Chamomile tea is an herb that comes from the daisy-like flowers of the Asteraceae plant family. It has been used for centuries as a natural remedy for a variety of health conditions. To make chamomile tea, the flowers are dried and then infused in hot water. Many people enjoy chamomile tea as a caffeine-free alternative to black or green tea because of its earthy, slightly sweet flavor. Additionally, chamomile tea is rich in antioxidants and may help reduce the risk of several diseases, including heart disease and cancer. Chamomile also has properties that can aid sleep and digestion.
The various chamomile teas vary in potency, and more potent teas are also more likely to cause side effects in people who are susceptible to them. Therefore, it is safest to start with a low dose and slowly work your way up to a larger dose.
Chamomile contains chemicals called flavonoids. These flavonoids are a type of nutrient found in many plants, and they play an important role in chamomile's medicinal effects.
Evidence suggests that the potential benefits of chamomile tea include:
Relieve menstrual cramps：Drinking chamomile tea for one month can reduce the pain of menstrual cramps. Chamomile tea has been linked to less severe menstrual cramps. Women in the study also reported less anxiety and distress related to period pain.
Treats diabetes and lowers blood sugar：Chamomile tea can lower blood sugar in people with diabetes. Chamomile is a viable alternative to diabetes medications, but it may be a helpful addition to existing treatments. Similarly, studies have found that drinking chamomile tea consistently may prevent blood sugar from spiking. This effect reduces the long-term risk of diabetes complications, suggesting that chamomile may improve diabetes outcomes.
Slows or prevents osteoporosis：Osteoporosis is the progressive loss of bone density. This loss increases the risk of fractures and stooped posture. While anyone can develop osteoporosis, it is most common in postmenopausal women. This tendency may be due to the effects of estrogen. Chamomile tea has been found to have anti-estrogen effects.
Reduces inflammation：Inflammation is the immune system's response to fight infection. Chamomile tea contains compounds that can reduce inflammation. However, long-term inflammation has been linked to a wide range of health problems, including hemorrhoids, gastrointestinal pain, arthritis, autoimmune diseases, and even depression.
Cancer Treatment and Prevention：Research suggests that chamomile tea may target cancer cells and even prevent these cells from developing in the first place. The anti-cancer abilities of marigold and chamomile tea were compared. Both were able to selectively target cancer tumors, but marigold tea was more effective.
May Improve Sleep Quality：Chamomile has some unique properties that may benefit your sleep quality. It contains apigenin, an antioxidant that binds to certain receptors in the brain, which can promote sleepiness and reduce insomnia or chronic insomnia. Chamomile contains antioxidants that may promote sleepiness, and drinking chamomile tea has been shown to improve overall sleep quality.
Treat Cold Symptoms：Inhaling steam with chamomile extract has been suggested to relieve some symptoms of the common cold.
Treat Minor Skin Conditions：Applying chamomile extract directly to wounds can help with healing. Similarly, chamomile ointments may help treat eczema and mild inflammatory skin conditions, although they are not as effective as hydrocortisone creams.
The following health benefits of chamomile tea are mostly anecdotal:
Enhance immune health: Chamomile tea is often promoted as a strategy for preventing and treating the common cold, but evidence for this is lacking. It is also said to soothe sore throats.
Relieve anxiety and depression: There is evidence that chamomile can reduce the severity of anxiety and depression, but this is mainly based on using it as an aromatherapy or taking it as a supplement.
Improve skin health: Applying chamomile to the skin through cosmetics such as lotions, eye creams, and soaps may have a moisturizing effect and help reduce skin inflammation.
Prevent bone loss: Chamomile tea may play a role in preventing bone loss, which can lead to diseases such as osteoporosis.
Unless a doctor advises otherwise, the following groups should avoid chamomile:
People with a history of severe allergies, especially to pollen: Chamomile may be contaminated with pollen from other plants and therefore cause allergic reactions.
People who have had allergic reactions to chamomile products before, even if they were mild: They should avoid chamomile because allergic reactions can worsen over time.
Infants and very young children: Chamomile tea, like honey and some other natural products, may be contaminated with botulism spores. Most healthy adults can fight off the infection, but infants may not be able to. Many doctors recommend that infants and young children avoid honey, and they should also avoid chamomile products.
If someone is taking any medications, they should ask their doctor about potential interactions with chamomile tea.
Chamomile tea is a healthy drink. It is rich in some powerful antioxidants and may have a variety of health benefits, including reducing the risk of cancer and heart disease. Nevertheless, chamomile is very safe to drink, and many people enjoy drinking it because it tastes delicious and has a pleasant aroma. If you want to explore the potential benefits of chamomile tea, it’s definitely worth including it in your diet.
