Chamomile tea health benefits and nutrition facts
Chamomile tea is not just something you sip on to get sound sleep; its benefits go beyond that. Chamomile has been used as a folk remedy for a variety of health issues and has been in use since the times of Hippocrates, the father of medicine.
What is Chamomile tea?
The word "chamomile" is derived from Greek χαμαίμηλον (khamaimēlon), which means "earth apple". It (Matricariarecuita) is a flowering plant from the daisy (Asteraceae) family. It gets the name from the fact that it grows close to the ground and smells sweet like an apple.
In ancient times, chamomile was also used in the process of mummification. The herb is used in the form of tea, tinctures, lotions and capsules.
Native to Europe and Western Asia, this sweet-smelling plant can now be found around the world.
Did you know that chamomile is a useful gardening plant? This benevolent plant not only helps the surrounding plants grow but also heals sick plants.
It is most notably known for chamomile tea, which has sleep-inducing and calming properties. Typically, it has a mild floral taste with hints of apple. To make chamomile tea, the flowers are dried and then infused into hot water.
Store-bought ones use dried powdered chamomile, which can be steeped in hot water before consumption.
Chamomile tea nutrition
A cup of chamomile tea (237gm) contains the following nutrients:
Nutrients
| Measure
|
Calories
| 2.4
|
Sodium
| 2.4mg
|
Potassium
| 21mg
|
Total Carbohydrates
| 0.5g
|
Calcium
| 0.4%
|
Iron
| 1.1%
|
Benefits of Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea is made of the dried flowers of the plant. The tea contains terpenoids and flavonoids that have medicinal properties and can heal a variety of ailments.
Chamomile can heal ailments like hay fever, inflammation, muscle spasms, menstrual problems, insomnia, ulcers, wounds, digestive problems, rheumatic pain and even haemorrhoids.
The tea contains essential oils that can have aromatherapeutic effects on the mood.
It can be used as a eyewash to treat conjunctivitis and as a digestive for flatulence, indigestion and diarrhoea. Chamomile can treat motion sickness and vomiting, and control colic in children. Here is the list of benefits of chamomile:
- Reduces menstrual pain
- Improves sleep quality
- Promotes digestive health
- Protects against certain types of cancer
- Improves heart health
- Boosts immune health
- Relieves anxiety and depression
- Improves skin health
- Prevents bone loss
- Treats motion sickness
- Soothes chicken pox boils
- Heals stomach ulcers
- Treats haemorrhoids
- Prevents rheumatic pain
- Prevents arthritic pain
- Soothes sore throat
- Reduces blood sugar levels
- Treats vaginal inflammation
Improves digestion: Proper digestion is important for an overall healthy body. Chamomile tea may protect against diarrhoea, stomach ulcers, nausea and gas, likely due to its anti-inflammatory effects.
Helps in managing diabetes: Chamomile tea is great for diabetics who want to maintain their blood sugar at a healthy level. Studies show that it reduces hyperglycaemia and diabetes complications by suppressing blood sugar, increasing liver's capacity to store glycogen and protecting the cells of pancreas from oxidative stress.
Prevents osteoporosis: Osteoporosis is the progressive loss of bone density. This loss increases the risk of broken bones and stooped posture. There is an increased risk of this among post-menopausal women. Chamomile extract has been shown to prevent this degenerative bone disease in women.
Helps with sleep and relaxation: It is most commonly used as a sleep aid to calm the nerves and reduce anxiety. When consumed before bed, it can reduce instances of nightmares, insomnia, hysteria and other sleep-related problems. While it has been a part of folk remedy for insomnia, there is scientific evidence to support the sleep-inducing properties of chamomile. Consumption of chamomile tea can reduce the severity of anxiety and depression, this is mostly based on using it as aromatherapy or taking it as a supplement. A cup of chamomile tea could help you relax after an exhausting day.
Soothes skin problems: In folk remedy, a decoction of chamomile has been used as an anti-inflammatory agent and as an antioxidant. It has mild astringent properties and can be used to treat wounds, ulcers, bruises, burns, diaper rash, cracked nipples, chickenpox and other forms of skin problems.
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