Chamomile is one of the most ancient herbs known all over the world. Chamomile tea is made by making an infusion with fresh or dried chamomile flowers.
German chamomile comes from the daisy family, and its tiny white flowers with a bright yellow center smell similar to an apple when the plant is crushed.
It has been used medicinally for relaxation, as a sleep aid, and to ease menstrual cramps.
Herbalists often use chamomile tea to calm the nerves, and help with digestion and stomach ulcers.
Ancient cultures were using the anti-inflammatory properties of chamomile to treat mild skin irritations as well as a natural deodorant.
A cup of chamomile tea a day will keep the doctor away (and help you sleep better.)
5 Health Benefits of Chamomile Tea
An earthy cup of chamomile herbal tea is so beneficial for many different reasons.
1. natural sleep aid
Chamomile has many antioxidants and properties that will improve your sleep quality. Many drink chamomile tea to treat insomnia, as the plant contains a flavonoid called apigenin, which has a sedative effect on the nerves and the brain.
You can make a tea just with chamomile extract as well, by adding 10 to 15 drops into a 100ml of hot water. It is also possible to use chamomile essential oil by mixing it with a carrier oil (such as sweet almond or olive) to massage your face & neck muscles to soothe muscle spasms and help you relax more. It has also been proven to help pregnant or nursing women sleep better, as well as women who had just given birth.
Make it a new bedtime ritual to have a cup of chamomile tea an hour before bed to help you fall asleep.
2. improves the immune system
Roman chamomile (Anthemis nobilis) tea is a super powerful natural remedy for sore throat as well as gastrointestinal inflammatory disorders. It is one of the best cups of tea you can drink all day to reduce inflammation and to fight off bacterial infections as it contains antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties from the oils found in the plant. Taking chamomile tea also reduces abdominal gas and relieves inflammation in the digestive tract.
3. many benefits for skin health
The antioxidants in chamomile including polyphenols and phytochemicals, accelerate cell and tissue renewal. This means if you have puffy eyes or any skin irritation, you can just wet a chamomile tea bag with cold water and place it on the affected area. You can also soothe acne and relieve skin irritations by applying crushed chamomile flowers onto your skin.
Yep, the ancient Egyptians were actually using these natural remedies to heal redness and dryness of the skin. You can use German chamomile (Maricaria recutita) oil to soothe eczema.
PRO TIP: Make an herbal tea daily (the water should turn a light, golden yellow) and rinse your face with chamomile water to maintain a youthful looking glow.
Another secret to chamomile tea is that it lightens the complexion of the skin, the natural antioxidants in the tea also slow down the aging process.
4. promotes wound healing
Studies have shown that applying chamomile extract to wounds helps speed wound healing as well as kills viruses and bacteria. German chamomile is a natural antibiotic in herbal medicine. It is also said to combat mouth abscesses and gum disease when using a chamomile mouthwash. Further research has shown that people have experienced complete wound healing when using chamomile extract on their wounds.
5. reduces likelihood of getting sick
Drinking a cup of chamomile tea daily helps reduce the chance of getting a common cold. There has also been scientific evidence that shows the antioxidants in chamomile fight cancer cells. If you start to feel a sore throat coming on, just make a cup of hot chamomile tea and add honey & lemon.
chamomile plant, tea, & oils benefits and uses
Based on the meta analysis of all existing scientific data on chamomile as a healing plant, these are the known benefits:
- helps relieve the digestive system with indigestion, nausea, or gas.
- wound healing, including ulcers and sores.
- anxiety relief.
- helps with skin irritation such as eczema or rashes.
- anti-inflammatory and pain relief for conditions like back pain, neuralgia, or arthritis
- promotes sleep
- treats smooth muscle spasms
- relieves depression
- anti-cancer properties
- reduces gingivitis and plaque
- lowers blood sugar in people with diabetes
- relaxation and stress relief
- can ease period cramps
There are many ways to use chamomile oil including in a diffuser, or diluting it in a spray bottle with water. Add 10 to 15 drops of chamomile essential oil to a spray bottle and mist around your face & body to receive a relaxing dose of aromatherapy.
