If your days are starting to blend together, your to-do list seems to multiply by the hour, and you find yourself ready for an afternoon nap by 11 a.m., you might be suffering from adrenal fatigue—a syndrome where overstimulation (and the resulting blasts of adrenaline and cortisol) can deplete the hormone-producing glands over time.
And guess what? You're not the only one.
As you face the pressures of modern life on a daily basis (hello, job stress and information overload), they can take a toll on your body, says Sebastian Pole, Ayurvedic expert, yoga teacher, and author of newly released Cleanse, Nurture, Restore with Herbal Tea.
"Whether it be work deadlines, the daily commute, or just simply never having enough hours of the day, everyone experiences it," he says. "All of these factors can overwhelm the body’s ability to cope, leading to insomnia, anxiety, depression, and even physical illness, such as adrenal fatigue."
But just as you can sip on adaptogen-boosted elixirs to de-stress or matcha for an anti-inflammatory caffeine kick, Pole says that there are certain herbs you can brew to balance and soothe your adrenals.
Think ginseng root ("one of nature's finest energy boosters," he notes), orange peel (which can clear a "fuzzy head"), and licorice root ("a wonder rejuvenator for the nervous system," Pole says)—along with other adrenal gland-supporting power players.
Keep reading for two seriously stress-relieving (and delicious!) teas to brew whenever your body's feeling overwhelmed.
Cacao Orange Rejuvenator
"Perfect for that I-need-something-satisfying-now moment," says Pole.
Ingredients
1/2 tsp ginseng root
1 tsp roasted chicory root
1/2 tsp orange peel
1/2 tsp licorice root
1 pinch per cup cacao powder
1 drop per cup orange essential oil
Honey to taste
This will serve 2–3 cups of rich and rejuvenating tea.
1. Put the ginseng in a pan with a lid. Add 7 ounces cold water and simmer with the lid on for 30 minutes. Add the roasted chicory root, orange peel, and licorice root to the pan along with 14 ounces freshly boiled filtered water. Leave to steep for 10–15 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the cups by adding cacao powder to each one.
2. Once the tea has steeped, strain and pour it onto the cacao powder in the cups. Whisk and finish each with a drop of orange essential oil. (If you’re short on time, you can skip simmering the ginseng or leave it out.)
Rise Like a Star
"This is an energizing tea to get you going when you wake up or when you need a little boost," says Pole. "The fragrant spices provide herbal oomph, making this a great tea for sluggish mornings."
Ingredients
1/2 tsp star anise
1/2 tsp cinnamon bark
1/2 tsp spearmint leaf
1/4 tsp green tea
1/4 tsp ginger root powder
1/4 tsp licorice root
This will serve 2–3 cups of lethargy-banishing tea.
1. Put all of the ingredients in a pot.
2. Add 18 ounces freshly boiled filtered water. Leave to steep for 10–15 minutes, then strain and pour into cups.
If you're looking for other chill-out options, here's the best way to de-stress, according to your astrological sign. And this outdoor meditation is also super calming.
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