Fragrant, floral, with hints of apple and honey. Chamomile tea is a delicious drink. But that’s not all it is…

One of the oldest and most common herbs, the chamomile plant has been used for thousands of years as a remedy for a variety of health issues. Ancient preparations of chamomile included making tea from the plant’s flowers, and this is now the most common and easiest way to take chamomile in the modern day.

In this article, we explore different chamomile tea benefits for your health and wellbeing. Join us as we walk through the incredible qualities of this simple tea!

*Please always obtain advice from your doctor before treating any health issues*

*While we refer to scientific studies in the article, it should be noted that more research needs to be conducted on chamomile tea benefits*

 

Chamomile Tea Benefits

 

 

• Chamomile tea for the Stomach

You know that feeling. You’re sitting down to relax after a big meal, looking forward to some TV or a quick nap. But then you notice your stomach feels a bit uncomfortable…

Well, that’s the moment to reach for some chamomile tea. For centuries chamomile tea has been used as a remedy for stomach issues – from indigestion to gas, nausea to motion sickness and more, people have turned to chamomile tea to help ease stomach symptoms.

Science shows that chamomile tea has many positive effects on our digestive systems. It reduces abdominal gas and bloating, it helps soothe inflammation in the stomach and it relaxes the muscles that move food through our digestive systems (which helps improve a number of common problems).[1] Some preliminary research shows that it might even have a protective effect against stomach ulcers.

 

At tofillo, we love to enjoy our Chamomile Tea at the end of a good meal alongside – very importantly – good company!

 

• Chamomile tea for Sleeping

 

 

Nowadays we all need more sleep, and higher-quality sleep too! Well, did you know that chamomile tea benefits your sleep in not just one, but two ways?

First, drinking a few cups of chamomile tea daily causes an increase of an amino acid called glycine in your body. Glycine has been shown to have mild sedative effects, helping you sleep better.[2]

In fact, glycine supplements are commonly sold to help with sleep. With chamomile tea, you can get this benefit direct from nature instead! We would recommend drinking it in the evenings to get the best effect for your sleep.

Second, chamomile tea contains a compound called apigenin. When apigenin connects to certain receptors in your brain it creates a mild tranquilising effect.[3]

Now we know what you’re thinking – ‘tranquilising’ doesn’t sound very mild! But studies show that the tranquilising effect from chamomile tea won’t knock you out. Instead, it’s helpful for improving the quality of your sleep, so your sleep is deeper and less disturbed…

 

• Chamomile tea for Anxiety

We live in busy and pressured times and we all experience anxiety sometimes. A herbal remedy can be an easy way to soothe your mind and body, and chamomile tea can help with this…

We know that a key chamomile tea benefit is its calming effect, and that this is one of the reasons it has been used since ancient times. Indeed, the science now supports this. A recent study in 2016 showed that long-term use of chamomile extract significantly reduced moderate to severe symptoms of generalised anxiety disorder (GAD).[4]

Amazingly, in another study, also with chamomile extract, patients showed a nearly 50% decrease in their anxiety scores.[5] So while chamomile tea can’t get rid of your anxiety completely, it can certainly help to alleviate some of the symptoms.

For us, we find it helpful to take a small break during a stressful day, even for just five minutes, and relax with a cup of our Chamomile Tea.

 

• Chamomile tea for Inflammation

Inflammation is the buzzword on everyone’s lips.

Scientific research has shown us that inflammation plays a role in a range of health issues, especially with our modern lifestyles (processed foods, increased pollution, lack of sleep) contributing to increased inflammation in the body.

In a 2009 study, researchers found that drinking chamomile tea reduced inflammation indicators in the blood.[6] It is now widely accepted that a key chamomile tea benefit is that it helps reduce the symptoms of inflammation.[7]

Chamomile tea’s ability to help reduce symptoms of inflammation can have a wide-ranging impact. It can help to prevent or alleviate the symptoms of conditions such as premature skin aging, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and arthritis.

That’s a powerful punch for such a simple tea!

 

 

• Chamomile tea for Immunity

At tofillo, we love to keep our Chamomile Tea on hand during the winter months. It’s a delicious and easy way to look after our health! In fact, did you know that chamomile tea is great for your immune system, particularly at this time of year?

A study in 2005 showed that drinking chamomile tea daily had an antibacterial effect in participants’ immune systems.[8] The results suggested that chamomile tea contained compounds that actively fought cold infections and boosted the immune system.

