catastrophic. It can’t decipher between mild or major stress, so the response is the same. When we’re stressed or anxious (fight or flight), the body shuts down functions like healing and digestion because they’re not needed if we’re in danger of being eaten. However, those functions are extremely important, which is why it’s so important to be able to switch off our sympathetic nervous system and instead, activate our parasympathetic nervous system – to allow the body to focus on “rest and restore”.

As much as possible, we want to be mindful of which nervous system is activated and focus our efforts on activating our parasympathetic nervous system, being in the “rest and restore” mode. Activation of the parasympathetic nervous system allows proper function of digestion, healing, and detoxification – all things we need to support optimal health. When we’re feeling anxious or worried, we might feel like it’s impossible to calm down, but it’s actually very easy to switch from sympathetic to parasympathetic. Cool fact: you can’t have both nervous systems activated at once. Deep breathing, laughing, meditation, dancing, and forest bathing (or just being outside) are all ways to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, switching into a rest and restore mode.

So Many Different Soothing Herbal Teas

Another thing I find especially helpful for relaxation is drinking herbal tea.

Just the act of drinking tea is relaxing and peaceful. Curling up with a warm drink is perfect for warming the soul. Beyond the soothing effects of the warm liquid, there are so many herbal teas that are excellent for physically (and mentally) relaxing the body, helping to activate our parasympathetic nervous system and getting the body into rest and restore mode quite easily. Here are five of my favourite herbal teas:

1. Chamomile: Most of us are aware of the calming effects of a warm cup of chamomile tea – it’s often the “point of entry” into the world of herbalism for many folks. Made from dried chamomile flowers, this herbal tea is used to relieve feelings of anxiety and can often be helpful for easing insomnia. Chamomile has become one of the most trusted plants in herbalism, for good reason!
2. Peppermint: Although I tend to think of peppermint as a more uplifting herb, its menthol content is a natural muscle relaxer. It’s also an excellent digestive herb, making it an good tea to brew after dinner to help you digest, relax, and unwind in the evening to set you up for a restful sleep.
3. Marshmallow Root: This herb is widely used to help with gut healing, but I added it to this list because of the close connection between gut health and anxiety. Many people find when they regularly drink marshmallow root tea, they see a noticeable improvement in their anxiety (coincidence…? I think not!). I’ve been finding the mild flavour of this tea to be especially soothing during the time we’ve been on quarantine. I highly recommend making this a staple in your tea stash – it will help strengthen gut health, which is key to a strong immune system and mental health.
4. Skullcap: The nerve-calming powers of this herb makes it a favourite herbal tea for easing anxiety and helping to calm the body. Although there are many herbs that have similar effects, skullcap is especially useful because it promotes relaxation without making you sleepy – it’s perfect to have before a big meeting or presentation! Skullcap tea has been my go-to during the day whenever I’m starting to feel antsy or “stuck” (which has happened more than a few times over the past two weeks!). I also love that it’s a caffeine-free hot drink option.
5. Tulsi: I saved my favourite for last! Also known as “holy basil”, tulsi is an Ayurvedic herb native to India that is loved for its ability to help the body adapt to stress…HELLO! It enhances the body’s protective function, increasing its resistance to physical, emotional, or environmental stress.  We’ve been drinking tulsi tea in our house for several years – my kids have found it especially useful when they’re writing exams/midterms at school. Lately, just to change things up a bit, we’ve been buying tulsi teas that also include other healing herbs like lemon, ginger, and lavender.

(*Be sure to read the ingredient list of any herbal tea you try and check with your healthcare provider if you’re taking any medications for any possible contraindications between the herbs and your meds.*)

A Nice Cup of Tea to Relax

At the risk of sounding like a broken record , I’m going to say it again…we all want to live a long and healthy life, so we all need to do everything we can to keep our immune system strong. We know that stress suppresses the immune system, but it’s impossible to avoid stress completely so we have to find ways to control and counter the stress response in our body. We have to make a conscious effort to keep our stress response in check and maintain balanse within the body. Herbal teas can provide an easy, relatively inexpensive, and oh-so-soothing way to do that.

What are your favourite herbal you drink to help you relax?