Herbs are the best health boosters with the minimum side effects. They have been a part of medicinal treatments since the Greek time. Whether psychological or physical, herbs have a cure for almost every problem. It is their benefits over physical and mental health that herbs are now used in specialized care in home health for better defense against diseases and disorders for the elderly.
Chamomile is among the very beneficial herbs, a daisy-like flower from the Asteraceae plant family. The petals of this flower are dried, powdered, and then boiled in water to produce a tea with numerous health benefits. Chamomile tea is an excellent alternative to caffeinated drinks curbing the health concerns caused by the latter option.
Chamomile tea and its effect on the sleep cycle
The key benefit of chamomile tea, and the basis of this article, is a regular sleep cycle, which is very important for the body’s healthy functioning. Insomnia is prevalent these days, and the reasons are not just some physical disorders. Your sleep cycle may be irregular because of the high-stress level. Drinking chamomile tea before bed will soothe your mind and help you sleep well every night.
Chamomile contains apigenin which binds with the receptors in your brain that may promote quality sleep and reduce insomnia. Chamomile works especially fine for women in the post-partum stage, as a study found these women to have reduced depression level that helps them have quality sleep at night.
Toxins accumulated in your body may cause a rise of negative energies within the body that could disturb sleep quality. Drinking chamomile tea would remove the poison from your body, eventually helping you sleep better every night.
When should you drink chamomile tea for sleep
Chamomile tea is very safe to take at any time of the day. You can get quality sleep by taking it before bed because of its soothing properties. Research shows that chamomile tea can help a person sleep better. But because chamomile tea may induce drowsiness, it’s best to avoid drinking it before driving, operating heavy machinery, or engaging in any stressful task. Remember, chamomile tea is caffeine-free, so you can drink it in the afternoon or evening.
More health benefits of chamomile tea
Chamomile tea has many health benefits when taken with less or no sugar. They serve as natural medicines that not only cure but prevent diseases. Here is a list of benefits of chamomile tea that you must know;
Improve digestive system
A sound digestive system is a blessing. Drinking chamomile tea regularly may help you in getting the gift. It helps to do so by reducing the risk of certain gastrointestinal conditions. Chamomile tea prevents diarrhea because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Not only has this, but chamomile tea also curbed the chances of stomach ulcers by stopping the growth of harmful bacteria in the stomach. Chamomile tea is also used to treat digestive ailments, including nausea and gas.
Many studies nowadays suggest chamomile tea has a soothing effect on the stomach. It eases any slight shift in the standard conditions of the stomach so that they are kept under constant control. Stomach diseases are opportunistic as the damage does not stay confined to the stomach, so chamomile tea helps you eliminate numerous diseases.
Provide protection against cancer
Chamomile tea has some antioxidants that are effective against certain types of cancer. The antioxidant in chamomile tea is apigenin, which fights breast, digestive tract, skin, prostate, and uterus cancer. A study suggested people who drank chamomile tea 2-6 times per week were less likely to develop thyroid cancer.
If you ever encounter a cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy and all other medication, you might be compelled to start drinking chamomile tea immediately to escape the painful procedure.
Benefit blood sugar control
Chamomile’s anti-inflammatory properties prevent damage to the pancreatic cells that produce insulin which is responsible for converting glucose to glycogen which is insoluble in blood and reduces blood glucose.
Studies suggest that drinking chamomile tea can reduce fasting and after-meal glucose levels. Genetically engineered insulin for lowering blood glucose levels involves many ethical issues and is also very painful to be injected into the body. It is always better to go for natural options since they apply fewer or no side effects, which is a crucial point to consider, especially for the elderly, as they have a weak immune system.
Improve heart health
Chamomile tea has plenty of antioxidants. Flavones can lower the risk of high blood pressure and cholesterol, which cause heart diseases. A study consisting of 64 diabetic patients suggested that those who drink chamomile tea show lower levels of LDL cholesterol levels (the cholesterol which causes arteries to be clogged).
Heart disease risks are growing daily, so we should be careful about our diet to avoid these conditions. It is better to add chamomile tea to your diet today so there is no chance of cholesterol or fatty droplets accumulating in the arteries.
