What Does Chamomile Tea Do for Your Body? (Uses + Benefits)

Tea lovers agree: chamomile tea tastes great! Its subtle aroma and sweet taste place it among the most popular herbal infusions, enjoyed by millions around the globe.

But have you ever wondered what chamomile tea can do for your body? As you’re about to find out, this soothing drink delivers a wide assortment of health benefits to your body, skin, and hair.

If you are like me, you probably enjoy a certain food or herbal tea much more once you learn what it does for your body. Chamomile tea will definitely become one of your favorite drinks after reading this article (if it isn’t already). You will also learn folkloric uses for specific health conditions and how to get the most out of this age-old herbal remedy.

Introduction

Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) belongs to the Asteraceae family of plants, grows well in moderate climate conditions, and blooms during June and July. The two main species are Roman and German chamomile, which slightly differ in appearance and composition but have similar uses. The active ingredients include:

- Terpenoids (matricin, chamazulene…)
- Flavonoids (apigenin, rutin, quercetin…)
- Mono- and oligosaccharides
- Mucilages

Ancient Egyptian royalty used chamomile for mummification.

Thanks to this unique blend of healing compounds, chamomile tea packs potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and soothing effects. Folks have been using it since ancient Greece, Egypt, and Rome to treat digestive issues, heal wounds, improve skin complexion, and much more.

Disclaimer: While this article addresses many of the potential benefits of chamomile tea for the human body, please consult with a high-quality, relevant health professional about your specific situation.

Benefits of Chamomile Tea

Modern science is revealing how chamomile tea can help the body and is justifying its use as a versatile folk remedy. In this article, we discuss both scientific knowledge and traditional wisdom to reveal the many important uses and benefits of chamomile tea.

Chamomile Tea Relieves Digestive Issues

Did you know? Chamazulene gives chamomile essential oil its unique blue color.

If you experience cramps, stomach flu, or nausea—consider drinking a cup of warm chamomile tea. Chamazulene and other anti-inflammatory compounds may soothe your intestines and bring instant relief. Chamomile tea may also treat infant colic.

Helps You Sleep Well

Unlike energy-boosting teas, chamomile may help you relax and sleep better. For example, in a Taiwanese study on sleep, women who recently gave birth saw significant improvements in their sleep quality. Chamomile tea also improved their mood and alleviated postpartum depression symptoms. The flavanoid apigenin may be largely responsible for these calming properties.

Reduces Anxiety and Menstrual Pain

The very act of drinking a cup of hot herbal tea may aid in relaxation. This study, published in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, suggests chamomile tea has a calming effect.

Chamomile tea may also be a great tool against painful periods. A 2010 study discovered that chamomile tea dramatically reduced menstrual pain; and it helped get rid of distress and anxiety, too.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HH2WPoq7pMw]

Chamomile Tea May Help Prevent Cancer

It’s not hype! Apigenin and other antioxidants found in chamomile flowers may protect your cells from free radicals and cancerous mutations. Chamomile tea shows great promise in cancer prevention, especially when it comes to thyroid cancer. In 2015, the European Journal of Public Health published a study with remarkable results: long-term chamomile tea consumption cut the risk of thyroid cancer by around 40-70%.

Chamomile Tea and Diabetes

“Don’t tell me it’s good for diabetes, too.”

You bet! Chamomile tea aids in regulating blood sugar levels and insulin secretion. According to this study, it improves the major markers of blood sugar control and cardiovascular health in people with type 2 diabetes.

Does this mean you can heal diabetes just by drinking chamomile tea? Of course not; but this flower may help type-2 diabetics’ keep the disease under control and reduce its complications.

Chamomile Tea Benefits Skin and Hair

Chamomile is among the most famous natural remedies for skin. Traditional uses of chamomile tea (and other preparations with this herb) cover a broad spectrum of skin conditions; eczema, rashes, ulcers, wounds, hemorrhoids… the list is endless!

A blend of anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, and antioxidant ingredients delivers a powerful herbal cocktail that can ease almost any symptom on your skin. Chamomile tea also supports optimal hydration, while keeping skin fresh and soft.

Antioxidants in chamomile tea may protect your skin from UV-induced damage and cut the risk of skin cancer. You can also use chamomile tea topically (more details below) to soothe skin allergies, bites, and other irritations.

Wait, there’s more! Chamomile tea and hair preparations fight dandruff and scalp irritation. Women use it to brighten their hair and give it a silkier look.

How to Use Chamomile Tea

Now that you know what chamomile tea may do for your body, let’s see how it can be used for optimal results.

Chamomile Tea Recipe

Boil a cup of water
Remove from the heat
Steep chamomile flowers for 5 minutes (3-4 tablespoons fresh/1 tablespoon dried/1 tea bag)
Strain and enjoy
Optional: add honey/lemon/ginger

Uses of Chamomile Tea

To treat a certain health condition: a general rule of thumb is to drink 3 cups of tea daily for 2 weeks.
To enjoy its pleasant taste and prevent diseases, drink a couple of times per week.
To treat skin conditions: soak cotton wool or a piece of natural cloth in chamomile tea and place it on the irritated/hurt area. NOTE: Don’t use on open wounds and burns!
To treat an eye irritation: rinse with warm chamomile tea or soak a cotton pad and place on the (closed) eye
To soothe a large skin surface and/or relax the entire body, make a chamomile tea bath.
To reap the benefits for hair, use chamomile tea as a final rinse.

Check out these amazing chamomile uses and recipes, too.

Of course, always consult with a licensed professional about your specific situation.

Safety Precautions

Like other herbal infusions, chamomile tea is very safe and usually has no harmful side effects. If you are pregnant, make sure to consult your doctor before consuming any herbal tea or supplement.

Did you know? Some allergic reactions to chamomile occur when manufacturers forge it with a highly allergenic sibling called “dog chamomile”.

Some people are allergic to chamomile and should (obviously) avoid all drinks and skin products with it. If you have ragweed and/or pollen allergy, use chamomile products with caution. You can learn more by reading this Healthline article.

Also, it may be important to use chamomile from reliable sources; traces of pesticides, heavy metals and microbes have been found in certain samples of chamomile.

Final Thoughts

Chamomile tea has a pleasant taste, a calming effect, and lots of health benefits. Add tea to your list of great wellness habits to stay healthy, relaxed, and hydrated.

Do you enjoy drinking chamomile tea? Do you rely on it for any health issue? Please leave a comment and share your thoughts.

Thanks for reading — best wishes!

Credits

Beautiful Cup of Chamomile Tea by Natalia Koroshchenko
Chamomile, Clover and Oil by Free Photos
Plant with Pollen by zerin117
Bloglovin (for promoting this website) – Follow my blog with Bloglovin (required link)

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Author: Aleksa Ristic

I am a freelance health writer with a Master's degree in Pharmacy. My main fields of interest are nutrition, herbal medicine, and a healthy sustainable lifestyle. I found a way to merge my two biggest passions—writing and health—and use them for noble purposes. Ultimately, my mission is to inspire the readers to improve their wellbeing and live their lives to the fullest. Are we on the same page? Let’s connect! You can get in touch with me via Facebook and Twitter. View all posts by Aleksa Ristic