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Over 159 million Americans drink tea every day, according to the Tea Association of the USA, making tea the most widely consumed beverage after water. Not only are teas appealing to the taste buds, but they are beneficial for health too. For instance, the many incredible health benefits of chamomile tea have made this drink one of the most popular tonics for women globally.
In this blog, you’ll find out the health benefits of chamomile tea and the best way to drink it. You’ll also learn whether or not you should drink chamomile tea during pregnancy.
What is Chamomile Tea?
Chamomile tea is derived from chamomile flowers from the Asteraceae plant family. Unlike most, it is a caffeine-free herbal tea made from dried chamomile flower heads. You can make this tea using chamomile tea bags or naturally dried flowers.
Here is an easy, quick and effective way to make chamomile tea at home:
- Bring 1 cup of water to a boil and add the flowers
- Cover the water and allow it to steep for 4 to 5 mins
- Strain the tea and add honey or sweetener to enhance the flavor (optional)
Read More: 15 Best Fertility Herbal Teas
When Can You Drink Chamomile Tea?
Generally, you can drink chamomile tea at any time during the day, even on an empty tummy. However, depending on the benefits of chamomile tea you wish to reap, it’s best to drink it at specific times.
For instance, if you want to enjoy its miraculous sedative qualities, you should drink a cup an hour before bedtime.
On the other hand, if you are seeking remedies for painful menstrual cramps, it’s best to drink two cups a week before your period arrives and during the week of your period.
What are the Health Benefits of Chamomile Tea?
Chamomile tea has a history of being used for medicinal purposes. For thousands of years, it was used as a stomach ailment to control indigestion or anxiety-induced pain.
Even now, the incredible health benefits of chamomile tea make it a trendy choice among women.
Let’s check out some ways chamomile tea helps women become their healthiest.
1. Induces sleep and fights insomnia
Research shows that insomnia affects more women than men. In fact, numbers reveal that the risk of insomnia in females is 40% higher than in males.
Are you also one of those women who spend most of their nights tossing and turning in bed?
Luckily, one of the most incredible health benefits of chamomile tea is its relaxing properties that help promote sleep.
That’s because chamomile teas are non-caffeinated and, thus, help induce sleep. Some researchers also believe that the chemical present in chamomile tea resembles a sleep-inducing pharmaceutical drug which could be another reason why it acts as a sedative.
Drinking it before bedtime can improve sleep quality and enable you to wake up refreshed and ready to be productive. It’s also a safe option for postpartum women struggling with catching some Zs.
2. Eases Symptoms of IBS
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a disease that causes severe digestive problems, including bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and even abdominal pain, as per NHS.
Unfortunately, many women experience IBS symptoms because of hormonal imbalances in estrogen and progesterone. Research shows that most cases of IBS symptoms are present in menstruating women.
Chamomile’s soothing properties can relax digestive muscles and reduce intestinal irritation. Plus, consuming chamomile extract may help with unpleasant stomach problems like gas, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Also, if an infection triggers the symptoms of IBS, the antiseptic properties of chamomile can help fight the virus.
3. Accelerates Wound Healing
Chamomile tea may also be helpful for wound healing and treating some skin conditions. It has antiseptic agents that work wonders in destroying bacteria and promoting quick healing. Various clinical trials suggest that chamomile ointments carry benefits in improving eczema or other inflammatory skin conditions.
In addition, one of the most benefits of chamomile tea is its soothing effect on mouth ulcers, aka canker sores. This is a common issue in women because of continuous hormonal changes.
4. Reduces Menstrual Pain
Menstrual cramping is a common concern of all women and girls in their menstrual age. The problem is characterized by pulsating pain that radiates to the thighs, lower belly, and vagina.
For some women, the pain can be debilitating and may interfere with daily activities. In that case, it may be helpful to drink chamomile tea for relief.
Due to its antispasmodic properties, chamomile tea acts as a muscle relaxant and prevents the contraction of uterine muscles. It can effectively treat painful menstrual cramps and alleviate PMS symptoms.
Scientists attempted to understand the correlation between menstrual cramps and tea and found that women who drank chamomile tea a week before and during periods reported lesser cramps.
5. Helps Control Diabetes
Diabetes, a major health issue in women, is a disease that affects the body’s ability to process blood glucose. As a result, there are spikes in blood sugar levels and other symptoms like excessive thirst, vision-related problems, and increased skin infections.
During a research, participants with type 2 diabetes were asked to drink chamomile tea thrice a day after meals for eight weeks. By the end of the study, scientists discovered that their blood glucose levels were fairly controlled.
Hence, chamomile tea may help manage symptoms of diabetes and balance blood sugar levels.
Read More: 21 Best and Worst Vegetables for Diabetes
6. Slows Down Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a common bone disease in women, resulting in progressive loss of bone mass. Ultimately, the bones become extremely weak and fracture easily. While anyone can have osteoporosis, it is more common in postmenopausal women.
