Best Chamomile Tea For Sleep (And Other Health Benefits)
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Sleep has a huge impact on your health, so a good night's sleep is extremely important. As a family that has had to deal with sleep issues, I know how frustrating it is to have a child or teen that is having difficulty sleeping.
Chamomile tea has a calming effect on the body that is great for not only sleep but for anxiety and tension as well. However, the quality of the bedtime tea needs to be considered.
I will show you the best brands of chamomile tea to know how to easily pick one. You will also be shown other sleep tea types that can be alternatively used, and all of the health benefits that come along with drinking a cup of chamomile tea.
You will learn the best chamomile tea for sleep, the health benefits of adding this herb to your nightly routine, other helpful teas that are soothing, and additional health benefits you receive from this natural herb.
Why Chamomile Tea For Better Sleep?
Sleep is important for many reasons. Sleep quantity and sleep quality both impact your health. The following is quoted from this case study:
Clutter structure of sleep as acute even within 1 week; expose people to the risk of cardiovascular system diseases, especially hypertension, endocrine disorders particularly diabetes, and immune system disorders. Abnormal sleep continuation as chronic in people leads to cognitive-behavioral disorders, social performance reduction, and increased possibility of events.
Therefore, putting sleep aids into place is an important step to take if sleep is problematic for you or a loved one.
Chamomile tea is a great bedtime tea because it has sedative effects which lets the body unwind and relax, therefore promoting sleep. During ancient times and the middle ages it was a common plant used as a sleep aid.
Health Benefits of Chamomile
- Nervous tension and anxiety are both symptoms that benefit from the use of chamomile tea. The herb relaxes muscles, which is much needed before getting a good night's sleep.
- Herbalists use chamomile to help with digestive and inflammatory problems. These included Crohn's disease, gastritis, flatulence, indigestion, diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome. Hay fever is also treated often with chamomile.
- Scientific evidence shows strong possible effects of chamomile easing anxiety and depression. A sedative effect has been shown on GABA receptors. GABA calms brain activity by blocking overactive signaling.
- Due to chamomile inflammatory properties, the herb is used to treat inflamed skin conditions. Therefore, it is highly beneficial in helping eczema and irritated skin.
- Also, reproductive health has also reaped the benefits of chamomile's healing properties. The Greeks commonly used chamomile this way for its medicinal properties. It has been known to ease menstrual cramping.
- Lastly, chamomile has been shown to help ease irritability which often comes with tension in the body.
To get the most health benefits of chamomile tea, be sure to place your chamomile tea bag into a cup of very hot water for at least 10-15 minutes before consuming.
Forms of Tea
Tea Bags
Tea can be purchased in single serving bags which is convenient, however, may be more expensive in the long run.
These bags should only use a natural bag not laced with chemicals that will leach into the tea. Also, in order to get the most from the tea bags, you will want to use the 2-3 times.
Loose Leaf Tea
Buying loose leaf tea in bulk is a way to conserve money. You are able to create your own tea using separately purchased tea bags, a tea ball or a strainer.
Below are the linked tea bags that I use often. They are chemical-free and they work very well.
My family enjoys making our own herbal creations, however, we are cautious to know the attributes of each herb when using them in conjunction with other herbs.
Loose leaf tea may also be put into a tea ball, but the amount of tea is limited due to size.
Alternatively, herbs may be put into a tea kettle and steeped then strained.
Shop Safe, Non-Toxic Tea Bags- My personal Favorite!
Chamomile Tea Blend
Creating a tea blend using chamomile as well as other herbs that provide relaxation and a restful sleep is another option.
Further below are other teas that are helpful for sleep problems.
This is a great blend to choose. Choosing an herb below to blend with chamomile can provide added benefits for a good night's sleep. Review the benefits of each to see which will be most helpful for your family.
Types of Tea
There are two popular and most used varieties of chamomile. They are German Chamomile and Roman Chamomile. These two types of chamomile flowers belong to the same family but to different genera.
First of all, the flavors vary among the two. This is important and needs to be factored in when it comes to the flavor of tea.
German Chamomile has an earthy flavor with undertones of apple. Roman Chamomile, also known as English chamomile, has a sweeter apple flavor.
Since the harvest of the Roman chamomile is often smaller, German chamomile is more often used in tea production.
Egyptian Chamomile is a third type of chamomile flower. This herb is not used as often, however, it is still used in herbal remedies.
This chamomile tea also has a honey scent. A honey-like flavor sweetens the apple notes.
Egyptian chamomile is grown in Egypt. The Nile river is know for growing some of the best chamomile tea that is used in herbal medicine today.
Best Brands of Chamomile Tea
Traditional Medicinals
This is a tea that I use often when choosing to purchase tea bags. I love the high-quality.
- This tea is USDA Certified organic.
- Secondly, this company is a Certified B Corporation meaning that their company has high standard practices when it comes to transparency of workplace practices and charity work.
- Also, Traditional Medicinals was co-founded by the herbalist Rosemary Gladstar, although no longer an active owner.
- Rosemary Gladstar is a pioneer among the herbalists clearing the path for herbalists and also founded the California School of Herbal Studies.
- For this reason alone, Traditional Medicinals may be considered the best brand of tea to use on the market.
- They get their chamomile and other herbal teas from organic sources or from the wild where no chemicals or pesticides have disrupted the healthy soil.
- Preserving resources and limiting waste is part of their mission as well. They use specific programs to ensure they meet these standards and best practices.
