Time to put the kettle on—according to this study.

by Rachel Linder

There’s no question that there are immense benefits to drinking tea when it comes to overall health. It’s been shown to boost your immune system, improve heart health, lower “bad” cholesterol (or LDL), and even lessen your risk of cancer. And if all those amazing qualities haven’t gotten you on board with tea yet, it has even been scientifically shown to lessen anxiety symptoms—if you drink the right kind.

A study published in 2016 in the journal Phytomedicine found that chamomile tea acts as an herbal medicine to treat anxiety symptoms. The researchers completed a two-phase study with patients who had a primary diagnosis of moderate to severe Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). The purpose of the study was to investigate long-term chamomile use for the prevention of GAD symptoms. The researchers found that long-term chamomile use led to significantly lower anxiety symptoms compared to those who received the placebo.

However, the researchers did note that long-term chamomile use did not significantly impact the rate of relapse into Generalized Anxiety Disorder symptoms, despite the fact that it reduced overall symptoms. This means that chamomile cannot at this time be viewed as a way to completely get rid of GAD, but instead should be looked at as a viable treatment option.

You may have already known that tea has an incredibly soothing effect, especially chamomile, but now thanks to the science we know it’s not just in your head. Going for a glass of chamomile tea before bed or when you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed, could be the key to making you feel more at ease. However, it’s important to note that part of what made this study so successful in lessening the symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder was the consistency over a long period of time. This study was conducted between March 1, 2010 and June 30, 2015, which is how the researchers saw the long-term effects of chamomile most successful.

What this means for you is that you should make your chamomile tea part of your routine. The more consistently you drink it, the more likely you will be to see the same impacts as the participants of this study on your own anxiety. So, it’s time to stock your pantry with chamomile tea and put the kettle on.