Several herbal teas have credible evidence for stress and anxiety support. Chamomile reduces anxiety symptoms with consistent use — a 2016 clinical trial found long-term benefit for generalised anxiety. Lemon balm works via GABA-enhancing compounds and has shown benefit in small trials. Ashwagandha is well-evidenced for reducing cortisol and perceived stress. For low-grade, chronic stress rather than acute anxiety — the kind that builds from demanding days, screen overload, and an inability to switch off in the evenings — cooling, rebalancing herbs like chrysanthemum may be a better fit than sedating ones. They address the underlying agitation rather than simply quieting it. The ritual of brewing and sipping slowly is also documented to lower heart rate and shift the body toward its rest-and-digest state.
