Valerian tea is an excellent natural option to treat anxiety, especially in milder or moderate cases, as this is a plant rich in sedative and calming properties that help to avoid stress.
In addition, valerian tea can also be used to facilitate sleep and relieve the physical and mental tension of a tiring day at work. For this, the ideal is that the tea is taken up to 30 minutes before bed, as it can cause slight agitation before beginning its relaxing effect.
Learn more about what valerian and its properties are for.
This tea should not be consumed by pregnant women or children under 3 years of age. You should also not exceed the consumption of 2 cups of tea a day, as it can cause the opposite effect, causing restlessness and insomnia:
Ingredients
- 10 g of valerian root; 500 ml of water.
Method of preparation
Place the ingredients in a pan and boil for 10 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes, strain and drink 2 cups a day. In the case of insomnia, tea should be drunk up to 30 minutes before bed.
How Valerian Works
Although the mechanism of action of this plant is not fully understood, many studies indicate that valerian causes an increase in GABA levels in the body.
GABA is an important neurotransmitter that helps regulate the nervous system, calming and fighting anxiety. Thus, valerian can have an effect similar to that of some medications used to treat cases of anxiety, such as Alprazolam or Diazepam, for example.
Other anxiety drinks
Like valerian, some foods and herbs have calming properties and can therefore be consumed to control anxiety:
- Chamomile tea with lemon balm: lemon balm has the ability to relax and calm the central nervous system, relieving the signs and symptoms of anxiety. See what the benefits of lemon balm tea are; St. John's wort tea: this herb, like lemongrass and valerian, is capable of acting on the nervous system, promoting relaxation. See how St. John's wort tea and other natural remedies for anxiety can be made; Passion fruit juice: Passion fruit has a sedative, refreshing, analgesic and calming action, being a great option to fight anxiety. Find out what are the benefits of passion fruit.
See other options for home remedies for anxiety in the following video:
Other techniques to fight anxiety
To increase the effect of valerian tea, some tips for relieving anxiety are:
- Stay in a quiet and quiet place; Listen to relaxing music; Take a deep breath, paying attention only to the breath; Avoid thinking about problems; Use an anti-stress ball.
In addition to these tips, another good solution is to take deep breaths and focus your mind only on breathing. A good deep breathing scheme consists of inhaling slowly through your nose, keeping the air inside your lungs for 2 to 3 seconds and then exhaling through your mouth, repeating as often as necessary.
Check out 7 other tips that really work to control anxiety.