Chamomile Tea- 12 Amazing Health benefits

What Is Chamomile Tea?

Derived from the Asteraceae family of plants, the flowers of this plant can be dried and used for different herbal and natural remedies and poultices, as well as its most popular form – tea. These plants come in many forms, so chamomile tea in one part of the world may not be exactly the same as somewhere else, but the fundamental components of the plants are quite similar and may provide similar effects.

Apart from the pleasant taste and accessibility of chamomile tea, it has been praised over the years for its health benefits. The presence of flavonoids, sesquiterpenes, and other powerful antioxidants in this tea have significant effects on the human body. While it is commonly consumed as a beverage, the liquid can also be topically applied in certain cases for a relief from various skin issues.

Chamomile tea is one of the popular varieties of tea in the market and it has many health benefits and uses. These include its ability to protect the skin, lower stress levels, regulate sleep, and soothe menstrual symptoms. It also boosts the immune system, treats gastrointestinal issues, and manages diabetes, among others.

Health Benefits of Chamomile Tea

Below are the most common health benefits of chamomile tea.

Skin Care

Due to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich nature of chamomile tea, it is not exclusively used as a beverage. You can topically apply warm or cold chamomile tea to the site of irritations or skin conditions, such as eczema. Research has shown that this sort of direct application can significantly improve healing and lessen the appearance of blemishes and wrinkles on the face. Eliminating oxidative stress and boosting the immune response in these areas can do wonders for your skin.

Induces Sleep

In a similar way that chamomile tea can ease stress and worry, it can also be an overall sleep aid, particularly for people who struggle with restless, non-restful or rejuvenating sleep. Even those struggling with sleep apnea and other disorders may benefit from the effects of chamomile tea. Drinking a warm cup of non-caffeinated chamomile tea can help you fall asleep faster and wake up feeling more refreshed.

Relieves Stress

One of the most popular uses of a cup of chamomile tea is in the stress and anxiety treatment. After a long day at work, the warm, soothing nature of this beverage can help to increase the levels of serotonin and melatonin in your body. These levels can successfully eliminate stress and worry, while also slowing down your mind and eliminating the classic symptoms of anxiety. 1-2 cups of chamomile tea per day can do a significant help against chronic stress. Again, while pregnancy can be a stressful time, it can cause an increased risk of miscarriage.

As mentioned, the flavonoid apigenin in chamomile tea has a relaxing, sedating quality that can help you sleep. This same flavonoid can also take the edge off anxiety and depression, making it easier to deal with them. Although chamomile tea may help with anxiety and depression, it is not meant as a replacement for anxiety and depression medication.

Hair Care

Apart from all of the impressive attributes of chamomile tea, many users claim that it improves the appearance and strength of the hair. While the anti-inflammatory components can help to alleviate irritation on the scalp, the stronger chemicals can fortify the strands of your hair, eliminate dandruff, and generally give your hair a better, silkier look.

Treats Allergic Reactions

Although chamomile is an allergen to some people, such as those who are allergic to ragweed, daisies or chrysanthemum, it can help to modulate the immune response to allergens in the body. By working as an anti-histamine, a cup of chamomile tea can soothe these allergic reactions throughout the body, thereby preventing the symptoms before they become serious.

Promotes Digestive Health

If you are suffering from stomach irritation, ranging anywhere from mild bloating to IBS symptoms, chamomile tea can be a major help. It has anti-inflammatory properties that help to ease the twisting nature of your gut and allow for the passage of gas and smoother bowel movements. A single cup of chamomile tea can make you feel better, but continuous use of this can help to prevent serious conditions from developing in your gut as well.

Protects Against Cancer

Cancer is the ever-present boogeyman of disease. Many people are worried that they will get some form of cancer and will do anything to prevent it.

Chamomile tea may be able to help with cancer prevention. The apigenin contained within chamomile tea may also be able to prevent the formation of certain types of cancer.

Apigenin exhibits many antioxidant properties as well as the anti-inflammatory properties we mentioned in previous sections. These properties can help get rid of free radicals that may cause cancer, as well as possibly inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Specifically, apigenin may help prevent prostate, breast, skin, and ovarian cancer.

Manages Diabetes

Research has shown that chamomile tea can be useful for people suffering from diabetes. By helping to lower blood sugar levels and regulating the amount of insulin in the blood, the powerful organic chemicals in it help to eliminate massive drops and spikes in blood sugar.

Chamomile tea can also inhibit the enzymes that can cause diabetic complications like diabetic neuropathy, cataracts, retinal damage of the eye, and kidney damage.

Improves Cardiovascular Health

The research into the connections between cardiovascular health and chamomile tea is currently limited at best. However, there are some potentially useful components to chamomile tea that may help with the cardiovascular system.

Currently, research seems to point to antioxidants being able to help cardiovascular health, especially in relation to oxidative stress and blood pressure. And, both of these are important aspects of your heart’s processes and health. As apigenin is a fairly powerful flavonoid and antioxidant, chamomile tea may be able to help with heart health as well.

