Herbal Remedies for a Relaxing Holiday Season!
The holidays are a joyful time filled with celebrations and giving, but let’s be honest—they can also bring stress. Between busy schedules, family gatherings, and the pressure to make everything feel “perfect,” it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Studies show that more than half of Americans experience heightened stress during this season, especially regarding finances and family dynamics. Fortunately, a few simple herbal remedies can help us find some calm through the hectic season.
This post introduces a selection of herbs that can make a difference in managing holiday stress. Whether you are sipping a warm tea or soaking in a relaxing bath, these little herbal helpers can be a welcome addition to your holiday routine. While herbs can offer gentle relief during overwhelming holidays, we ultimately find our rest in God. In this post, we will explore some simple ways to bring calm to your holiday season while remembering that true joy is found in Christ alone
What’s Behind the Holiday Stress?
Money worries, tight schedules, and family dynamics can create a unique blend of holiday stress. Surveys reveal that many people report feeling more fatigued, irritable, and anxious during this season. While we cannot remove every stressor, we can add soothing herbs to our routines to manage the holiday load. Remember—you are not alone in this, and there is a community of people feeling the same way each holiday season.
Herbs to Help Calm the Stress
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)
Chamomile is a classic go-to for relaxation. It is great for reducing stress and helping with sleep. Chamomile can also help ease a nervous stomach and release anxiety and agitation. A simple cup of chamomile tea, sweetened with a touch of honey, can be a lovely addition to your evening routine. Simply steep a tea bag in hot water for five to ten minutes, then sit in a comfy chair and allow yourself to take a few moments to relax and enjoy. Additionally, chamomile hydrosol also works well in a diffuser or even as a soothing bath addition.
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Lavender’s calming scent is hard to beat, and it is super easy to use around the house. You can add lavender sachets to drawers, spritz a lavender essential oil linen spray on pillows, or even light a natural lavender-scented candle. Lavender helps to release tension, support digestion, and promote relaxation. It is also great as a culinary herb when added to cookies or scones if you are in the baking mood; it brings both flavor and a sense of calm to your kitchen.
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Lemon balm has a light, lemony fresh taste and is perfect for easing stress and tension. Make a cup of tea for a gentle sedative that will also ease anxiety and tension. You can mix lemon balm with chamomile, lavender, rose petals, and a pinch of cinnamon to create a calming blend that is perfect for relaxing after a long stressful day.
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
Often overlooked, parsley can actually be a supportive herb for gentle detox and easing mild stress. Adding it to holiday meals in salads or as a garnish gives a small boost to your immunity, which we all need during this busy season. For a quick nutritional boost, try adding a handful of fresh parsley to a morning smoothie or juice—it provides a crisp, fresh flavor that brightens the taste and supports your nervous system.
Sage (Salvia officinalis)
Sage is a popular culinary herb during the holiday season, as it is a wonderful addition to stuffings, roasted veggies, and meats, but is also great as a medicinal herb. Known for its ability to aid digestion, sage has been traditionally used to aid in the digestion of fatty meals and as a general healing herb. Research has shown that sage not only supports digestion but also supports cognitive wellness. A cup of sage tea can be incredibly calming and supportive. Do not forget to add it to your holiday cooking—add fresh sage to rich and savory dishes for a subtle lift to the mood and taste.
Rose (Rosa spp)
Known for their calming and heart-warming properties, rose petals have been traditionally used to treat issues of the heart. Rose tea or rose-infused honey can be a lovely treat during the holidays, especially with the addition of cinnamon. Adding a few rose petals to a warm bath or using rose hydrosol as a facial toner can help lift your mood and bring a gentle sense of tranquility that calms the mind and nerves.
Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans)
Nutmeg’s warm, spicy aroma is associated with holiday comfort. This spice has gentle relaxant properties that can help with winding down, especially if stress impacts sleep. A small pinch of nutmeg in warm milk or hot chocolate can bring a sense of calm at bedtime (and help with digestion, too!). Use nutmeg sparingly—a little goes a long way, and it’s especially delicious in baked goods like cookies, holiday pies, or even sprinkled over roasted vegetables.
Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia)
Vanilla has a rich, comforting scent that can soothe anxiety and lift the mood. A splash of vanilla extract in baked goods or a warm drink can bring a sense of calm and warmth. Vanilla essential oil or extract can also be mixed with other essential oils like nutmeg, lemon, and black spruce for a calming, inviting holiday room spray.
Herbal Remedies + A Walk: The Perfect Combo
Combining herbal remedies with a walk outdoors can be a powerful way to melt away holiday stress. A simple walk in nature, even just around your neighborhood, benefits mind and body. “Forest bathing” has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety thanks to the volatile oils released by trees. If you can, take a stroll in the woods and, along the way, collect pinecones or twigs to use as natural decor for a holiday centerpiece, potpourri, or simmer pot.
Creating Simple Herbal Routines
Incorporating herbal remedies can be easy and enjoyable. Try these simple routines:
Morning Calm: Start your day with a warm mug of spiced chai by simmering 2 1/2 cups of water on the stovetop for 10-20 minutes with the following spices
1 cinnamon stick
2-4 whole cloves
3-4 cardamom pods
1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
1 tsp freshly ground allspice
1 tsp fennel seeds or star anise (optional)
1/4 tsp nutmeg
3 bags of your favorite black tea
simmer for 10-15 minutes, reduce heat, and add 1 cup of milk, stirring for 5 minutes, remove from heat, strain, and sweeten as desired
Evening Wind Down: Soak your feet in a warm tub of salt water sprinkled with chamomile flowers while you sip on a warm mug of lavender-vanilla tea
steep 2 tsp of lavender in 1 cup of hot water for 5-10 minutes
add 1 tsp of vanilla extract, and sweeten with honey to taste
Soothing Scents: Run your aromatherapy diffuser for 30 minutes a day with a blend of lavender and frankincense, lavender and sweet orange, sweet orange and nutmeg, or lavender and black spruce
Knowing When to Reach Out for Help
While herbs can make a difference, they are not a cure-all. If you are feeling overwhelmed or anxious, don’t hesitate to reach out to a mental health professional for additional support.
Embrace the Season
The holidays can be joyful and should not affect your mental well-being. By incorporating a few herbal remedies, you can calm the stressful feelings. Take a moment to breathe, savor that cup of tea, give yourself (and everyone else) some grace, and you will find it easier to see the true blessings.
This holiday season, let joy reflect Truth: the command to glorify God and give thanks to Him—our Lord, Creator, Sustainer, and Savior. Herbs and calming practices may ease tension and stress, but we find true rest in Him. Keep the Lord at the center, finding peace not in fleeting material goods but in the eternal. When our hearts and minds are trained on Him and His Word, we are freed from worldly pressures of perfection, wealth, and worry, resting instead in His sufficiency. As we follow His ways, joy fills our giving (Acts 20:35), and worldly concerns fade into perspective (1 Timothy 6:10). With God as our focus, our celebrations find their truest meaning. May your holiday season be filled with His peace.
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