Chamomile Tea Benefits
Facts About Chamomile Tea Benefits
Humans have known about chamomile tea benefits for thousands of years. Chamomile has been used for medicinal purposes dating all the way back to the ancient Egyptians. This annual herb from the daisy family now grows all over the world and is still widely used for its healing properties. Its effects seem to help not only humans but animals and plants as well, both mentally and physically. It is also currently being used in scientific research and may provide even more helpful medical properties in the future.
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) can also be called German chamomile, Roman chamomile or the whig plant. Its blossoms are routinely used to make teas, ointments or it can be used externally for medicinal purposes. The reasons that chamomile seems to have such good healing properties is because of its active ingredients including: chamazulene, terpene bisabolol, farnesene, coumarin and flavonoids. Chamomile tea is often used as a stress reliever, muscle relaxer and has anti-inflammatory, anti-irritation and anti-microbial properties just to name a few.
Chamomile tea can be made directly from dried flowers, using 2 teaspoons of flowers per 1 cup of hot water. It is best if the tea is steeped for 15 minutes and covered to protect the volatile oils within it. It can be made with leaves and an infuser or there are also pre-made chamomile tea bags available. These can be easily purchased from just about anywhere. Teas are a great natural way to treat health problems and are considered safer and gentler than drugs.
The list of chamomile tea benefits is expansive. It had been used to help relieve the symptoms of pain and bloating associated with menstrual cramps, upset stomach, digestion problems, bladder problems, irritable bowel syndrome and kidney stones. It also has healing properties for people suffering from jaundice, parasites such as worms or mites, problems sleeping, rheumatism, oral muscositis, cold symptoms, bronchitis and even has pain relieving abilities for those who suffer from migraines. Sometimes chamomile teas are even used externally for skin problems such as inflammation, hemorrhoids, and rashes. It can be made into a mouthwash to help reduce swelling of the gums, toothaches and teething pain in children. Its only real drawback is the possibility of allergies (especially to people who are allergic to ragweed) and risks to pregnant women.
The positive effects of chamomile also seem to extend to mental health as well. Often chamomile is paired with lemongrass to help soothe the nerves. It can help relax the muscles after a hard day and can induce sleep in a natural and gentle way. Try chamomile tea for children before bedtime to reduce hyperactivity, relax the mind and induce sleep.
Chamomile tea benefits can also been seen in cosmetic uses. It is known to be a natural remedy for dark circles under the eyes, can help treat acne problems and if used in bathes it can improve skin tone. It is also used cosmetically to help brighten blonde hair and can be used as a yellow dye for fabrics.
Plants also seem to benefit from the many healing properties of chamomile. It is often made into a tea that can be poured over plants to help with their growth and disease prevention. It even has shown to suppress fungal growth in other plants.
Studies performed on animals on the benefits of chamomile show great promise for future medicinal purposes, especially when used invitro. Invitro use of chamomile in animals has shown that it may help in preventing mutation of the fetus, works as both an antibiotic and anti-viral to the fetus to prevent infections, and also helps with spasms, anxiety and cholesterol levels. The future of chamomile as a medicinal herb looks extremely bright, and with further study we may be able to add to the already expansive list of chamomile tea benefits.