Chamomile, health and slimming benefits

Chamomile is known for its decongestant, draining and detoxifying properties, and can be a valuable aid in eliminating excess water from the body, simplifying the process of eliminating toxins, and blocking excessive snacking.

Does chamomile help you lose weight? In addition to our basic diet, we sometimes feel the urge to lose weight with plants. In fact, many detox and slimming cures rely on plants to prove their effectiveness.

Let’s discover the virtues of chamomile for our health, but also for our beauty.

Chamomile, an overview

Chamomile is known as a daisy-like flower, with white petals with a yellow heart, divided and pointed. It has strong, fibrous roots and green, hairy stems up to 30 centimetres long.



Chamomile flower is widespread in temperate regions of Europe, since it cannot tolerate cold and arid zones, and therefore does not grow at high altitudes.

Chamomile represents several species of the Asteraceae family, the most widely used of which are Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile), which is the most common for medicinal and culinary purposes, and wild or German chamomile (Matricaria recutita), which is a medicinal plant.

The flowers are carefully harvested as they begin to open in the second year of cultivation, as they mature. They are usually dried and sold by herbalists or supermarkets. They can also be found as fresh flowers, but this is rare.

Virtues of chamomile

Known as an effective grandmother’s remedy for many ailments, but also for maintaining the beauty of hair and body, chamomile is a real asset.

For your health

– Powerful against winter ailments and the change of season

Chamomile’s disinfectant and anti-inflammatory properties make it a useful remedy for colds, migraines and certain allergies, particularly those affecting the throat and nose. It can also soothe coughs when taken as an infusion.

– Good for the digestive system

Chamomile has numerous benefits for the digestive system. In fact, it not only treats intestinal pain, heartburn and intestinal inflammation, but also combats colic, diarrhea and digestive spasms. If consumed regularly, after each meal, it can have a beneficial effect against gastritis or even Crohn’s disease.

– Effective against menstrual spasms

As an herbal tea, Roman chamomile is a formidable ally against menstrual pain. Used as an ointment diluted in vegetable oil or cream, it can be massaged into the lower abdomen to relieve uterine cramps and aid relaxation and sleep.

– Useful for sleep

When you’re prone to insomnia or anxiety, chamomile can be effective if taken as an infusion in the evening. In fact, it has a sedative effect on the body, helping to relax muscles and give you a restful night’s sleep.

Inhalation of its essential oil can have the same effect, helping you get back to sleep.

– Good for the eyes

Soak compresses in essential oil and apply to the eyes after cooling, to combat infectious irritations, soothe conjunctivitis or eyelid inflammation. The smoke from the infusion can be inhaled to soothe itchy eyes.

– Effective against insect bites

Chamomile essential oil can be applied to the skin to relieve insect bites and related itching, as it has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

– What about cancer?

According to an American study by Ohio State University, chamomile contains apigenin, which blocks the development of cancer cells and helps reinforce chemotherapy treatment.

To find out more about the study, click here LINK.

For beauty

Hair
Chamomile helps combat itchy scalps and repairs brittle hair to restore its natural tone. It also reinforces the effectiveness of the sun in lightening and blonding hair. It is therefore widely used in hair products such as shampoos and hair care products, but can also be infused and applied to the hair naturally.
Skin
Its regenerating action softens and repairs dry, sensitive skin, reducing redness and dark spots on the face.

It also soothes irritation caused by sunburn, thanks to its healing and anti-inflammatory properties. In this case, use chamomile essential oil mixed with a cream, gel or vegetable oil, or turn to chamomile-based creams, of which there are many on the market.
Eyes
Chamomile’s decongestant action helps reduce puffiness under the eyes and dark circles. It should be applied as a compress soaked in an infusion and cooled, or as herbal tea bags applied directly to the affected areas.

Slimming properties of chamomile

Chamomile is a very low-calorie flower: taken as a sugar-free herbal tea, it constitutes just one calorie per 100 ml of herbal tea and contains 0% lipids. As a result, it can be consumed all day long without worrying about calories.

To detoxify the body

The plant has numerous diuretic properties and helps eliminate toxins present in the body, as well as draining and eliminating excess water, enabling the body to respond more quickly and easily to dieting.

To prevent cravings

Chamomile tea can accompany you throughout the day, and can be drunk when you’re feeling peckish, as it has an appetite-suppressant action that allows you to wait until the next meal without taking unnecessary snacks.

For bloating

As mentioned above, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, chamomile helps to deflate the belly and reduce abdominal discomfort, thus preventing bloating.

All the benefits of chamomile for your body can be found in the US National Library of Medicine report on the following link.

How to prepare chamomile

Buying and storing

Chamomile is available from herbalists and specialized stores in the form of dried flowers, or from supermarkets in the form of herbal tea bags for infusion. Alternatively, there are several websites offering pure or blended chamomile in sachets to suit your needs.

Chamomile sold already dried or in the form of herbal tea doesn’t need to be preserved in any particular way: it simply needs to be stored in a place protected from light and humidity.

On the other hand, if you’re lucky enough to have chamomile in the form of fresh flowers, you need to dry it yourself. Simply place on a flat surface, away from light and moisture, then collect and store in a bag or box.

Dried chamomile can be safely stored for several months in a dry place.

Use

Dried or bagged chamomile can of course be enjoyed as an infusion on its own, or mixed with other flowers and herbs such as lime blossom.

It can also be added to cocktails and fresh juices by being infused in milk or simply in water and then cooled.

It can also be used to make homemade sweets, especially for colds and coughs, sweetened with sweetener or, better still, Stevia.

Chamomile can even be added to desserts and pastries such as madeleines or sorbets.

Finally, if you want to lose weight with chamomile, it should be drunk as a tea after each meal, i.e. two or three times a day as a course of treatment. Just mix 10 grams of chamomile with a liter of water, boil and steep for 5-10 minutes, and drink hot, cold or even iced.

Contraindications to chamomile use

Some people may be allergic to chamomile, which could cause allergic and skin reactions.

It’s best to avoid using chamomile if you’re allergic to pollen or chrysanthemums.

Chamomile essential oil should not be used during pregnancy, due to its uterotonic effect. It can also cause severe allergies or dermatitis in infants and young children.

Chamomile may interact with certain medications, so it is advisable to discuss this with your doctor if you are taking any.