- The company also performs specific tests on their herbs for quality insurance.
- Only the whole chamomile flowers are used which comes from the Nile River Valley in Egypt. The land is Fair Trade-Certified, meaning it is an award winning sustainable source.
- Traditional Medicinals is among the very few companies that use only the flower in the making of their chamomile tea. This gives the tea a higher property count of azulene (the chemical compound that gives the tea its beneficial effects on the body).
Yogi
- Yogi tea and herbs are USDA certified organic.
- They use strict guidelines in testing for product quality.
- Microbiology testing is used to make sure contaminates such as mold, pathogens and yeasts are not present in their products.
- Identity confirmation using DNA analysis is another testing tool they use. This means that they are able to confirm ingredients being used in the product is a pure chamomile tea.
- Yogi Chamomile tea is Non-GMO verified and holds the certification.
- The tea packaging is free from plastics, toxins, harsh chemicals, and pesticides.
- The tea bags are sealed using heat which keeps the tea fresh and pure.
- Yogi tea is also a part of the Rainforest Alliance, and a Certified B Corporation.
- This company's practices meet the highest standards, and their product is of great quality. Therefore, I highly recommend this brand as well.
Mountain Rose
- Mountain Rose sells their tea in loose tea form.
- They also hold the USDA certification.
- Also, Mountain Rose holds a lot of other certifications and are as follows:
- Non-GMO certification.
- Earth Kosher- This means there is no dairy or meat in any of their products.
- Fair For Life- This program evaluates Mountain Rose's practices and techniques thoroughly including work conditions and environmental programs and so on. They make sure their is complete transparency amongst every aspect of their program.
- Forest Grown and Zero Waste are also certifications they hold.
- Mountain Rose is among the top company's to buy from when it comes to herbs and teas. Their standards are among the best, and I highly recommend them.
Gaia Chamomile Tea
- I am including this company despite the fact that their tea is not strictly a chamomile tea. Gaia's high standards and practices make it worth noting.
- The blend they use is chamomile, lemon balm, and passionflower. Further down, details are given on the importance of each of these herbs in aiding sleep.
- This company is focused on keeping the integrity of the herb in tact letting its purity and potency shine. This is done by sustainable and ethical farming practices that mimic the law of nature and the land.
- Gaia's herbs go through a vigorous testing process eliminating the possibility of pesticide, microbe, or heavy metal contamination. This personally gives me a peace of mind because this is what our family avoids wherever possible.
- Also, DNA testing is done to ensure that the ingredients in the bottle match those on the label.
- Although Gaia's own herb production is certified organic, not all of the herbs they sell are processed directly through their company. Therefore, herbs sourced out need to meet strict, ethically practiced standards in order for Gaia to use them.
- They use Oregon Tilth as their certifying company. This company is known for the highest and most stringent certifying practices.
Other Best Teas For Better Sleep
Chamomile tea is one of the best teas to use when aiming for a better night's sleep. However, there are also other herbal teas that are great to use alongside Chamomile. The following list provides you with a quick overview of the benefits of other herbs to use when wanting a cup of tea before going to sleep.
Lemon Balm Tea
Lemon balm was used often during the middle ages and Renaissance periods to promote sleep and relieve anxiety. It has a calming effect on the nervous system.
Also, combining lemon balm with the use of valerian root or hops intensifies the sleep aid properties.
Lavender Tea
Lavender is popularly known for its calming effect as well. Therefore, nothing less can be expected from lavender tea. Lavender is added to chamomile in the tea linked below from the reputable company mentioned above.
This tea is another one helpful for treating insomnia and promotes decreased motor activity. In turn sleep duration is able to be lengthened. This is very beneficial to add to your night time routine if sleep problems persist for you.
Passionflower Tea
Passionflower tea is also excellent for insomnia-like symptoms. Its sedative enhancing properties on the nervous system makes it another choice herb to add to a cup of tea before going to sleep.
Interestingly, this tea was prescribed for insomnia and anxiety issues in North American medicine for a long time in between the mid-1800s and early 1900s.
This herb was found in many over-the -counter sleep medicines for years. In 1978, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration stopped allowing it to be used in this way.
Passionflower tea is another great alternative or herbal tea that can be used in conjunction with chamomile tea.
You learned the best chamomile teas for sleep, the health benefits of adding this herb to your nightly routine, other helpful teas that are soothing, and additional health benefits you receive from this natural herb.
- Abdullahzadeh, M., Matourypour, P., & Naji, S. A. (2017). Investigation effect of oral chamomilla on sleep quality in elderly people in Isfahan: A randomized control trial. Journal of education and health promotion, 6, 53. https://doi.org/10.4103/jehp.jehp_109_15
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/06/220614095607.htm
- Mohsen Adib-Hajbaghery, Seyedeh Nesa Mousavi, The effects of chamomile extract on sleep quality among elderly people: A clinical trial, Complementary Therapies in Medicine, Volume 35, 2017, Pages 109-114,
ISSN 0965-2299, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2017.09.010 (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229917302601) - Mao, J. J., Li, Q. S., Soeller, I., Rockwell, K., Xie, S. X., & Amsterdam, J. D. (2014). Long-Term Chamomile Therapy of Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Study Protocol for a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo- Controlled Trial. Journal of clinical trials, 4(5), 188. https://doi.org/10.4172/2167-0870.1000188
- Srivastava, J. K., Shankar, E., & Gupta, S. (2010). Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with bright future. Molecular medicine reports, 3(6), 895–901. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2010.377