Osteoporosis incidence is usually linked to the role of estrogen, an important female hormone. A decrease in estrogen triggers loss of bone density.
Fortunately, the many health benefits of chamomile tea may be useful in combating osteoporosis. A study by the Journal of Food and Agricultural Chemistry proves that chamomile tea possesses estrogen-like properties that can help promote bone density and prevent osteoporosis.
7. Prevents Cancer & Aids in Chemo Side Effects
Investigations carried out on animals prove that chamomile kills cancer-causing cells. Thus, this tea may be a future cure for cancer.
Among some highly significant uses of chamomile tea, one shines brightest – it relieves the side effects of chemotherapy, such as mouth sores, nausea, and vomiting.
A study conducted by the Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention investigated the effects of chamomile tea in 65 women who had breast cancer and undergoing chemotherapy. The results showed a significant reduction in symptoms, such as vomiting/nausea, in women given a dosage of chamomile extract daily.
Read More: 70+ Best Breast Cancer Prevention Foods
8. Alleviates Inflammation
Our bodies perform a series of actions to fight infections and protect us from disease. One such reaction is inflammation.
Inflammation occurs when immune cells are triggered to fight against foreign invaders like bacteria or viruses. It is a critical process, but sometimes it can go over the limit and become chronic.
Excess inflammation is dangerous for your health and also painful to live with. Common chronic inflammation disorders include endometriosis, asthma, hemorrhoids, and arthritis, which are highly prevalent in women.
Chamomile tea is one of the best home remedies for inflammation, thanks to its remarkable anti-inflammatory properties. It can immediately soothe the pain and help you peacefully carry on with your routine.
Is Chamomile Tea Safe During Pregnancy?
While chamomile tea is highly beneficial in promoting relaxation and suppression of pain, it is not a safe option for pregnant women.
Drinking chamomile tea can cause preterm contractions, leading to premature birth or a miscarriage. Not only that, but excess consumption of chamomile tea may also increase the risk of birth defects in infants.
Additionally, chamomile’s anti-inflammatory properties may cause complications in pregnancy.
Despite that, some doctors agree that a limited amount of chamomile tea may be okay during pregnancy. Experts recommend discussing this option with your ob-gyn beforehand to avoid health risks.
Read More: 9 Best Pregnancy Yeast Infection Treatments
What are the Side Effects of Chamomile Tea?
The US Food and Drug Administration considers chamomile tea “generally safe” for drinking. Since chamomile is also sold in drug formulations (usually to cure stomach distress or skin disorders), drug companies also label the product safe.
However, too much of anything can pose health risks.
Occasionally, some people may experience side effects after drinking or getting in contact with chamomile products. While uncommon, it’s best to be aware of side effects and how you may feel if you drink too much chamomile tea.
- Allergy or Anaphylaxis
Allergies occur in response to our immune system attempting to protect our bodies from foreign substances. Sometimes it may cause an inadvertent allergic reaction.
Common mild allergy symptoms include sneezing, itching, runny nose, or watery eyes. Sometimes, allergies can also become severe and deadly if left untreated. When allergies turn into a life-threatening disorder, it is known as anaphylaxis.
An anaphylaxis attack is rare but likely to happen if you are allergic to flowers or plants related to the chamomile family.
- Drug Interactions
Sometimes when you take a drug along with another drug, a reaction may occur in the body, aka drug interaction. Because of this, you may experience unpleasant symptoms.
Reports show that chamomile may cause drug interactions too. For example, there have been interactions between cyclosporine (prevents rejection of organs) and warfarin (prevents blood clotting).
So if you take any of the two drugs, it’s definitely a risk to drink chamomile tea. However, it’s always a good option to discuss with your doctor and reap the most health benefits of chamomile tea.
- Pain, inflammation, and nausea
Chamomile tea may cause stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting in large doses. People have also reported skin and eye irritation after drinking chamomile tea. Apart from that, no data exists about the safety of chamomile tea for breastfeeding mothers.
The Bottom Line
The several health benefits of chamomile tea, such as improving sleep, reducing inflammation, and controlling diabetes, make it an appealing home remedy for many women.
But before reaping the benefits of chamomile tea, it is vital to check for the side effects and health risks associated with it. Knowing about this will help prevent any unwanted medical emergencies. While uncommon, chamomile can trigger allergic reactions in people.
If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, it’s best to avoid chamomile tea. Better yet, talk to your doctor about your options with chamomile tea.
References
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6970572/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2995283/
- https://weillcornell.org/news/what-women-should-know-about-ibs
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2982259/
- https://www.medfordsmiles.com/2021/10/what-to-know-about-canker-sores-and-14-ways-to-treat-them/
