🌿 Cortisol, stress, and us: how herbal tea can soothe our inner balance
Share
In our fast-paced modern lives, stress seeps into everything – sometimes without us even realizing it. Chronic fatigue, mood swings, sleep disturbances, or irregular periods: could cortisol , also known as the "stress hormone," play a central role in this imbalance? And above all, what can we do to regain a natural harmony , especially as women?
🔍 What exactly is cortisol?
Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. Its main function is to help the body cope with stress . In dangerous or high-pressure situations, it mobilizes energy, increases alertness, and regulates blood sugar. It's a survival mechanism.
But when stress becomes chronic, cortisol remains elevated for too long, which exhausts the body : insomnia, weight gain, anxiety, hormonal disorders... the consequences are quickly felt.
♀️ Are women more sensitive to cortisol?
Yes, and it's not a myth. Cortisol interacts directly with female hormones (estrogen, progesterone), which can make women more vulnerable to its effects :
-
Irregular or painful menstrual cycle
-
Disrupted ovulation
-
Abdominal weight gain
-
Sleep and mood disorders
-
Difficulty concentrating or decreased libido
Excess cortisol can even slow fertility or disrupt pregnancy.
🍵 A natural approach: the art of herbal tea
Faced with this imbalance, returning to simple and natural remedies can make all the difference. It is with this in mind that I created, with the help of a qualified herbalist, a soothing herbal tea inspired by the medicinal plants that have always been used by women.
Here is its composition and the benefits of each plant on stress and cortisol:
Damask rose 🌹: uplifts the soul and soothes emotions.
Chamomile 🌼: releases tension, helps you sleep better.
Lemon balm 🌿: calms mental agitation.
Lemon verbena 🍋: soothes and clarifies.
Red vine 🍇: antioxidant, protects against oxidative stress.
Nettle 🌱: remineralizing, supports an exhausted body.
Marjolaine 🌿: recenters and rebalances emotions.
🍵 A plant-based caress to accompany women towards greater inner peace and hormonal balance.
🌞 And beyond herbal tea? Other simple steps to lower cortisol
To truly support your body in a holistic approach, here are some habits to incorporate into your daily routine, in addition to the herbal tea:
💨 1. Conscious breathing
Take 5 minutes a day to breathe slowly and deeply. Heart coherence breathing (5 seconds inhale, 5 seconds exhale) activates your parasympathetic nervous system – the one that slows down cortisol production.
🚶♀️ 2. Nature walk
Contact with nature naturally lowers cortisol levels. A 20-minute walk in a park or forest can already have a measurable calming effect.
💤 3. Restful sleep
Getting enough sleep is essential for regulating cortisol. Try to go to bed before 11 p.m., avoiding screens for an hour beforehand, and creating a calming evening ritual (herbal tea, reading, meditation, etc.).
🍫 4. Soothing food
Prioritize foods rich in magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants (green vegetables, seeds, dark chocolate, nuts, oily fish). Avoid stimulants (coffee, refined sugar) during periods of intense stress.
🧘♀️ 5. Gentle Activities
Yoga, qi gong, stretching, hot baths or even intuitive dance are all practices that help to get out of “alert” mode and bring calm back into the body.
❤️ 6. Create connection, slow down
Sharing a moment with a loved one, laughing, talking, feeling supported… all of this helps to naturally lower cortisol levels. The body craves emotional security as much as physical rest.
💬 In conclusion
Cortisol is a valuable ally… when it's properly regulated. As women, we have everything to gain by listening to our bodies, respecting our rhythms, and creating soothing rituals that bring us back to balance.
My herbal tea was born from this intention: to offer a gentle break, a moment for oneself, an alliance of plants that know how to speak to the body with wisdom.
🌸 May each cup be an invitation to reconnect with your inner peace.