Just be aware and use the oil cautiously if you are around someone pregnant or breastfeeding.
Another way to use chamomile oil is in a massage or bath oil. Just dilute with a carrier oil such as sweet almond or jojoba and add to your warm bath water. It is such a healing and soothing way to connect with chamomile flowers.
You can also make an infusion of chamomile tea and bathe in it to calm irritated and sensitive skin. Add rose petals + epsom salt + chamomile tea to your hot bath to enjoy a highly relaxing self-love ritual!
chamomile tea with lavender & honey recipe
If you already grow chamomile at home, then harvest the flowers to prepare your tea. Grab your dried chamomile flowers with dried lavender (optional) and honey for a delicious, warming and calming hot cup of tea.
- First boil your water in a teapot, and let it simmer.
- Add your chamomile & lavender flowers.
- Let them infuse for 2-3 minutes.
- Strain into a cup and add a tablespoon of organic honey.
You can make this tea every evening to promote relaxation and wind down after a hectic day of work.
FAQs
Is it ok to drink chamomile tea everyday?
Yes, absolutely. As long as you don’t have any allergic reactions, you can definitely drink chamomile tea everyday to reduce inflammation in the body, strengthen your immune system, and lower your blood sugar. We highly recommend you buy a tea infuser, so you can use fresh or dried chamomile flowers instead of tea bags. If you have diabetes, you can try drinking chamomile tea threes times a day for eight weeks to lower your blood sugar levels and insulin. Drinking chamomile or taking chamomile extract everyday can also help with generalized anxiety disorder as it lowers stress levels.
When should I drink chamomile tea?
The best time to drink chamomile tea is during the evening to relax more as a natural herbal remedy for sleep. If you want to drink chamomile tea everyday in the morning, but want to feel more energetic–you can add some green tea. Chamomile tea has a very light, pleasant and earthy taste that makes it easy to drink chamomile tea all day long.
Is chamomile tea good for kidneys?
In a way, chamomile tea can be beneficial for the kidneys indirectly. It helps more to prevent diabetes symptoms which include kidney damage. In traditional medicine, drinking herbal tea daily helps flush toxins out of the kidneys and detoxifies the body. It also stimulates weight loss by decreasing inflammation and bloating as well as removing excess water.
Does chamomile tea benefit fertility?
Research has shown that women who drank chamomile tea got better sleep, which increased their fertility. Some chamomile tea benefits include soothing the nervous system, anti-inflammatory properties and helping with depression. It also soothes pains during pregnancy and is beneficial for all women to help with inflammation. It is so much better to drink herbal tea when trying to conceive as opposed to coffee or black tea.
Who should not drink chamomile tea?
Do not drink chamomile tea if you have allergic reactions to any plants in the daisy family. It is also not recommended to drink chamomile tea if you take anticoagulant medication. If you are not sure, you can test by taking just a few drops of chamomile extract in hot water to see if you have any reactions.
where to buy chamomile tea
It’s highly recommended to grow chamomile in your garden, but if you are unable to we have some great sources for you to still get that herbal medicine flower power:
- Traditional Medicinals Herbal Organic Tea – Make a simple cup of chamomile before bedtime, to promote sleep and digestion. Each tea bag is packed with fragrant and floral high quality herbs. You will receive a total of 96 tea bags.
- Celestial Seasonings Chamomile Herbal Tea – Make a cup of the most calming, magical tea by steeping in hot water for 4-6 minutes. This package comes with 40 caffeine free tea bags.
- Chamomile Flowers Herbal Tea – If you really love chamomile tea, you can have 1 pound of German chamomile! This amount is sufficient to make your own chamomile essential oil. This herbal tea is from Egypt and free of pesticides and herbicides.
Last tip: Always save your chamomile tea bags after you use them and never throw them out! They can be used to refresh your eyes, just refrigerate the tea bags and place them over your eyes to reduce puffiness. Leave the chilled tea bags on your eyes for 15 minutes, and once you take them off you will feel completely new and rejuvenated.
