Chamomile Health Benefits

Chamomile is a flowering plant in the daisy family that has been used medicinally since ancient times. The essential oil of chamomile can have both calming and uplifting effects, making it an ideal tea for stress relief. This article will explore its uses, side effects, and other health benefits.

Chamomile-Health-Benefits-Uses-and-Side-Effects

Dried chamomile flowers, one of the most ancient and diverse medicinal plants known to humanity, provide a broad range of health benefits due to their high quantities of disease-fighting antioxidants such as terpenoids and flavonoids.

The essential antioxidants included in chamomile’s powerful oils are the primary contributors to the plant’s natural therapeutic qualities.

Chamomile has been used for about 5,000 years in standardized tea, herbal extract, and cosmetic forms to promote serenity, vigor, a young look, and longevity as a powerful alternative medicine with practically no known adverse side effects.

What Does Chamomile Mean?

Chamomile belongs to the Asteraceae/Compositae family of plants. German chamomile (chamomillarecutita) and Roman chamomile are the two most prevalent forms of chamomile used in medicine today (chamaemelumnobile).

The chamomile plant is native to Western Europe and Northern Africa, although it is now cultivated in temperate zones all over the globe.

According to records, chamomile advantages have been known for years, and the plant has been used both medicinally and aesthetically. Since the first century, Germans have used chamomile to treat digestive problems, and records reveal that Egyptians adored the herb and held festivals devoted to its medicinal virtues. In addition, Egyptian noblewomen were known to crush chamomile blossoms and apply them on their skin to maintain their young shine and naturally halt aging.

The Romans utilized chamomile as a medicinal plant to help them battle sickness and live longer. Its medicinal properties expanded throughout Europe, and the British ultimately imported chamomile plants to North America. Doctors used chamomile all across Europe and in the early colonies of America because it might help with pain, inflammation, allergies, and digestive disorders. It was also used as a natural deodorant, shampoo, and perfume by certain people.

Chamomile tea and herbal extracts are now offered for human consumption all over the globe. Chamomile tea includes two calories, two milligrams of salt, and no cholesterol in a single cup. Chamomile is often used to treat a variety of health issues, including:

  • Anxiety and sadness
  • Allergies caused by the seasons
  • Inflammatory diseases
  • Muscle Spasms
  • Symptoms of PMS and other menstruation problems
  • Insomnia
  • Diseases of the skin
  • Ulcers
  • Wounds
  • Gastroenterological problems
  • Symptoms of arthritis and rheumatic discomfort
  • Hemorrhoids

How can a single plant do so much? Chamomile is beneficial to our health since it soothes the body, relieves moderate discomfort, fights skin irritations, and reduces anxiety. According to research, drinking chamomile tea has also been shown to aid with sleep quality, exhaustion, and even depression.

Chamomile extract may be utilized in a surprising number of applications. The most common method to consume chamomile is in the form of tea. However, you may also use chamomile essential oil to alleviate skin issues by diffusing it at home. Chamomile extracts are also accessible, and they’re utilized to help with digestion and liver cleansing.

Benefits

1. Antioxidant-rich source

The terpenoid category of antioxidants, which includes chamazulene and acetylene derivatives, is the most important antioxidant component isolated from chamomile flowers. Because these fragile molecules are unstable, alcoholic tinctures or “essential oils” are regarded to be the best way to preserve them. Several phenolic chemicals, particularly flavonoids such as apigenin, quercetin, patuletin, and different glucosides, are also prominent elements of the flowers.

By battling free radical damage and inhibiting cell mutation, these chemicals aid in reducing inflammation. Antioxidants in chamomile are linked to improved immune function, lower rates of mood disorders, less pain and swelling, and healthier skin, hair, nails, teeth, and eyes.

2. Assists in the treatment of anxiety and depression

According to studies published in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine and Pharmacognosy Review, chamomile is one of the greatest therapeutic plants for combating stress and encouraging relaxation, whether in tea, tincture, or essential oil form. In addition, inhaling chamomile vapors with chamomile oil is often advised as a natural medicine for sadness and anxiety, which is why chamomile oil is included in many candles, aromatherapy products, and bath-soaking treatments.

