What is chamomile?
Chamomile (also spelt camomile) is wondrous plant that is turned into tea. It looks like you are drinking daisies which makes it the fairest tea of them all. Being pretty isn’t its only gig, chamomile works super hard to make its drinkers look bomb diggity too. As mentioned in this article, stress makes you fat. Chamomile not only helps you calm your farm, but it also helps to calm your skin, help detox and eliminate ‘waste’ as well as help sleep. My life and perspective has changed dramatically since starting to drink this beautiful tea – and I don’t say that lightly!
What are the nutritional/health benefits of chamomile?
Chamomile is one of the best remedies for err.. constipation and complete evacuation which is great for eliminating bloating and detoxification. This is because it can soften waste and help the bowel wall relax. This sounds gross, but it is extremely good at softening hardened waste – which if you have considered colonics, and decided it isn’t for you, can be great alternative.
Chamomile tea is often used for digestion and gastrointestinal complaints such as indigestion, colic, ulcers, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome and gastritis. In addition, drinking chamomile tea may help relieve menstrual cramps and tension headaches. It is also known to relax muscles boost the immune system.
Externally, chamomile is often used topically to soothe irritated skin, especially in Europe. It can help soften skin, may reduce skin rashes and inflammation, as well as provide sunburn relief. Add chamomile tea to a warm bath or soak a cloth in warm chamomile tea to make a compress prior to applying it to external surfaces.
Note: If you have allergies to asters, daisies, chrysanthemums, or ragweed, you might also be allergic to chamomile.
Where can you get chamomile from?
Chamomile tea is available in most supermarkets and speciality tea places. My favourite is from McIvers, which is from a little shop in the Dairy Hall at the Queen Victoria Market that has been trading since 1951 – in fact they’re awesome for all sorts of tea!
What to look for when buying chamomile:
Select dried chamomile which has the whole flower head still intact to get the most from your tea. Ideally purchase organic as it makes a huge difference. Whole flowers are a little different and stronger to the ground version in a teabag, however once you try whole, you will never go back.
How to use chamomile:
I like drink 2-3 cups of chamomile a day to keep me balanced all day long – no need to feel stressed when tea is around ^___^. You can brew it on it’s own using 2 tablespoons of dried flowers to one cup of boiling water (or fill up half a tea stainer!). Chamomile is absolutely beautiful blended with other teas, so try it with your favourites! My favourite blend is chamomile, spearmint and lavender – it is super dreamy.
Shut the front door! I did not think about the relieving benefits of chamomile for the bowel. It’s on the shopping list now! Thank you