Chamomile tea has been around for thousands of years, since the times of the Romans and ancient Egyptians. It is still used across the globe for its various home remedy purposes and also as a hot beverage due to its pleasant taste. It can be used in a variety of ways, adding various infusions to give it a classic taste an enjoyable twist.
Recipe For Making Chamomile Tea
For making a nice cup of chamomile tea, you'll need:
- Teapot
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon of fresh flowers or 2 teaspoons of dried flowers
Additional Ingredients to add a twist to your Chamomile Tea:
- Honey
- Lemon
- Cinnamon powder or freshly snapped sticks
- Ground apple slices
- Lemongrass
- Ginger
- Peppermint
Chamomile tea can be made by either using fresh flowers or dried ones, but the method of making the tea is the same as for regular tea. First bring the water to a boil. Add the chamomile flowers in a teacup or mug. Pour in the hot water. Allow the tea to sit for four to five minutes, or longer if you desire a strong tea. Some people strain out the flowers by shifting the tea into another mug, but once they settle at the bottom of the teacup, you can drink the tea without straining. They also give a pleasing aesthetic effect to the tea-drinking ritual. The flowers can be reused for a weaker, less potent brew. To avail the full benefits of chamomile tea, drink one to two cups daily. Preferably, grow some of your own in a small flowerpot so that when you want to drink some tea, you can pluck some fresh flowers on the spot.
Origin of Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea is found in Europe, Asia, and North America. That's a large portion of the world spanning various continents which has been drinking this tea for thousands of years. There are two main species of Chamomile flowers, German and Roman. Their scientific names are Anthemis nobilis, and Matricaria recutita, respectively.
Use of chamomile tea dates back to ancient Egyptian times when it was revered as a sacred potion used to invoke spirituality associated with the sun god Ra. They also used it as a cold remedy.
In ancient Roman times, a Greek physician prescribed chamomile tea for ailments of the liver, digestive system, nervous system, and the female condition (painful menstruation). The Romans also drank chamomile tea as a hot beverage because they simply enjoyed it's taste.
Roman Chamomile was named not because of it's history of use in ancient Roman times, but because a botanist once discovered chamomile flowers growing in the famous Roman Coliseum, where gladiators once dueled.
Benefits of Chamomile Tea
- Anxiety/Stress Reduction
Chamomile is a natural anxiolytic. This effect is brought about by a flavonoid called Chrysin. Because of this property, chamomile tea is a soothing in times of stress and anxiety. For this reason, people drink tea to relax and coffee to get their energy level up. You may even offer a friend a hot cup of tea to offer some comfort during hard times. It is customary to offer guests tea to break the tension and get them to relax and make a formal environment more sociable.
- Sleep Aid
Chamomile's induces stress reduction, thereby also working as a sleep aid. People who can't manage to relax the few hours before the onset of sleep should drink a cup of hot chamomile tea an hour or two before bed. Not only does it soothe the digestive system, which sometimes acts up and causes disturbance nocturnally, it also mentally relaxes one enough so that the mind can be cleared enough to fall asleep.
- Easing Digestion
Chamomile tea soothes the stomach and aids digestion. It eases irritable bowels and helps to relieve constipation.
- Aiding the Muscles
Not only does chamomile tea relax the mind, it works to relax muscles. For this reason it helps irritable bowels start contracting rhythmically and helps soothe the body's muscles after a long day of work or strenuous exercise. Menstrual cramps are also caused by muscle contractions, thus chamomile tea helps to relieve premenstrual or menstrual pains by working to relax these muscles.
- As an Antioxidant
Antioxidants are natural substances which protect your entire body's cells against harmful substances. This is why chamomile tea works well in fighting colds and healing wounds and infections. It also protects the body against carcinogens.
No comments
Post a Comment