Chamomile extract is often used to relax nerves and decrease anxiety because its vapors pass straight to the olfactory portion of the brain, shutting off tension and lowering the body’s stress reaction. This is why chamomile is used to treat persistent anxiety and stress symptoms, such as hysteria, nightmares, sleeplessness, and various digestive issues.

Smells are transmitted straight to the brain and act as a source of emotional stimulation. The limbic system assesses sensory input, detecting pleasure, pain, danger, or safety, and then controls our emotional responses, such as fear, rage, and attraction. The simplest fundamental fragrance affects our basic emotions and hormone balance. Smells are a direct link between memory and emotion. Fragrances, such as chamomile ease pain and influence personality and conduct in general. According to research, oil smells are one of the quickest methods to generate psychological outcomes.

3. Helps with digestion

Chamomile is a potent digestive relaxant that may be used to treat gas, acid reflux symptoms, indigestion, diarrhea, anorexia, motion sickness, nausea, and vomiting, among other gastrointestinal issues. In addition, chamomile extract may aid in treating diarrhea and colic in children and the relief of symptoms such as discomfort and anxiety. Chamomile oil also includes anti-spasmodic anodyne chemicals that relieve cramps, constipation, and other stomach aches.

Chamomile’s inherently calming properties are responsible for many of these advantages. A more calm mind may also help mend leaky gut, implying fewer symptoms of chronic illnesses like leaky gut, IBS, and other gut-related disorders, since the brain and the stomach interact directly through the vagus nerve. In addition, chamomile’s soothing properties make it suitable for pregnant women since it relaxes the digestive system and acts as a natural anti-nausea medication.

4. Has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties

Chamomile is frequently referred to as a “herbal aspirin” since it has long been used as a pain reliever at home. Chamomile flowers are used to relieve pain, congestion, swelling, and redness, either consumed alone or in conjunction with other anti-inflammatory meals. In addition, they’re good for lowering face swelling, skin irritations, toothaches, infection discomfort, and underlying inflammatory disorders. Chamomile extract is often used in cosmetic products such as face or body lotions, toothpaste, and bath soaps because of this.

A chamomile gel was proven to alleviate migraine discomfort in a 2018 crossover research published in Neurological Science. Chamomile may also help relieve pain from arthritis, injuries, back discomfort, fevers, and pregnancy naturally. Its pain-relieving properties are also used to calm the body and mind after childbirth. Chamomile tea, for example, is given to women after delivery in various regions of the globe, such as Mexico, to relax their abdominal muscles and let them rest.

5. It has the potential to aid in the fight against cancer

Several recent research has looked at the anti-cancer properties of chamomile. Chamomile has been shown to have beneficial benefits in preventing malignant tumor development and serving as a natural cancer therapy. In addition, the antioxidants in chamomile termed apigenin, which are bioactive elements that seem to help fight skin, prostate, breast, and ovarian cancers, are thought to be responsible for the inhibition of malignant cells.

Chamomile extracts were shown to have minimal growth inhibitory effects on normal healthy cells in a recent study published in the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology but showed significant reductions in human cancer cells, particularly androgen-refractory cells that often lead to prostate cancer.

6. It Helps to Get Rid of Congestion

Chamomile is used in many nose sprays because its effects include combating infections and decreasing mucus congestion. So when you’re ill and want to get rid of a cold, the flu, or a sinus infection, chamomile tea is a fantastic alternative.

Inhaling steam with chamomile extract has been shown to aid with common cold symptoms in studies. Some individuals gargle chamomile tea or extract tIn addition, combat inflammation of the mucous membranes and inside the mouth and throat.

7. Helps to maintain skin health

Do you have breakouts or dry, itchy, wrinkled, red skin? Chamomile oil combined with lotion is a good option. Chamomile’s anti-inflammatory and antibacterial characteristics help to create smooth, healthy skin and ease irritations.

