Chamomile in pregnancy: properties and side effects of drinking this herbal tea while pregnant
Chamomile in pregnancy is full of beneficial properties: drinking a herbal tea of chamomile flowers, in fact, can help pregnant women to relax, sleep better and relieve pain and tension. Drinking chamomile during pregnancy is one of the most popular natural remedies even in case of inflammation or anxiety disorders. Let's find out all the properties of this herbal tea and its possible side effects during pregnancy. Chamomile can also be very useful in the future for problems of your baby's sleep:
Chamomile in pregnancy: among the most loved natural remedies
Chamomile in pregnancy turns out to be one of the most useful and recommended medicinal herbs due to its many beneficial properties. Chamomile is a bushy plant, with its typical white petal flowers, which is quite widespread both in Europe and in Asia.
The chamomile plant is called Matricaria chamomilla and derives from the Latin "matrix", which means "uterus": the etymology of the name already indicates how the antispasmic and relaxing properties of this herb on the muscles of the "female organ. In fact, it has always been recommended in case of menstrual pain.
Chamomile in pregnancy, on the other hand, has different benefits. In fact, drinking chamomile tea during pregnancy can help pregnant women to relieve muscle pain and cramps: the glycine contained in it, together with apigenin, have known antispasmic properties that will be greatly appreciated during the months of gestation.
Chamomile - whatever week of pregnancy you are - helps you to relax, improving the quality of sleep and defeating insomnia: it certainly won't have the same properties as a sleeping pill that can be purchased at the pharmacy, but it is certainly more recommended for a woman in sweetness. waiting. This herb is also a real cure-all if you suffer from anxiety and stress: it has a calming effect that allows immediate relaxation.
Chamomile in pregnancy can also be useful to facilitate digestion, helping to regulate intestinal action and eliminate abdominal swelling. It is, again, one of the most used natural remedies in case of hemorrhoids, very frequent during pregnancy: Chamomile-based washes will relieve pain and refresh the inflamed area, speeding up healing.
Finally, chamomile works as a mild anti-inflammatory that can be used in case of joint pain and in particular if you suffer from stiff neck or sciatica.
See also
Properties and active ingredients of chamomile tea
Chamomile is rich in active ingredients that are valid allies from the first week of pregnancy: it contains camazuazulene, essential oil, flavonoids, lactones, mineral salts and vitamins A, B and C. These active ingredients act directly on the nervous system, so as on the digestive system, helping the muscles to relax.
For chamomile in pregnancy to give the best of its properties, it would be advisable not to buy ready-made herbal teas at the supermarket (especially the soluble ones, which are full of artificial sweeteners): it is recommended to purchase real chamomile flowers from the herbalist's shop, with which to make an exquisite home-made herbal tea.In this way the active ingredients of the chamomile will keep all their properties intact.
The side effects of chamomile in pregnancy
If drinking chamomile tea while pregnant has all the benefits we have listed so far, it is also true that side effects can occur. Excessive consumption of chamomile herbal teas, in fact, can lead some women already predisposed to have uterine contractions, which in turn cause premature birth and abortion. Also be careful if you have particular allergies.
Finally, chamomile could interact with the action of some drugs, and in particular with anesthetics and anticoagulants: if you take this kind of medicine, always discuss with your doctor the opportunity to drink chamomile tea during pregnancy.
In general and without dramatizing, the important thing is always not to overdo it, but to consume chamomile with due moderation and talk to your gynecologist about any side effects it might present in your specific case.
Other herbal teas to drink during pregnancy and herbs not recommended
Chamomile is one of the most recommended herbs during pregnancy for its calming and anti-inflammatory properties. Other herbal teas particularly suitable for pregnant women are ginger tea (excellent in case of nausea!), Lemon balm tea (an equally calming herb), mallow tea (particularly anticongestant).
The herbal teas that are not recommended during pregnancy are those with nettle, anise, sage, mistletoe, juniper, hypericum and yarrow. These herbs, in fact, can be dangerous if consumed in large quantities.
