Research at Imperial College,London has shown that a cup of camomile tea (German chamomile Matricaria
recutita) can help fight off colds,help alleviate muscle cramps and act as a mild sedative.
Camomile tea is made from the fragrant flowers and leaves of the camomile plant and was thought to have been
used as far back as ancient Egyptian,Greek and Roman times.
14 volunteers drank 5 cups a day for two consecutive weeks. Daily urine samples were taken both before and after
drinking the tea. The results showed the following:
- There was a significant increase in the levels of hippurate –a breakdown product of certain plants which helps to increase antibacterial activity.
- There were increased levels of glycine “ an amino acid shown to relieve muscle spasms including menstrual cramps.
- After the volunteers stopped drinking the herbal tea,the levels of hippurate and glycine remained elevated
for up to two weeks showing benefits for a prolonged period.
The findings are published in the American Chemical Societys Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry.
Next time you fancy a “cuppa”how about reaching for the Camomile.