The flavonoids and essential oils in chamomile permeate beyond the skin’s surface, protecting the skin’s young look, completeness, and immunological defenses. It’s been used for ages as a traditional medicine to treat wounds, ulcers, eczema, gout, skin irritations, bruises, burns, and canker sores.

Today, we know that chamomile’s advantages and applications include dissolving scars, eliminating dandruff organically, healing chickenpox swiftly, and removing symptoms of aging such as dark spots and fine lines. It also works well as a natural diaper rash treatment and may be used to treat infections and sties around the eyes.

8. Maintains the health of the gums and teeth

Chamomile advantages include the capacity to combat numerous bacterial infections of the mouth cavity, teeth, and gums, in addition to treating skin and the respiratory system. In addition, chamomile advantages include pain relief from canker sores, wounds, and toothaches, as well as fighting dangerous germs in the mouth.

According to pilot research published in the Journal of Oral Science, a mouthwash containing 1% chamomile extract successfully decreased biofilm buildup and bleeding in gingivitis patients. The herb’s antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties were most likely to blame.

9. It has the potential to improve heart health

Chamomile has recently been linked to cardiovascular health benefits. Chamomile consumption in foods has been related to a decreased risk of mortality from coronary heart disease in older men due to its high flavonoid content.

In a study published in The Lancet, researchers looked at the flavonoid intake of 805 men aged 65 to 84 years and discovered that greater flavonoid consumption from foods and plants was substantially inversely related to coronary heart disease mortality.

How to Purchase and Use

Chamomile is readily accessible nowadays and utilized in various ways, most often as a tea, essential oil, dry powder, or tincture. The kind you choose is determined by how you want to utilize it.

Traditional practitioners commonly suggest dry powder and extract forms of chamomile flowers because they give the most effective forms of chamomile antioxidants. If you come across chamomile powder, opt for one that is composed entirely of chamomile flower leaves (where the oils are kept) rather than fillers such as the plant’s stems or roots. Chamomile capsules, which are often used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders, are made from extracts. The typical dose for these disorders, as used in trials, is 220–1,100 mg per day for 8 weeks.

Chamomile tea is the most common method to experience the plant’s relaxing properties in most regions of the globe. Chamomile tea may be found at almost any grocery shop, but search for organic, pure tea leaves for the best results.

In a day, how many glasses of chamomile tea can you consume? Of course, tea won’t have as powerful an impact as chamomile essential oil, granules, or tinctures since the oils aren’t highly water-soluble, but it may still help you relax and calm your stomach after a long day. This indicates that one to four cups of chamomile tea may be consumed each day.

Look for chamomile extracts that include around 50% alcohol and a standardized extract of 1.2 percent apigenin if you want to use it on your skin, in the bath, or in combination with other products you already have (which is one of the most effective bioactive agents).

Chamomile essential oil is available at health food shops and on the internet. Chamomile is a fantastic solution for skin problems and pain relief, and you may use it as an aromatherapy treatment to relieve tension, relax, and fall asleep quickly.

Recipes

Aside from chamomile tea, there are a few easy ways to utilize chamomile essential oil around the house:

