Aside from therapeutic effects brought by Chamomile tea to the improvement of the health of people, such as improving symptoms of sleeping disorders, preventing complications of diabetes mellitus, stomach pain, and etc., chamomile tea can also cause side effects to certain conditions. Chamomile has been used for a long period of time already, back to the ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks. It is very important for people to consult their physicians or doctors before drinking chamomile tea and other herbal medications, since it may cause side effects and interactions to their present medications or it may aggravate their medical conditions.
What is Chamomile:
Chamomile is a type of flowering plant from the Daisy family. For more than hundreds of years, Chamomile has been used by a lot of people for its several health benefits. Chamomile is very famous for its gentle, relaxing, and antispasmodic properties. That is why, different chamomile forms, including tea preparation, capsule, and tinctures, are widely used by people to help in treating or improving sleeping disorders, indigestion, canker sores, anxiety, migraine, peptic ulcer, and many more.
Side Effects of Chamomile Tea:
Chamomile tea is the famous preparation or form that is usually used by people. Even though chamomile tea is natural and herbal, it does not mean that it can’t cause any side effects. Usually, side effects of chamomile tea are very mild and minimal. However, talking to your physician before drinking liberal amounts of chamomile tea should be done to prevent serious complications.
- Bleeding Tendencies – Chamomile contains Coumarin. Coumarin is a blood thinner, and may increase bleeding tendencies. People with bleeding disorders should not drink chamomile, or should consult his or her doctor beforehand.
- Early Uterine Contractions – For pregnant women, consumption of chamomile tincture or essential oil should never be done. Tinctures and essential oils have higher anticoagulant effects than chamomile tea. Drinking chamomile tea occasionally can help in relieving nausea during pregnancy. However, drinking too much chamomile tea during pregnancy can lead to early uterine contractions and miscarriage. Chamomile can work as an abortifacient.
- Allergic Reactions – For people who have known allergies to pollen, hay fever, and/or ragweed, has higher chances of having allergies to chamomile. If you have known allergies to those mentioned, just avoid drinking or consuming chamomile to prevent unwanted side effects and possible allergic reactions.
- Allergic Conjunctivitis – Some people who tried using chamomile tea as an eye wash caused allergic conjunctivitis.