Boosts Immune System

If you want to strengthen your immune system to ward off infections, chamomile tea is the answer. There is a certain amount of phenolic compound in chamomile tea that is specifically linked to fighting bacterial infections in the body. Studies have shown that 5-6 glasses of this tea over a course of two weeks can significantly improve the body’s ability to fight infections.

Relieves Menstrual Discomfort

The anti-inflammatory and relaxant nature of chamomile tea makes it a popular choice for women dealing with the symptoms of menstruation. This can include bloating, cramping, anxiety, sweating, inability to sleep, and mood swings. Chamomile tea can directly affect many of these symptoms by soothing the mind and body and reducing inflammation that may be causing discomforts.

Relieves Muscle Spasms

Chamomile tea can help with muscle spasms on two different fronts. One is due to the sedative qualities that come with the tea. Drinking a cup of chamomile can help relax the body and relieve muscles spasms.

As we noted earlier, chamomile tea also contains anodyne which acts as a muscle relaxant and works really will on muscle cramps in the stomach area. For this reason, chamomile tea is often recommended to women suffering from cramping caused by premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Other Chamomile Tea Benefits

Along with the many health benefits of chamomile tea, there are other benefits that may help you and your body. This includes

Chest colds
Sore throats
Many childhood-based conditions like chickenpox, diaper rash, and colic
Abscesses
Gum inflammation (gingivitis)
Acne
Psoriasis
Eczema
Minor first-degree burns
Stomach ulcers

For chest colds, sore throats, gum inflammation, and stomach ulcers, it’s chamomile’s anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that come into play. These properties can help calm any inflammation and clean out the bacteria causing the issues.

For skin-based issues, once again, the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, help as they can reduce the inflammation of acne and eczema. They can also help get rid of the bacteria that causes these types of skin issues.

In treating skin issues, chamomile tea should be used directly on the skin as opposed to drinking it. This can be done by rubbing the tea into the affected area or directly applying chamomile tea bags to those areas.

Burns and Scrapes

The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of chamomile tea can help treat burns and scrapes. Simply brew a strong cup of chamomile tea, using two or three times the bags or flowers you normally would. Once the tea has cooled, pour it directly on the wound and then wrap it with a clean cloth or bandage. This may also work for sunburns.

Dark Circles

Soak two tea bags in warm water for five minutes. Then place them on the dark circles under your eyes to help lighten or even get rid of them. This works best if the tea bags are left on the circles overnight.

Skin Lightening

Chamomile tea can help lighten the skin of your face. Start by brewing two chamomile tea bags or a particularly strong pot of chamomile tea. Once it gets to the point where it is steaming, place your face over the steam but not so close that you get burned. Allow your skin to absorb the steam (a towel can be used to stream it more to the face).

Acne Prevention

The steam method that we mentioned above can also be beneficial when fighting acne as the steam can open and enter the pores of the skin. This allows chamomile tea’s antibacterial effects help clean out any acne-causing bacteria.

Eye Issues

Some mild conjunctivitis and eye strain can be relieved by using a very mild chamomile mixture.

Using a very weak warm or cold tea, place a few drops into the eye using an eye dropper. Also, the antibacterial properties may be able to get rid of conjunctivitis.

Drinking a few cups of chamomile tea can also help reduce swelling and pain, relax muscles, reduce blood sugar levels in diabetics, and ease muscle cramping and digestion issues in those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

How to Make Chamomile Tea

Now that you know what chamomile tea can do for you and your health, here’s how to make chamomile tea.

Making chamomile tea can be easy. The simplest solution is to buy chamomile tea bags from the grocery store and make a cup of tea like you would any other tea.

But if you are looking for a more potent version of chamomile, here is a recipe that you can use.

Ingredients

10 ounces of water (for one cup of tea)
2 tablespoons of dried chamomile flowers

Directions

Using a kettle, bring the water to a boil. Once it is bubbling, remove the kettle from the heat source and pour the water into a teapot.

Measure out two tablespoons of dried chamomile. Make sure it’s packed hard into the spoon.

Mix the dried chamomile blossoms into the teapot and allow it to steep for approximately five minutes. Place a strainer over the cup or mug and pour the tea into the mug and enjoy.

Note, for weaker tea, don’t allow the tea to steep as long or use fewer chamomile flowers.

A Few Words of Caution

When you are using chamomile tea, it is important to know about the possible side effects when using the tea for medicinal purposes.

If you have an allergic reaction to chamomile tea, cease using it immediately. Pregnant women should also consider not using chamomile tea as its powerful anti-inflammatory properties may cause possible miscarriage.

Chamomile tea should also be avoided before any surgery as well. If you are taking any blood thinning medications, it can make clotting difficult.

Final Words

Is chamomile tea good for you? Yes, chamomile tea may be able to help you with everything from eye strain to preventing cancer. It is a relatively easy tea to acquire, and easy to brew and use. The health benefits are well worth a cup or two a day.

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