These days, there are a million different kinds of herbal teas available that all claim to have lots of different health benefits. But have you ever heard of chrysanthemum tea?
Chrysanthemum tea (tea brewed from dried chrysanthemum flowers) may initially seem like the latest in a long list of herbal tea health fads, but it’s actually been around for hundreds of years.
Chrysanthemums, originally native to China and Japan, has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries due to their myriad health benefits.
If you want to find out more about how this colorful flower can help improve your health, then check out the post below.
Anti-inflammatory properties
Chrysanthemums have anti-inflammatory properties, which means that this magical tea can help to soothe a number of ailments. For example, if you’ve got a sore or swollen throat or a tickly cough, you can drink chrysanthemum tea to relieve your symptoms.
It can also help with red or itchy eyes, congestion and breathing problems — making it the perfect drink if you’re suffering from allergies, hayfever or a cold.
These anti-inflammatory properties mean that chrysanthemum tea could even help with conditions like arthritis and acne that are caused or exacerbated by inflammation.
Boosts your immune system
Chrysanthemum tea is great for your immune system as well. This is because it contains high levels of both vitamin A and C, both of which are essential for keeping your immune system healthy.
Vitamin C works as an antioxidant in the body, fighting free radicals which can damage cells, contribute to aging, and potentially lead to diseases like cancer. And vitamin A plays an important role in enhancing immune function and helping the body to fight infections.
Chrysanthemum tea is also packed full of many other healthy vitamins and minerals that are vital for keeping you healthy and your immune system fighting fit.
Drinking this herbal tea can help to keep your immune system healthy so that it can protect you from illnesses and infections.
It’s good for your eye health
As we mentioned earlier, chrysanthemum tea can help with redness and itchy eyes because of its anti-inflammatory properties. But it doesn’t stop there — chrysanthemum tea is full of vitamin A, which is super important for healthy eyes.
Vitamin A is good for your vision; it keeps your corneas (the outside covering of your eye) functioning and protected. This keeps your vision clear and your eyes protected from things like cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.
There are a few different foods that can improve eye health, but chrysanthemum tea is one of the best — and tastiest — options out there.
Aids digestion
In the same way that people drink peppermint or chamomile, chrysanthemum tea can be used to aid digestion and relieve bloating.
If you’re feeling heavy and bloated after a big meal, you can drink chrysanthemum tea to help soothe your stomach. The calming liquid will help with indigestion, prevent bloating and even relieve trapped wind.
It can also help to ease nausea, so if you’re feeling sick or have been vomiting, you can drink chrysanthemum tea to feel better. However, studies haven’t been carried out on the effects of chrysanthemum tea on pregnant women, so if you’re suffering from morning sickness, speak to your doctor before trying out this tea.
It may help with heart health
Chrysanthemum tea is even thought to improve your heart health. Who knew that herbal tea could have so many health benefits?!
Research has linked chrysanthemums to improvements in cardiovascular health, helping with things like healing capillaries and increasing blood flow around the body. It’s also thought to lower blood pressure and reduce the symptoms of having high blood pressure, like dizziness and headaches.
This potent drink might even work as a preventative measure for heart disease and strokes, although more research needs to be done to establish its full capabilities.
Stress-relieving properties
If you’re a tea drinker, you’re probably already of the belief that a nice cup of tea can calm the nerves and sort out most problems in life (this is a very British approach).
Well, you’ll be pleased to know that chrysanthemum tea is no exception; in fact, it may help out with relieving stress a lot more than you probably realize.
This is because it contains the flavonoid apigenin (which is also found in chamomile) which has a load of health benefits.
In particular, apigenin has anti-anxiety benefits which soothe your body’s natural stress response by lowering the levels of cortisol — the “stress” hormone — in your body. Combined with chrysanthemum tea’s natural anti-inflammatory and cooling properties, it makes for a great stress-relieving drink that will help you to stay calm and relaxed.
There are many different ways that chrysanthemum tea can improve your health, and it’s easy enough to get your hands on too! You can cut and dry your own chrysanthemums if you grow them, or you can buy dried flowers instead. Then it’s just a case of steeping the flowers in hot water for five minutes, and drinking the delicious golden tea afterward for all of its amazing health benefits!