What Tea Is Good For Depression And Anxiety

Tea Catechins For Depression In Breast Cancer Survivors

Tea catechins such as epigallocatechin-3-gallate , predominantly present in green tea and black tea may help in reducing the anxiety and depression in breast cancer patients/survivors.

Based on the data from a population-based cohort study conducted between April 2002 and December 2006 in Shanghai, China involving 1,399 breast cancer women, the researchers of the Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center in the United States evaluated the association of tea consumption with depression in breast cancer survivors. The study found that regular tea consumption may help in reducing depression in breast cancer survivors.

Other Teas For Anxiety

There are countless other teas that may be useful for anxiety. St. John’s Wort, for example, is a popular tea used for depression. In many people, depression and anxiety are linked, so drinking St. John’s Wort may actually improve anxiety symptoms.

Other popular tea choices include:

• Chamomile Tea
• Peppermint Tea
• Lemon Balm Tea

None of these teas have much support behind them, but users of the teas swear to their effectiveness and with the exception of peppermint tea , none of the teas appear to have any side effects.

Other Options To Treat Anxiety And Sleep Problems

A safer bet to “naturally” treat anxiety and insomnia? Dr. McCann suggests seeing a licensed mental health-care provider for cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT. This form of psychological therapy aims to help you recognize faulty or unconstructive thought patterns and behaviors and teaches problem-solving strategies to better cope with challenging situations. Meditation, mindfulness, and regular aerobic exercise can also be very helpful in treating anxiety and depression, Dr. McCann adds.

If done properly, they can be very helpful and assisting a person get control over what they feel is lack of control over their situation and their own bodies, which tends to increase when were anxious and prevents us from sleeping well, says Dr. McCann.

If youre open to tested pharmacological treatments for anxiety-related issues, Dr. McCann says the first-line treatment are SSRIs. Theres a handful of them, and not every one works for everyone. Some of us metabolize these things better than others, and some of us are more likely to have adverse effects because of our genotype than others, says Dr. McCann. It can be trial and error, even with an FDA-regulated drug like an SSRI.

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The 9 Best Teas For Stress And Depression

Tea has long been a natural remedy to reduce stress and unwind after a long day. The act of pouring a hot steamy cup of tea and sipping while enjoying your favorite novel or lounging in a comfy chair helps to boost mood and decrease stress. Scientific research also shows that tea contains powerful ingredients that can target stress and depression on a chemical level.

We’ve put together a list of the best teas for stress and depression to help you relax and feel your best. From minty and floral herbal teas to famously healthy green teas, you’re sure to find a tea that you love that can help you destress. Want to get your hands on tea to reduce stress and minimize symptoms of anxiety today? Check out our collection of the best teas for stress and depression right here.

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Vitamin C Deficiency Increases Anxiety And Depression

Vitamin C deficiency is widely associated with stress-related disorders such as anxiety and depression. Hence, supplementation of Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, a strong antioxidant, emerges as a possible therapy strategy for anxiety and depression in cancer patients.

This also aligns with the findings of a study done by the researchers of University of Otago in New Zealand in 2018, where they concluded that high Vitamin C status was associated with elevated mood in male students recruited from local tertiary institutes in Christchurch, New Zealand. ., 2018)

A previous study done by the researchers from the same University also found that increased intake of Vitamin C rich food such as kiwifruit by individuals with moderate mood disturbance can improve overall mood and psychological well being.

Combining Tea With Effective Treatments

Regardless of your thoughts on teas as an anxiety treatment, no tea or medicine should ever be taken alone. These treatment types only reduce anxiety symptoms temporarily. They don’t affect your ability to cope with future stresses or the likelihood of controlling your anxiety in the future.

You also don’t want to depend on any quick fix without complementing it with a better treatment option. If you do, and it works, you will start to naturally depend on that treatment more and more. Eventually, you’ll “need” the tea to reduce anxiety, and will be much less able to cope on your own.

That’s why it’s crucial that you combine any tea with a treatment that has been proven effective for long term anxiety management.

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It Can Reduce Inflammation And Oxidative Stress In Depression

Inflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of depression and could contribute to the progression or worsening of the disorder.

It may also be responsible for the physical symptoms of depression such as pain, gastric inflammation, reduced sleep. High levels of stress hormone cause excessive inflammation in depression.

Add-on therapies with an anti-inflammatory effect such as exercise and omega-3 fatty acids are found to improve mood in depression.

Green tea and its major active component EGCG has anti-inflammatory action. It inhibits the activity of major molecular targets that participate in inflammatory processes.

In fact, the higher flavonoid content of green tea imparts a stronger anti-inflammatory action to it in comparison to black tea.

