Natural Stress Relief: 7 Home Remedies to Help You Relax

Jillian Kinton-Vieira
Created by: Jillian Kinton-Vieira Registered Nurse
Key points
  • Natural stress relief options include herbal teas, fresh juices, and warm baths with essential oils.
  • Black tea contains caffeine, which may interfere with sleep when consumed too late in the day.
  • Natural remedies may complement medical care, but they should not replace professional treatment for persistent stress.

Natural stress relief can include home remedies like passionflower or lemon verbena syrup, lemon balm tea, and warm baths with essential oils. These options have calming properties that can help promote relaxation and a sense of well-being.

Stress is often caused by situations such as pressure at work, grief, job loss, or the end of a relationship. These situations can increase the release of cortisol in the body, leading to physical tension and a constant state of alertness.

Natural remedies should not replace medical treatment for stress. However, they may help relieve mild symptoms and complement the treatment recommended by a healthcare professional.

woman looking content with eyes closed holding a cup of tea close to her face

Some home remedies for stress include:

1. Passionflower and lemon verbena syrup

Passionflower and lemon verbena have calming properties that may help promote relaxation and provide natural stress relief.

Ingredients:

  • 4 tablespoons lemon verbena leaves

  • 3 passionflower leaves

  • 1 cup orange blossom honey

How to prepare:

Thoroughly crush the lemon verbena and passionflower leaves, then cover them with the honey. Let the mixture sit for 12 hours, then strain it.

Keep the syrup in a clean, dry glass container with a tightly sealed lid. Store it away from direct light.

Take 3 to 4 tablespoons of the syrup per day while symptoms of stress persist.

This syrup should not be used during pregnancy or by people with low blood pressure.

2. Apple, kiwi, and mint juice

Apple, kiwi, and mint juice is a nutritious and refreshing option that may help you recharge after a tiring day.

Ingredients:

  • 1 apple with the peel

  • 1 peeled kiwi

  • 1 handful of mint leaves

How to prepare:

Run all the ingredients through a juicer and drink immediately. Add ice and sweeten to taste, if desired.

3. Black tea

Black tea made from the Camellia sinensis plant is widely available in grocery stores, tea shops, and health food stores.

Some studies suggest that regularly drinking black tea may help reduce cortisol levels in the bloodstream, which may be helpful for managing stress and anxiety. Regular black tea consumption has also been studied for its possible role in reducing the risk of Parkinson’s disease.

Ingredients:

  • 1 black tea bag

  • 1 cup boiling water

How to prepare:

Place the black tea bag in the boiling water, cover, and steep for about 10 minutes. Remove the tea bag, sweeten with a small amount of sugar if desired, and drink, up to 2 cups per day.

Because black tea contains caffeine and has a stimulating effect, drink the second cup by 5 p.m. to help prevent it from interfering with sleep.

According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), too much caffeine can cause insomnia or sleep disruptions, and sensitivity to caffeine varies from person to person.

4. Bath with essential oils

A bath with sea salt and essential oils may help reduce stress and promote relaxation.

Ingredients:

  • 8 ounces (225 g) sea salt

  • 4.4 ounces (125 g) baking soda

  • 30 drops sandalwood essential oil

  • 10 drops lavender essential oil

  • 10 drops clary sage essential oil

How to prepare:

Mix the sea salt and baking soda. Add the essential oils and store the mixture in a covered container for several hours.

Dissolve 4 to 8 tablespoons of the mixture in a bathtub filled with warm water. Soak in the bath for 20 to 30 minutes.

In addition to giving the bath a pleasant fragrance, the ingredients have calming and relaxing properties that may help relieve nervous tension associated with stress, anxiety, and phobias.

This bath mixture can be used at least twice a week to promote physical and mental well-being.

5. Alfalfa juice

Alfalfa juice is traditionally used as a natural remedy for stress because of its calming properties, which may help relieve anxiety and relax the muscles.

Ingredients:

  • 1 handful of alfalfa

  • 4 lettuce leaves

  • 1 grated carrot

  • 4 cups water

How to prepare:

Wash all the ingredients thoroughly and grate the carrot. Place everything in a blender with the water and blend until smooth.

Drink 1 glass of alfalfa juice per day.

Other herbs for anxiety include chamomile and lavender. They can be prepared as tea or used in aromatherapy to help relieve stress, nervousness, and anxiety.

6. Lemon balm tea

Lemon balm tea is made from the medicinal plant Melissa officinalis. It contains rosmarinic acid, which may increase the activity of neurotransmitters in the brain, such as gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, and contribute to a feeling of relaxation.

This tea may help relieve stress, nervousness, and anxiety. It may also help improve sleep quality.

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon lemon balm leaves

  • 1 cup boiling water

How to prepare:

Add the lemon balm leaves to the boiling water, cover, and let steep for a few minutes. Strain and drink 1 cup before bedtime.

People who take sleep medications should avoid drinking lemon balm tea unless advised by a healthcare professional. Combining lemon balm with these medications may intensify their sedative effects, leading to excessive drowsiness.

Lemon balm may also affect how thyroid medications work. Anyone taking these medications should use lemon balm only under medical supervision.

Anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding should consult an OB-GYN before consuming lemon balm.

7. Lavender essential oil

Lavender essential oil is commonly used in aromatherapy to promote relaxation and may help with stress, anxiety, and sleep.

Ingredients:

  • Lavender essential oil

How to prepare:

To use lavender essential oil for aromatherapy, gently inhale its scent directly from the bottle. Hold your breath for about 2 to 3 seconds before exhaling. Repeat the inhalation 3 to 7 times, several times per day.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, little is known about the safety of lavender during pregnancy or breastfeeding, so a healthcare professional should be consulted before use.

Update History
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References
  • US Food and Drug Administration. Spilling the beans: How much caffeine is too much?. FDA. Accessed 28 Jul 2026 https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/spilling-beans-how-much-caffeine-too-much
  • National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Lavender: usefulness and safety. NCCIH. Updated 01 Feb 2025. Accessed 28 Jul 2026 https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/lavender
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