7 Top Herbal Teas and Their Health Benefits

As autumn arrives and the ‘pumpkin spice frenzy’ begins, you’re likely turning to warm, cozy drinks to enjoy during the colder months. One of the best healthy warm drinks to enjoy, especially if you’re looking for something caffeine-free, is herbal tea.  Herbal teas have a gamut of health benefits beyond just warming you up this fall.

Before we discuss those benefits, let’s clear up one common misconception: herbal teas are not actually tea. This is because herbal tea blends don’t actually contain the tea plant at all, which eliminates caffeine from their composition. A more fitting name for them would be “herbal infusion,” but that’s not nearly as catchy, so we’ll just refer to them as herbal teas. Here are 7 different herbal teas you can try this fall that will benefit your overall health, and keep you toasty warm.

1. Sage Tea

If you’re looking for something to benefit your brain health as the new academic year kicks off, sage tea is the way to go. Studies have found that the properties in the sage plant can help improve mood, focus, brain function, and even memory. 

The antioxidant compounds found in sage tea also carries a host of benefits, balancing the immune system and fighting free radicals throughout the body.

2. Lemon Balm Tea

As people begin to transition back to the workplace after months of working from home, life may feel a little more stressful than usual. Or maybe you’re still working from home and trying to balance Zoom calls and parenting. Either way, lemon balm tea is the perfect remedy if you are feeling stressed or anxious about our current climate. 

Studies have shown that ingesting lemon balm twice a day can promote an overall sense of calm, even in the most stressful situations. It has also been shown to promote more restful and consistent sleep, which can also help reduce overall stress levels. 

3. Rose Hip Tea

Rose hip tea is a powerhouse when it comes to reducing muscle discomfort. Exercise enthusiasts should add a cup to their post-workout routine in order to reduce discomfort after an intense gym session. 

Rose hip tea is also helpful for those who experience joint discomfort from issues like osteoarthritis. If you are looking for a natural way to combat these problems, rose hip tea is a great alternative. 

4. Passionflower Tea

Chamomile may usually get the credit for a tea that promotes sleep, but passionflower tea should not be overlooked if you are looking for a more restful night! Studies show that drinking passionflower tea regularly can help fight sleep irregularities. 

That’s not all this powerful plant can do! Other studies show that passionflower can help support stomach health. While this research has only been done in rats so far, scientists are confident that it can help humans, too. If you’re someone who struggles with stomach issues, give this tea a try! 

5. Echinacea Tea

You’ve likely seen products containing echinacea if you’ve ever walked down the natural cold remedy aisle. Echinacea is an herb commonly found in cough drops to help relieve cold symptoms like sore throats and stuffy noses. 

You can also absorb all the benefits of the echinacea plant by ingesting it in tea form. Not only will the warm liquid and properties of the herb soothe a scratchy throat, but the herb may help boost your immune system as well. This means that echinacea may reduce the strength and severity of your sickness, so start drinking this tea as soon as you feel something coming on. 

6. Peppermint Tea

Peppermint tea is a popular herbal concoction often enjoyed around the holidays. However, the benefits of peppermint can be enjoyed all year. Peppermint tea is great for aiding in indigestion and can also soothe nausea. If you are prone to an upset stomach or heartburn after you eat, add peppermint tea to your post-dinner routine. 

Peppermint tea can help with more than just stomach issues, though. It’s also been shown to clarify skin and promote a healthy metabolism. There are so many benefits to drinking peppermint tea that we can’t even list them all here – so you should definitely add some of this herbal tea to your pantry. 

7. Licorice Root Tea

A lot of herbal tea drinkers are looking for something to help them detoxify their bodies, and licorice root is the perfect herb to do just that. Licorice root can help both to clarify the skin and the liver, making it the perfect tea to flush out toxins that we are exposed to every day.

If you experience hot flashes due to menopause, licorice root has been shown to reduce that as well. Researchers have not found conclusive evidence of the reason for this benefit but many women have reported success from adding this type of tea to their routines. 

A word of warning, though: licorice root is one of those herbs where you can have too much of a good thing. Drinking pure licorice root tea on a daily basis can lead to glycyrrhizin accumulation in your body. This side effect definitely isn’t deadly or abnormally harmful, but it has been shown to increase stress levels. So, to get all the benefits of licorice root without raising your cortisol levels, drink it as part of an herbal tea blend or make sure you follow it up with a relaxation-promoting option. 

Herbal Teas and CBD

If you’re looking to make your herbal tea drinking experience even more beneficial, consider adding a few drops of a Joy Organics CBD tincture to your next cup. Doing this will allow you to absorb all the benefits of both the herbal tea and the relaxing effects of CBD. Plus, if you choose one of our flavored tinctures, you can add a fun layer of flavor to your cup of tea. Whatever your cup of tea may be, adding CBD can only enhance your relaxation regimen this fall.