This fragrant, uplifting tea is a traditional remedy designed to be used during moments of acute stress or as a daily tonic to keep the nervous system resilient.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon Dried Lemon Balm: Traditionally called “the scholar’s herb,” it contains rosmarinic acid, which helps increase GABA levels in the brain to promote relaxation and focus.
• 1 teaspoon Dried Motherwort: Its name literally means “mother herb,” and it is used traditionally to calm the physical “thumping” of an anxious heart.
• 1/2 teaspoon Dried Oat Tops (Oatstraw): A deep nervous system “trophorestorative,” meaning it feeds and repairs the nerves themselves.
• 1 strip of Lemon Peel: The essential oils in the peel are uplifting to the spirit and help clear mental “fog.”
• 500ml Water (approximately 2 cups).

Instructions

1. Boil and Rest: Bring the water to a boil, then remove it from the heat for about 30 seconds. Using water that is just below boiling preserves the delicate, aromatic oils of the lemon balm.
2. Combine the Herbs: Place the lemon balm, motherwort, and oat tops in a ceramic teapot or glass jar.
3. The Infusion: Pour the hot water over the herbs.
4. Add the Lemon Peel: Twist the lemon peel over the water to release its oils, then drop it in.
5. Steep: Cover the vessel tightly. This is crucial—if you can smell the lemon scent in the room, the medicine is leaving the tea. Let it steep for 10–12 minutes.
6. Strain and Sip: Pour the tea through a fine strainer.
7. The Ritual: Drink this slowly. In traditional practices, the act of holding the warm cup and breathing in the scent was considered as much a part of the cure as the tea itself.

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Benefits and Target Impact

Quieting the “Racing Heart” Motherwort is a specific traditional remedy for the physical sensations of anxiety. It helps regulate the nervous signals sent to the heart, helping it beat with a steady, calm rhythm. For older adults who worry when they feel their heart “flutter,” this herb provides a sense of physical security and peace.

Repairing the Nervous System While many things provide a temporary “hit” of calm, oat tops actually work to nourish the myelin sheath—the protective coating around your nerves. This helps reduce general irritability and makes the nervous system less reactive to small stressors over time.

Lifting the Spirits Lemon balm has been described in old herbals as an herb that “takes away all melancholy.” By acting on the limbic system (the emotional center of the brain), it helps shift the mood from one of worry or fear to one of gentle optimism. This is particularly helpful for those dealing with the isolation or changes that can come with aging.