Nutrition
What is chamomile tea good for
By
Adriana sanchez - 2022-02-17T14:13:19Z
Read in Spanish
Chamomile is one of the most popular herbs for relieving common ailments, which is why grandmothers recommend drinking chamomile tea whenever we can't sleep or when we have a stomachache. But beyond beliefs and customs, we explain in detail what chamomile tea is good for.
The chamomile flower has numerous medicinal properties due to its composition of terpenoids, flavonoids, and other volatile oils that, according to a study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), act as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and relaxing agents.
Benefits of chamomile tea
- It is good for controlling anxiety, and if taken at night, it will help you relax and fall asleep, according to studies from the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC).
- Chamomile tea with anise is very effective for alleviating menstrual cramps and stomach pains due to its antispasmodic properties.
- Recently, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved its medicinal use, and it is used as a supplement for treating and healing wounds.
- Another property of chamomile is its anti-inflammatory effect, as it contains apigenin, luteolin, and bisabolol, which relax blood vessels and smooth muscle fibers, reducing joint pain, as explained by the UK’s University of Nottingham Medical School.
- It also alleviates flu symptoms; in fact, some people inhale chamomile tea vapors to treat respiratory conditions like asthma and bronchitis. You can drink chamomile tea with lemon to add a bit of vitamin C.
- Another study from the American Chemical Society showed that it helps prevent complications from diabetes, including vision loss, nerve damage, and kidney problems.
- Thanks to its antibacterial properties, it protects teeth and gums from oral diseases, providing better oral health to those who drink it.
How to prepare chamomile tea? You can prepare a
infusion of chamomile by heating a fresh bunch of the plant in boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes, or simply by buying a pack of tea bags and adding hot water to your favorite cup. Ideally, it should be consumed without sugar, but you can sweeten chamomile tea with honey if you prefer.
Be sure you are not allergic to the chamomile flower and consult your doctor if you feel unwell, as although it is a very good home remedy, chamomile tea is not a proper medication.