Chamomile: 7 Properties And Benefits Of This Plant
We dedicate this article to chamomile Its use has very ancient origins, especially in the form of an infusion, which has become one of the most consumed in the world thanks above all to its calming and digestive properties.
In this way, we will see exactly what chamomile is, what its main properties and benefits are, and how we have to do it to prepare a good infusion of this medicinal plant, widely known around the world.
Chamomile is a herbaceous plant that can reach 60 cm in height. It was originally distributed in the Balkan area, North Africa and Western Asia, but is currently cultivated in many countries around the world such as Spain and Argentina.
YesIt is one of the oldest medicinal herbs known , and it is believed that interest in it arose due to its intense aroma. That led to the discovery of the different properties that made it so famous.
Chamomile is currently one of the most consumed plants in the form of an infusion. There are people who talk about “chamomile tea”, but it is a somewhat incorrect expression. If we want to refer to the preparation with hot water of this or any other plant that is not tea (black tea, green tea, etc.), it is necessary to talk about infusion.
Benefits and therapeutic properties of chamomile infusion
As mentioned, chamomile is known as a medicinal plant with countless health benefits and therapeutic properties.
Below we highlight the most relevant ones.
1. Helps good digestion
Chamomile infusion provides great help to our body at the digestive level in times of clear need. In situations where we feel that we have not digested a meal well and we feel discomfort, letting ourselves be helped by the properties of chamomile is always a good idea.
Its ability to relax our body helps the digestive system, promoting the movements that the stomach and intestine need to carry out in a coordinated manner to promote good digestion. Thus, it relieves abdominal pain and indigestion.
2. Calms and reduces anxiety
As we have advanced in the previous point, another reason why chamomile is best known is for its powerful calming properties.
This is how a chamomile infusion can help us calm our spirits in situations where we are a little upset. The time when it is most used is when we go to sleep, as it helps us fall asleep.
3. Reduces stress
Chamomile calms the digestive system but also the nervous system, which so many people often have overstimulated and do not know how to relax it.
In this way, chamomile infusion can be an ally in high-stress situations, since it allows us to calm down to better face the situations we have to deal with. Chamomile helps reduce stress levels thanks also to its sedative effects.
4. Helps control diabetes
Chamomile can also be used to help control some metabolic diseases, such as diabetes.
Daily consumption of this herb in the form of an infusion can help control the glycemic index , that is, the amount of sugar in the blood. This improves the symptoms of diabetes disease,
5. Strengthens the immune system
We have already seen that chamomile contributes to the proper functioning of intestinal transit.
Its good action in the organs of the digestive system is very relevant for the proper functioning of the body, and to a large extent this is thanks to its action in the immune system that it has from there.
Chamomile is capable of reducing digestive tract infections and benefiting the intestinal flora. This, in turn, helps reduce the abdominal bloating that we sometimes feel.
In this way, the properties of chamomile protect and strengthen the immune system, preventing infectious diseases and attenuating inflammatory states.
6. Helps treat wounds and skin impurities
In addition to helping the body’s overall immunity, chamomile infusion helps protect cells from external damage. This prevents the skin from becoming infected or damaged by inflammatory processes.
On the other hand, chamomile is composed of phenolic compounds and tannins. These help slow down cellular aging and promote the production of collagen, which is very important for skin healing.
7. Relieves menstrual pain
Its good calming effects at the digestive level, together with its anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect, mean that this plant also helps control the pain caused by the appearance of the period.
Menstrual pains are sometimes very painful, and chamomile can help make them more bearable. To reduce premenstrual and menstrual symptoms, you can take a chamomile infusion starting from the third week of the menstrual cycle.
Preparing a chamomile infusion is very simple and can be done basically in two ways It can be prepared using dried flowers of the plant or using ready-made bags, which are sold in health food stores or all types of supermarkets.
If you want to opt for the preparation using the flowers, all you have to do is boil a glass of water and place about two teaspoons of chamomile flowers in it. Then cover it and let it rest for 10 minutes. Then you can use a strainer to remove the flowers and be left with only the infusion liquid.
On the other hand, it may be interesting to add other plants with medicinal properties to our infusion. Mint or fennel are two herbs that are traditionally prepared with chamomile to enhance its benefits and also to obtain other complementary benefits.