This anti-inflammatory action of the catechins could be useful in curbing neuroinflammation or brain inflammation in depressive disorder.

Along with inflammation, there is a marked increase in oxidative stress levels in depression. Research suggests that the products of oxidative damage may serve as important parameters for predicting depression status and identifying the effectiveness of antidepressant treatment.

Most of the green teas health-promoting activity is attributed to its antioxidant action.

A study published in Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, 2006 revealed that green tea catechins confer a neuroprotective action by strengthening antioxidant defences.

Annona Cherimola Mill Annonaceae

Since the 16th century Francisco Hernández related the medicinal use of this species, as indicated by the following description: “the decoction of the bark, applied as drops in the eyes or the ears, is said to remove the pain of headache, teeth and eyes” . Currently several species of Annona are used due to their anxiolytic properties . The alkaloid extract of the leaves of Annona cherimola was prepared and administered to mice three times , before being tested by FST. The extract produced antidepressant activity in FST at 10 and 20 mg/kg. This effect was not related to the increase in locomotor activity of mice when evaluated in OFT. Several compounds were identified by HPLC-MS in the extract: liriodenine and three aporphine products 1,2-dimethoxy-5,6,6a,7-tetrahydro-4Hdibenzoquinoline3,8,9,10-tetraol, anonaine and nornuciferine. None of these compounds were isolated and tested .

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Lemon Balm Tea As An Alternative To Anti

Lemon balm is also a member of the mint family. It has citrus aroma just like lemon and the tea is a perfect blend of citrusy lemon flavor with some hints of mint. It is extensively used for getting through anxiety and depression. It also helps in improving sleep.

One study reports that people with the condition of angina felt less anxiety and depression when they consumed lemon balm in the supplement form 30514-4/fulltext” rel=”nofollow”> Hayber et al., 2018).

Follow these steps to make Lemon Balm Tea:

• Take 1 tablespoon of dry lemon balm leaves or 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon balm leaves.
• Boil 8oz of water.
• Pour boiling water in a cup.
• Steep lemon balm for 10 minutes.
• Strain the tea in another cup and enjoy your tea!

Here’s How To Prepare This Tea

It is super easy to make rosemary tea. Begin with boiling two cups of water in a cup. Now, take three teaspoons of rosemary and steep it in the water for about 5 minutes. Avoid doing it longer as it might make it bitter. You can drink the tea with leaves in it if they are fresh or you can strain it. If you find it too bitter, you can add some honey to make it sweet. Honey is always a good option as it contains compounds like antioxidant flavonoids that help reduce anxiety.

While rosemary tea is a great option, it is always a good idea to consult your doctor to avoid such problems.

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Curcumin Increases Serotonin Levels

Patients with depression have shown high levels of an enzyme called monoamine oxidase.

Curcumin has an inhibitory effect on monoamine oxidase.

Besides, turmeric is known to stimulate the release of dopamine and serotonin, the two hormones known to set one in a good mood.

In a trial, a 2 week-long treatment with turmeric was done on mice suffering from PTSD . The mice showed a reversal in serotonin dysfunction thereby, suggesting that turmeric would be extremely beneficial in managing psychiatric problems.

A similar study was done on mice to understand the antidepressant mechanism of curcumin when used along with other antidepressant drugs like venlafaxine, fluoxetine, and bupropion .

It was seen that curcumin and piperine not only improved the anti-immobility effect of antidepressant drugs but also synergistically increased the serotonin levels.

Summary: Curcumin has shown to increase the levels of happy hormones like serotonin thereby, is helpful in treating psychiatric issues.

How To Reduce Depression

Modern medicine developed a great number of pharmaceutical pills and medicines for treating depression. This group is called anti-depressives.

One of the best herbal remedies for depression is Perforate St Johns-wort plant. The active substances in this plant make it the best anti-depressive that nature could ever create. You can find it under numerous forms at the pharmacy: oil, tincture, extract. But you need a medical prescription to buy them.

The following types of tea are the best. For depression and lack of energy, the next tea is recommended. Its a calming tea and its also a tonic.

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Boost Mood And Decrease Stress With Tea

Tea is not a replacement for prescription medications used to treat severe cases of depression or anxiety. Teas may also interact with certain medications and other herbal supplements including those from St. John’s Wort. Consult with a physician before trying herbal teas or true teas to treat your symptoms.

While tea is not a cure, it can help mitigate some of the symptoms associated with generalized anxiety disorder and stress. It offers a natural calming effect and helps you take a moment out of the day to unwind and focus on what matters most.

Drinking tea can also help boost overall health and well-being so you feel your best. The stress-relief properties of this healthy elixir can help you unwind while the delicious flavors are sure to please your palette. Simply steep a few tea bags or loose leaf teas throughout the day and toast to better relaxation and overall calm.

