Chamomile Tea Herbal Benefits by Alena Jones
Chamomile Tea is a popular herbal tea widely thought to have a
calming and relaxing effect. Chamomile, sometimes spelled camomile,
is a family of related plants; most of the chamomile used in tea is
the species Matricaria recutita. In addition to being consumed as a
tea on its own, chamomile is a common ingredient in herbal tea
blends. It is used both as a beverage and as an herbal medicine.
These plants belong to the Asteraceae family. The flower heads are
the primary plant parts used in herbal medicine.
Because of its antiseptic proprieties (it calms pains and reduces
swelling), wild chamomile is used externally through cataplasm,
enema, throat wash in different afflictions. Wounds with puss,
burns, hemorrhoids, throat pains, different ulcerations of the
skin, leucorrhea, dental abscess, conjunctivitis, etc. are
ameliorated by chamomile. Chamomile has a whole list of benefits,
that include things like stress relief, muscle and joint pain
relief, antiseptic and antibacterial properties and even the
ability to ease annoyances associated with your menstrual cycle,
such as PMS and bloating. In addition to these, chamomile has been
known to aid in the relief of digestive problems, such as gas,
diarrhea, bloating, and sore stomachs.
Chamomile is related to ragweed, and people allergic to ragweed
should steer clear of this herb. Chamomile may help ease symptoms
of conditions for which modern medicine currently has no
cure--inhaling steam containing chamomile extract has been shown to
ease cold symptoms. Chamomile has been used over the centuries to
treat many ailments. Treatments are mostly folklore though as the
benefits of drinking chamomile tea for many maladies haven't been
substantiated by modern medical science. It hasn't been studied
enough yet, but chamomile should be further researched for its
antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and stress-relieving
properties.
The essential oil of Roman chamomile consists chiefly of
chamazulene, angelic acid, tiglic acid, and several sesquiterpene
lactones. Other constituents of Roman chamomile include anthemic
acid, athesterol, anthemene, resin and tannin. The essential oil of
German chamomile contains chamazulene, -bisabolol, -bisabololaxides
A and B, spathulenol cis-En-yn-dicycloether and farnesene. An oil
can be extracted from chamomile that becomes blue in color when it
is isolated. This oil has been proven to have an anti-inflammatory
effect on certain skin ailments such as eczema and irritating
rashes. The oil does not come from the flowers, but instead, comes
in a form that can be applied to the skin.
Growing chamomile tea will not only benefit your health, it will
entice your senses. The scent of the tiny daisy like flowers of the
Chamomile plant smell like freshly cut apples. Chamomile should be
a part of every basic herb garden. It is a hardy annual that adds
beauty, attracts bees and butterflies due to the sweet fragrance
the blooms give off, and makes a sweet flavorful tea. This herb is
not actually best if started from seeds, so I recommend you
purchase it or begin with a division from someone else's Roman
chamomile. Fortunately Roman chamomile is drought resistant and
able to grow for long periods of time without water, for those of
you who forget this necessary task.
Chamomile has advanced from a simple herbal tea to a metabolic aid
as it actually helps reduce blemishes and heals other type of
inflammatory skin conditions. In addition, frequent chamomile
drinking is advisable as a natural soother when one experiences
stomach pains caused by ulcer or some type of internal
gastrointestinal tract.
In addition to the use of tea, chamomile can be turned into a very
potent oil, which has all the same beneficial properties the tea
owns. Chamomile essential oil is very widely used in the cosmetic
and soapmaking industries. It is added to all kinds of formulas,
such as shampoos, conditioners, lotions, soaps, and much
more.
Source:
http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/chamomile-tea-herbal-benefits-3962226.html#ixzz1AGF2tHMk
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