Chamomile Benefits

Chamomile is a Greek word meaning 'ground apple'. A native to Europe and Asia, it is a flowering plant belonging to the daisy family. There are two varieties of chamomile - Roman and German. The Roman variety is commonly found in Great Britain, while the rest of the world uses the German variant.

Beneficial Uses of Chamomile
Chamomile is a popular herb and is used as a medicine. Chamomile comes in two forms - oil and tea. In certain cases, precautions need to be taken while consuming chamomile tea or chamomile oil. Otherwise, for most of the time, it is not known to cause any side effects, and is beneficial in curing various ailments. Chamomile benefits in combating depression and anxiety as it is a mild relaxant. Chamomile is a soothing herb that helps relieve insomnia.

Chamomile has been beneficial in curing digestive disorders and treating gastrointestinal conditions like bowel inflammation, heartburn, etc. and relieving menstrual cramps. Chamomile helps in relieving migraine, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other digestive system related ailments. It also cures eye irritation and conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye.

Chamomile Oil Benefits

• Chamomile oil is used as an antiseptic and antibiotic as it does not let the infection spread and also cures infection that is already present. Moreover when applied to hair, it helps in killing mites and lice besides preventing damage to the scalp.
• Chamomile oil is one of the best options when it comes to treating stress. It is known to alleviate restlessness and is said to have a soothing effect on the nerves. It acts as an anti-depressant and promotes relaxation, thereby working on the symptoms of depression, sluggishness, disappointment and sadness. It effectively calms anger, annoyance and other nervous disturbances.
• It is an efficient painkiller and reduces pain in joints and muscles, headache and also helps fight tooth decay. Chamomile oil facilitates and promotes digestion and also ensures the proper functioning of the liver.
• Chamomile oil acts as a tonic which helps weak muscles, internal organs and dull skin to gain strength and energy. It helps in cleaning the urinary system and detoxifies blood. It is also an effective mouthwash as it eliminates oral infections and keeps away acid reflux and bad breath. In infants, chamomile is used for battling teething problems and colic pain and is also used to treat cold and flu. It is also used as a remedy for morning sickness during pregnancy.

Effects of Chamomile on the Skin
Chamomile oil can be used as a remedy for treating various skin ailments like burns, rashes, boils etc. Chamomile can also be used to treat serious skin diseases like eczema. It helps in soothing and softening the skin by reducing the burning sensation. Chamomile is quite effective in alleviating and healing various bacterial infections as it has anti-bacterial properties. Bathing in water having chamomile or placing your face above a steaming pot of water containing chamomile leaves can help lighten your complexion.

Health Benefits of Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea is used for healing various ailments that are listed below.

Stomach Cramps: Drinking chamomile tea cures stomach cramps as it contains anti-spasmodic and anti-inflammatory constituents.
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and Menstrual Cramps: Chamomile tea acts as a mood lifter due to the soothing effect on nerves. Cramps during menstruation are eased out after drinking chamomile tea.
Skin: Here is a quick and simple tip to make tea facial pack:

1. Take a teaspoon of coarse corn flour or cornmeal and add cooled chamomile tea to it.
2. Mix these ingredients together thoroughly and apply this pack on your face.
3. Allow it to dry completely.
4. Take a soft tissue and gently scrub it off.

This simple treatment is perfect to enrich and replenish dry as well as sensitive skin. It has anti-bacterial and bactericidal properties that refresh the skin and reduce any kind of swelling caused due to infections. Another method to soothe skin rashes or sores is to make a paste with extra-strong brew and use it to wash the affected area on the skin. You can use these tips to make your skin glow healthily.

Precautions To Be Taken

1. Chamomile tea should be prepared using recommended quantity of dried flowers. Highly concentrated tea can cause nausea.
2. People under blood-thinning medication should avoid using chamomile as it may intensify the effect of the anti-coagulant medicines.
3. It is advisable for pregnant women and lactating mothers to avoid taking chamomile tea as it may be harmful to the baby.
4. People allergic to ragweed should be cautious while taking chamomile as it may cause undesirable reactions like rashes and itching of the skin.

Chamomile is a potent medicine when it comes to curing ailments. Though there are many health benefits of chamomile, one must always exercise caution while using it. Hope you found this article informative. Wishing you good health.