  • Aromatherapy for anxiety relief: Diffuse chamomile and lavender essential oils around your house to relieve stress and tension. They may also assist you in falling asleep quickly.
  • Heal sensitive skin by combining two drops of tea tree oil with chamomile and applying it to the blistered region up to five times per day. You may also use my Homemade Anti-Aging Serum to produce a jar of your own skin-healing oil; just add 20 drops of chamomile oil to this mix for crucial nutrients and moisture.
  • To relieve the discomfort and swelling of sunburn, mix one tablespoon of lavender or chamomile oil with one tablespoon of coconut oil and apply it to the skin with a cotton ball.
  • Disuse chamomile with frankincense essential oil to promote spiritual awareness and soothe your mind while praying, meditating, or reading.
  • Combine half a cup of baking soda, half a cup of vinegar, and five drops of chamomile and bergamot oil in a bathtub scrub. To relax your thoughts and relieve muscular pains, rub into your muscles and bathe in the tub for at least 15 minutes. More options may be found in my 10 Detox Bath Recipes; add chamomile oil to any of these bath scrubs for added health benefits.
  • Apply two to four drops of chamomile, lavender, or peppermint essential oil to your temples at night for a cooling sensation, instant relaxation, and aid in sleeping. Make your own lotion with calming essential oils; my Homemade Frankincense and Myrrh Lotion tones lifts, heals, and protect the skin; just add five drops of chamomile for anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.
  • Add chamomile oil and rose essential oil to your baths to increase mood and cure depression, or inhale the mixture and distribute it around your house to enhance your mood.
  • Soothe and quiet an angry kid by rubbing lavender or chamomile oil into their plush animals or blankets.
  • PMS relief: Combine two drops each of chamomile, sage, basil, and rosemary oils on a warm, damp hand towel and massage to the belly.
  • Reduce motion nausea by inhaling chamomile, peppermint, lavender, and ginger essential oils.
  • Chamomile oil, eucalyptus, wintergreen, and cypress oils, as well as an unscented lotion or coconut oil, are mixed together and rubbed into painful or hurting muscles.

Toxic substances are found in most common body washes. Instead, try this recipe for Homemade Body Wash. It cleanses and destroys germs while nourishing and vitaminizing your skin to keep it moisturized and healthy.

2 minutes in total

30 people

Ingredients:

  • 1 quart of water
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 2/3 cup castile soap liquid
  • 30 drops essential oils of lavender, chamomile, or geranium
  • vitamin E (one teaspoon)
  • jojoba oil, 2 tablespoons
  • Glass container with dispenser or BPA-free plastic lotion dispenser

Directions:

  1. Combine all ingredients in an 8-ounce plastic container and stir until smooth.

Side Effects and Risks

When eaten in proportions found in food, chamomile is considered “likely safe,” and when taken by mouth or applied to the skin for brief periods of time, it is considered “potentially safe.”

If you’re going to utilize chamomile essential oil, keep in mind that it’s designed to be applied to the skin rather than consumed. Before employing the plant’s oils in other applications, conduct a patch test on a tiny area of your skin to ensure you don’t have any unfavorable responses.

Anyone with existing seasonal allergy symptoms, such as allergies to ragweed or its cousins, should avoid using chamomile oil since it might trigger allergic responses. It’s also a good idea to avoid chamomile products if you have hay fever, hives, or dermatitis, or at the very least, see your doctor before taking it on your own. If you’re allergic to chamomile, what are the adverse effects? Sneezing, sleepiness, itching, and respiratory problems are all possible side effects.

Chamomile should be avoided by those with hormone-sensitive conditions such endometriosis, fibroids, or malignancies of the breast, uterus, or ovaries since it may mimic estrogen in the body.

Another thing to keep in mind is that chamomile products are known to be modest uterine stimulants, so if you’re expecting, see a doctor before taking chamomile extracts (mild chamomile tea should be OK).

Last Thoughts

  • Chamomile has been used in traditional medicine for over 5,000 years. People all over the globe have treasured this plant for its therapeutic and medical capabilities since then.
  • Chamomile relaxes you and helps you feel at peace. It has modest sedative properties and aids in the reduction of inflammation, pain relief, and the promotion of peaceful sleep. It also contains antibacterial qualities, which makes it useful in the battle against illnesses.
  • Chamomile is available as a tea, extract, pill, powder, and essential oil, among other things.
  • Is it possible to consume chamomile tea every day? Chamomile tea is safe to consume on a regular basis, but women who are pregnant or have a hormone-sensitive condition should avoid it unless a healthcare practitioner advises otherwise.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does chamomile have side effects?

A: Yes. Chamomile is used to treat a number of conditions including anxiety and insomnia, but it can cause drowsiness or make you feel nauseous if taken with other medications that are known sleep-inducers such as Ambien or Lunesta.

What diseases does chamomile treat?

A: Chamomile is a widely used herb, that has been shown to relieve symptoms of anxiety and insomnia. It also helps with coughs, inflammation, bloating and stomach cramps.

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