Lily and I were talking about tea, and she asked if chamomile were a mint or something? I don't remember exactly, but the end result was me having another idea for a blog post. And the timing is uncanny, as I have a cold right now. Yes, in summer. Bah humbug. To be perfectly honest, I don't like the taste of chamomile but it's pretty popular, so I must be in the minority. There are various species of the daisy-like chamomile, with the annual German being more commonly used in the United States. Amazingly enough, this herb has been used as a traditional folk remedy for thousands of years in Europe. It is used primarily to combat insomnia, anxiety, and gastrointestinal distress in the forms of its flowering tops turned into teas, capsules, and salves. As with most herbal treatments, there is a dearth of research to back up the folk remedy claims, though scientists are skeptical. Unfortunately, due to the sentence I just typed out, there isn't much info on how chamomile works. I found this page which listed the anti-inflammatory (chamazulene) and anti-microbials contained in this plant. Apparently chamomile also contains tannins, one of those new science food buzzwords. Tannins are substances which precipitate proteins and have anti-inflammatory effects, among others. Chamomile: not quite magic herb of the future, but if you like it, keep on keeping on. References
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