Interestingly, the protection from the chamomile tea lasted not only while the participants drank the tea each day, but also for up to two weeks after the participants stopped drinking the tea.

 

• Chamomile tea for Skin

Chamomile tea has been used since ancient Egypt as a topical (external) remedy for skin issues. However, chamomile tea benefits the skin from the inside also.

Chamomile contains a variety of antioxidants such as flavonoids and polyphenols. These antioxidants help protect the skin from environmental damage caused by pollution and sun exposure.[9] Environmental damage to the skin can cause premature ageing, dryness and other issues.

While chamomile tea by itself can’t completely protect your skin from this damage, it can help in your overall ‘system’ of protection. So if you’d like to see some healthier skin from the ‘inside out’, add a cup of chamomile tea to your beauty routine!

 

 

 

 

 

• Chamomile tea for Heart Health

As we’ve mentioned earlier in this article, chamomile tea contains a lot of antioxidants. Antioxidants have a wide range of benefits, and one of these is that they protect heart health. They help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which means that they also help to reduce your risk of heart disease.

A study in 2015 showed that patients who drank chamomile tea three times a day and immediately after their meals experienced important heart health improvements.[10] They saw a significant decrease in total cholesterol, triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein (LDLs) levels in their blood.

By including chamomile tea as a regular part of your diet, you could be helping to protect your heart health.

 

• Chamomile tea for Diabetes and Blood Sugar

It seems like the chamomile tea benefits never end! Because chamomile tea can also help your blood sugar.

The study we mentioned above, in the section on heart health, also showed chamomile tea’s positive effect on blood sugar levels.[11] After drinking chamomile tea three times a day after meals, for eight weeks, participants saw much lower blood sugar levels compared to another group who drank only water.

Indeed, because of chamomile tea’s anti-inflammatory properties (see section 4 above, on inflammation), it can even prevent damage to your pancreas.[12] This is incredibly helpful in managing blood sugar levels, because the pancreas is the organ that is responsible for removing sugar from the bloodstream.

So all in all, a useful tea to include as part of your management of blood sugar!

 

• Chamomile tea for Menstrual Cramps

The final benefit of chamomile tea we wanted to mention is for any women reading this article.

We mentioned in section 2, on sleep, that drinking chamomile tea increases glycine in your system. Glycine is an amino acid that also helps to relieve muscle spasms. Because of this effect, glycine production from chamomile tea helps to relieve menstrual cramps.[13]

That’s something to keep in mind during those difficult days of the month!

 

Final Thoughts

So there you have it – nine incredible chamomile tea benefits for your health and wellbeing!

We hope you learned something interesting and that you might consider drinking more chamomile tea on a daily basis to experience its benefits.

We recommend drinking chamomile tea from whole chamomile flowers to obtain the best aroma and remedial properties of the plant. Processing the flowers to create a powder, which is often used in chamomile tea bags, can decrease the beneficial properties of chamomile tea.

At tofillo we use only whole chamomile flowers. If you’re interested to try our Chamomile Tea you can purchase it at our online store…

 

FAQ for Chamomile tea

• What is chamomile?

Chamomile is an aromatic herb with medicinal properties that belongs to the Asteraceae family.

• What are the main uses of chamomile as an herbal tea?

Some of the basic uses of chamomile as an herbal tea: It soothes stress, improves sleep, relieves digestive problems, can be used to relieve headaches and sore throats, and has antioxidant properties.

• What are the healing properties of chamomile according to traditional medicine?

According to traditional medicine, chamomile has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and sedative properties and is used to relieve stress.

• How can chamomile be used to relieve severe stress?

It can be prepared as an herbal tea or its essential oil can be used. For the decoction, add 1-2 teaspoons of tea to 200 ml of warm water (just before the boiling point), leave it for 5-10 minutes before drinking it. The oil can be dissolved in a diffuser or added to your bath (in either case a few drops will suffice).

• What is the role of chamomile in skin care?

Chamomile has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that make it ideal for skin care. It can be used as an extract in cosmetic products, creams, lotions and oils for the face and body. It helps to treat acne, inflammation and irritation, as well as to moisturize and rejuvenate the skin.

We hope you enjoy it!

 

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2995283/#R53

[2] https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/01/050104112140.htm

[3] https://www.sleepfoundation.org/best-tea-for-sleep

[4] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27912875/

[5] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19593179/

[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2784024/

[7] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2784024/

[8]https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/01/050104112140.htm

[9] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2995283/

[10] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25194428/

[11] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25194428/

[12] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2995283/

[13] https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/01/050104112140.htm