Four benefits and side effects of drinking chamomile tea

Four benefits and side effects of drinking chamomile tea

Studies indicate that chamomile has a long history of use as a medicinal tea, perhaps dating back to ancient Pharaonic, Chinese, Roman, and Greek times. Recent studies are exploring the plant's potential effects on health, in addition to the beneficial compounds that chamomile contains, such as flavonoids, which are plant chemicals that act as antioxidants, terpenoids, which are organic chemicals, in addition to coumarin, which is a type of aroma chemical also found in cinnamon. They all have medicinal properties.

Chamomile tea benefits

The results of studies conducted using chamomile extract or other forms of chamomile have shown that it gives the human body the following benefits:

1. Improve sleep quality

Professor Monisha Bhanot, an integrative medicine physician in Jacksonville, Florida, says that chamomile tea helps you relax before bed and get better sleep. Chamomile contains a variety of compounds, such as apigenin, a type of flavonoid found naturally in plants that acts as an antioxidant, which provides calming effects, supports relaxation and reduces anxiety to help a person sleep easier.

2. Reducing digestive problems

According to Holly Pilipiono, a herbalist and author of The Herbal Guide, drinking chamomile tea improves digestive problems, including diarrhea, ulcerative colitis, and other digestive disorders. Chamomile or chamomile tea helps relieve indigestion symptoms, as well as gently stimulates digestion and reduces flatulence.

3. Control blood sugar

Professor Bhanot says that chamomile tea may help regulate blood sugar because it contains compounds such as apigenin and quercetin, noting that these compounds have shown to reduce blood sugar levels in preliminary research. “Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties may also indirectly contribute to better blood sugar regulation by addressing insulin resistance and oxidative stress (cell damage caused by harmful compounds called free radicals),” she explains.

A 2016 study published in the journal Nutrition also found that drinking chamomile tea three times daily for eight weeks reduces insulin levels, improves insulin resistance and reduces average A1c blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

4. Promote heart health

“Bioactive compounds in chamomile tea provide potential benefits for heart health,” says Professor Bhanot, explaining that chamomile can help reduce inflammation, regulate blood pressure and lower cholesterol levels.

The results of a study conducted in 2015 on 64 people with type 2 diabetes to examine the effects of drinking chamomile tea three times daily over a period of eight weeks reported an improvement in A1c and insulin levels in the participants, in addition to a significant decrease in total and harmful cholesterol levels and triglycerides. In addition to the results of other studies on the benefits of consuming chamomile in improving blood pressure measurements.

Side effects of chamomile tea

Chamomile tea, which is generally recognized as food safe by the FDA, can cause some uncommon side effects such as nausea, dizziness, and allergic reactions. Experts advise avoiding or abstaining from consuming chamomile tea during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Herbal tea can also interact with some medications, such as warfarin, a blood-thinning drug, and cyclosporine, an immunosuppressive drug used to prevent organ transplant rejection. Chamomile tea also interacts with some medications, such as diabetes medications.

Chamomile contains a high percentage of FODMAPs, so individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may experience more symptoms when taking it. If you want to use chamomile tea for medicinal purposes, you should consult your physician first, especially if the person has an underlying health condition or is taking other medications.

Maguy Farah's horoscope predictions for the year 2023