Lavender has long been known for its beautiful fragrance, but it is much more than just a pretty flower. It is a powerful nervine that can be a central part of a wellness routine.
From reducing anxiety and depression to promoting relaxation and better sleep, lavender can work wonders for your mind and body. Let’s explore the benefits of lavender as an herb for mental health and how you can incorporate it into your daily routine with herbal tea.
History and Culture
Lavender is a fragrant plant that belongs to the mint family. It has a long history of use in different cultures and regions, dating back to ancient times. Lavender was used by the Egyptians for embalming, by the Greeks for healing, and by the Romans for bathing. Lavender was also a symbol of love and romance, as it was said that Cleopatra seduced Julius Caesar and Mark Antony with its scent.
Lavender was also used in medieval times as an aphrodisiac and a protection against evil spirits. Lavender is widely cultivated today for its essential oil, which is used in perfumes, cosmetics, and aromatherapy.
There are many types of lavender, but some of the most common ones are English lavender, French lavender, and wooly lavender. Each type has its own characteristics, such as color, shape, and fragrance.
Lavender: What is a nervine?
A nervine is a type of herb that supports the central nervous system. This means they can work to calm a heightened nervous system of sooth symptoms of stress and anxiety. One might not often think that the nervous system is tied to stress and anxiety, but it is a central part of your body’s response system to nervous thoughts and anxiety symptoms.
Lavender for Anxiety
Anxiety is a common mental health concern. Research has shown that lavender has a calming effect on the body, reducing feelings of nervousness, restlessness, and tension. Drinking herbal tea made from lavender can help calm your nerves and promote a sense of relaxation. A few studies show that just inhaling the essence of lavender has a powerful effect on nerves and anxiousness.
Herbal Tea for Depression
While lavender cannot cure depression, it can be used as a natural supplement to help support your mental health. Lavender has been found to have antidepressant properties that can help lift your mood and reduce feelings of sadness and hopelessness. If drinking herbal tea made from lavender, take long deep inhales of the scent of your tea. That alone can have an immediate effect on your levels of sadness.
Herbal Tea with Lavender
One of the easiest and most effective ways to incorporate lavender into your mental wellness routine is by drinking herbal tea made from lavender. We prefer evening cups of lavender or after prolonged stressful moments. To make lavender tea, simply steep fresh or dried lavender flowers in hot water for a few minutes.
A Tea Ritual for Wellness
With lavender having immediate impacts on mood and stress just through the fragrance alone, we love using blends with it in our tea rituals. Here are a few pointers to get the most out of lavender and improve your mood.
- Smell the tea when you open the package. Close your eyes and inhale deeply through the nose five times.
- Turn on your water to boil and start some soft, meditative music.
- Once your tea is ready, take a few deep breaths through your nose to experience the essence of the lavender.
- If you are feeling substantially stressed out, after each sip, continue to smell the tea and explore the power of lavender.
Options
When it comes to picking the right tea for the right moment, it is really up to your preferences.
Our blends with lavender include Time to Smile, Perky Tea (this one has a little caffeine from white tea), and Cozy Chamomile.
Precaution
When drinking herbal tea for anxiety or depression, it's important to remember that it's not a substitute for professional help. If you're struggling with mental health issues, it's important to seek help from a qualified healthcare provider. Herbal tea can be a supportive addition to your treatment plan, but it's not a replacement for professional care.Citations
- Link - Lavender Oil for Anxiety and Depression may not be the best.
- Link - Multi-center, double-blind, randomized study of the lavender oil preparation Silexan in comparison to Lorazepam for generalized anxiety disorder.
- Link - Essential oil of lavender in anxiety disorders: Ready for prime time?
- Link - Effects of lavender on anxiety
- Link - an overview of the most tranquilizer herbs.