Before you get pregnant, you don’t pay much attention to nutrition labels. (Trans fats? What are those things?) But now that you have a fetus in the womb, you shouldn’t let anything near your body unless approved by a doctor. One of them is about herbal tea.

This is because the content and strength of herbal teas can vary depending on the manufacturer, and since there has not been much herbal tea research done on pregnant women.

There is not much information out there about herbal teas that are safe to drink, including chamomile tea.

According to some websites, chamomile tea is made by soaking dried chamomile flowers in hot water. Different from the benefits of chamomile oil for pregnant women that is mostly used on the skin, chamomile tea consumption is done by directly drinking it.

The potency of the tea depends on the manufacturer and how long it is soaked. Chamomile contains flavonoids — natural plant pigments found in many nutritious fruits and vegetables.

Foods with flavonoids have a number of health benefits, according to promising research, potentially reducing the risk of heart disease, cancer, and stroke.

Aside from chamomile, you can find the flavonoids in berries, dark chocolate, and also the health benefits of garlic.

So, Is It Actually Safe?

So, is chamomile tea safe for pregnant women?

The general consensus is that drinking chamomile tea is a personal decision that you should make with your doctor. There are no strict rules about whether chamomile is safe or not, since there is very little research on pregnant women and chamomile tea, it is best to be careful.

In a study conducted by doctors at Case Western Reserve Universitythe benefits and risks of chamomile tea have been extensively studied among the general public.

However, it should be noted that safety in pregnant and lactating women has not been established.

If you still prefer using chamomile tea as consumption, you can consider some of its benefits, like :

Health Benefits of Chamomile Tea for Pregnant Woman

1. Strengthens Immunity

The first chamomile tea is good for strengthening immunity. Because chamomile tea is good to ward off various types of infections in the body, if you regularly drink chamomile tea.

In the content of chamomile tea there are also phenolic compounds that have anti-bacterial content, which is able to absorb toxins from the food you usually eat.

A study suggests, by drinking 5-6 glasses of chamomile tea for 2 weeks on a regular basis, it will have a good impact for the body to combat all infections.

Of course, the amount for pregnant women will significantly be reduced. If you prefer an alternative, you could also try to have some benefits of baby oranges.

2. Relieves Stress

Easy to stress and panic during pregnancy? Don’t worry, because it can happen to anyone. With the benefits of chamomile tea rich with its relaxation properties, a cup of tea alone can relieve stress and anxiety in your mind.

When chamomile flowers are consumed as tea, it will increase levels of serotonin and melatonin in your body which is good for calmness and relaxation of the body. Drink 2-3 cups of chamomile tea per day to get its properties.

But remember! Pregnant women are not advised to consume chamomile tea during pregnancy, as it increases the potential for miscarriage in the fetus. It’s better to have it as aromatherapy for this purpose.

3. Strengthens Hair

Many people feel the benefits of chamomile tea on their hair. With its anti-inflammatory substances, chamomile tea will relieve scalp irritation for those of you who suffered from itchiness on the head.

In addition, the phenolic compounds are able to make your beautiful hair strong per strand, as well as the hair looks denser and softer.

4. Cure Allergies

Chamomile tea is a source of anti-allergens for those of you who suffer from allergies to fragrances and plant touches. For example, chamomile tea is able to overcome allergies caused by daisies or chrysanthemums.

Why is that? It’s because allergens in chamomile flowers that are dried and used as tea are able to modulate the immune response of the human body to these flowers.

5. Preventing Diabetes

Some research in the UK has shown that the benefits of chamomile tea can be useful in diabetics. Chamomile tea can be useful to lower blood sugar levels in the body and regulate insulin levels to be balanced in the blood.

But before you consume chamomile drinks for your diabetes, it is worth consulting a doctor first, especially when you’re pregnant. Healthier alternative for this is the benefits of pomegranate juice.

Caution and Recommendation

Although chamomile tea is mostly considered safe (for non-pregnant populations, however), it can cause vomiting if you take it in large doses.

In addition, if you have an allergy to any plant in the daisy family (such as marigolds, ragweed, and chrysanthemums), you may experience an allergic reaction after consuming chamomile tea.

Also, chamomile may also interact with several medications, including ibuprofen and aspirin, so talk to your doctor before consuming large amounts of tea.

If you think that drinking chamomile tea is too risky for you, then you may need the other alternatives. For example, you can try to have the benefits of ginger tea with honey, that can make your body fresher and warmer.

Still, the best drink for pregnant women is pure, refreshing water. Try to drink plenty of water during pregnancy to keep your body fluids balanced and you avoid dehydration.