Suggested Green Tea Products For Depression

Please consult a health practitioner before taking any health supplements.

Green Tea Powder

A good quality green tea powder is a good investment when it comes to detoxing and support natural antioxidant defence. It can be steeped to prepare tea or included in smoothies or juices.

Green teas with high theanine content include varieties such as Matcha and Gyokura.

Ensure that you buy good quality tea powder which is free from heavy metal contamination.

Green Tea Powder: Buy from iHerb

Green tea Supplements

Green tea supplements are a good option for those who do not like the taste of green tea but would like to boost their natural antioxidant defense with green tea catechins.

Taking green tea supplements on an empty stomach is said to improve its absorption. Green tea supplements with vitamin C or black pepper extract have better absorption.

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Best Tea For Mental Alertness

This is the best tea for mental alertness. It combines sweet and spicy flavors with black tea to make a delicious drink served hot or cold. Adding the perfect amount of ginger to the sweetness of peaches creates a satisfying and balanced taste.

Each cup of this tea has less than half of the caffeine that is in a cup of coffee. It comes packaged in a uniquely designed tin that seals out air and light. The tea is encompassed in a simple, bleach-free bag, and its contents are certified gluten-free, sugar-free, and carbohydrate-free.

PROS

How Are Herbs Useful

Herbs for anxiety and depression are useful because they can be effective treatments without forming habits or altering the chemical balance in your body to a dangerous level. There are many different herbs that can be used to treat these conditions, so even if you are overly sensitive or allergic to one method, there is likely another option that can help provide relief. Herbs have many of the same effects on hormone levels, metabolism and neurotransmitters that more traditional drugs provide, but tend to cause less negative side effects. Herbs for anxiety and depression also have hundreds or even thousands of years of anecdotal evidence backing up their ability to improve mood and relieve the signs of these mental conditions.

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It Can Protect Brain Health And Function In Depression

While reducing the risk of developing depression, green tea antioxidants work towards maintaining brain function and structure.

The study published in Nutrition Journal, 2016 highlights the various ways by which Epigallocatechin gallate mediates a neuroprotective effect :

• Exerting an antioxidant action and strengthening natural antioxidant defence
• Preventing heavy metal toxicity by chelating heavy metal ions
• Influencing cell signalling pathways and genes to promote cell survival

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is a protein that helps neurons or brain cells to grow, develop and survive. It also plays an essential role in facilitating brain plasticity which is the ability of the brain to rewire itself.

Low levels of BDNF have been observed in depressed individuals. Modulating brain plasticity in a positive manner can be an important step towards remission in depression.

Green tea catechins, especially EGCG, are proven to increase BDNF levels and can modulate brain plasticity.

Theanine present in green tea also exerts a neuroprotective action. It interacts with various receptors and transporters in the brain to prevent cell death and exert a protective action on brain cells.

L-theanine apparently reaches the brain within 30 minutes post ingestion and induces alpha brain wave activity to improve attention and cognition.

Best Relaxation Tea For A Good Nights Sleep

This is the best tea for relaxation and a good nights sleep. It is comprised of mostly organic herbal ingredients that are known to calm your nervous system, including passionflower, which is known for its ability to soothe the nervous system. This product also contains valerian, which is a popular herb that is known for its use in treating occasional sleeplessness.

Offering a pleasant, mildly bittersweet, minty, earthy taste, Nighty Night Valerian Relaxation Tea is perfect to drink before bed, as it promotes a good nights sleep. All of the ingredients in this tea are certified organic, kosher, and GMO-free. This is the best tea for overall relaxation.

PROS

• Reduces pre-bed anxiety
• Some have reported they discontinued sleep aids after finding this tea
• Not only does this tea help you fall asleep, but it also helps you stay asleep as well
• One of the best teas for anxiety and panic attacks

CONS

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Tea For Mild Depression

• Cnicus 50g
• Lemon balm 50g

Make an infusion of 3 teaspoons of this mix and 500ml of water. Let it rest for 5 minutes. Drink daily, 3 cups of warm tea.

These types of teas and their herbal tea benefits helped people for centuries to deal with problems and find relaxation and peace. There are many healing treatments that nature is offering us. Be it a calming tea or tea for anxiety, we can always find treatment in the heart of our beloved nature.

Green Tea & Korean Survey

There is a Korean Survey involving over 9,500 subjects that reports the anti-depressant benefits of drinking green tea. This study used the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey as the data source. The subjects included men and women of age 19 years and older. Those who took more than 3 cups of the tea experienced 21% lower levels of depression. The findings were dramatic even when the amount of tea taken was far less compared to the dose given in the study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

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