Chamomile tea benefits have long been known in the annals of traditional medicine as being useful for fighting stress and restlessness and for inducing calm. Aside from these sedative attributes, it is also known to possess anti-spasmodic, antibacterial and anti-coagulant properties.
The Herb
Chamomile tea is made from the dried flowers of the chamomile plant with the scientific names matricaria recutita, also known as German chamomile, and chamaemelum nobile, or Roman/English chamomile. Both of these are blooming plants belonging to the daisy family Asteraceae. Chamomile flowers are striking in appearance, with their long white florets on a bright yellow center. These blooms are borne on a single long, erect stem. They have a resemblance to the common daisy. Other chamomile varieties have florets that range in color from orange to a bright yellow.
The chamomile plant is native to many European countries, and is particularly heavily-cultivated in the Southern and Eastern areas of the continent. It is also found in areas in North Africa and in cooler areas in Asia.
Components of Chamomile Tea
The most important active constituencies of chamomile tea are the flavonoid apigenin and the volatile oil alpha-bisabolol. Apigenin is a glycoside that imbues the chamomile plant with sedative and anxiety-lowering properties. The alpha-bisabolol, on the other hand, is a viscous oil that possess skin-healing attributes.
The other important components of chamomile tea are:
luteolin;
sesquiterpenes;
terpenoids;
flavonoids;
coumarins;
phenylpropanoids;
flavones;
flavanols;
How to make Chamomile Tea
Simply heat a pot of water and wait for it to reach boiling point. Then take out the pot from the heat and place about 2 tablespoons of dried chamomile blooms into the water.
Since the chamomile has a very bitter taste, let this mix steep for just about 5 minutes so that the healing constituents of the chamomile is unlocked and infused into the water. Strain and enjoy the chamomile tea.
The Health Benefits
The following are the chamomile tea benefits:
Chamomile tea has been known to help fight anxiety, induce calm and relaxation, soothe the nerves, combat insomnia, and fight stress;
It may help inhibit the growth of cancer cells in certain areas of the body;
Chamomile tea may help fight inflammation;
This tea infusion may help fight migraine headaches;
Chamomile tea may aid in relaxing the digestive system, fight diarrhea, combat stomach cramps and menstrual cramps, and fight colic in children;
This may have blood-thinning attributes;
Chamomile tea may help fight nausea;
Chamomile tea, when applied topically, may help combat skin aggravations.
"I have to wake up and drink chamomile tea to slow down." ~ Janice Dickinson, American Model and Talent Mgr
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