Relaxation drinks
with names like
Just Chill and Neuro
Bliss sound like they
must be Valium in a can,
and the truth is, many
people do say they feel
more relaxed or calm
about half an hour after
drinking them. A likely
reason: the blend of
herbs, supplements,
botanicals, and amino
acids they contain,
which previously have
been used individually
as calming agents.
Chances are you’ve
already tried to drink
away stress—perhaps
with a beer, a glass of
wine, or a martini. Or
maybe you prefer tea. If
you’re a Downton Abbey
fan, you know that a
cup of tea is the British
solution to all life’s
troubles. The key may
be theanine, an anxietyreducing
chemical in tea
that seems to offset its
stimulating caffeine. Not
surprisingly, theanine
is one of a number of
ingredients in most
chill-out beverages.
Other things you
might find in the
ingredient list of your
favorite antistress drink:
valerian root, an herb
that treats insomnia and
calms gastrointestinal
distress; 5-HTP, a byproduct
of the amino
acid tryptophan, which
increases production of
the feel-good chemical
serotonin in the
brain; GABA, a calming
neurotransmitter; and
melatonin, the sleep
hormone.
No scientific studies
confirm how well these
ingredients work together,
but as an occasional
stress reliever, beverages
containing them may be
worth a try. Just to be on
the safe side, though,
don’t drive or operate
heavy machinery after
drinking one.
Tasneem Bhatia, MD, is
medical director and founder
of the Atlanta Center for
Holistic & Integrative Medicine.
