Long considered the go-to beverage for those seeking a little relief from their stress-filled lives, recent research suggests that chamomile tea may have a number of other therapeutic uses, most notably as a way to ward off the common cold.

In a study funded by Oxford Natural Products that appeared in the January 26, 2005 issue of the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, researchers at the Imperial College in London concluded that a steady diet of chamomile tea produces changes in the body that were still evident weeks after the study’s conclusion.

The study involved 14 people in all (seven men and seven women), each consuming five cups of German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) tea over a two-week period. A daily examination of their urine found significantly elevated levels of two different chemicals in their bodies: hippurate and glycine. The first, hippurate, is the one the researchers point to in their claims that chamomile can help fight colds. Hippurate, a breakdown product of tea flavonoids, acts as an anti-inflammatory and can help to fight infections in the body. Glycine is a nerve relaxant that helps to ease muscle spasms. Its elevated levels in the study’s participants lends scientific support to chamomile’s long use as an aid in diminishing menstrual cramps.

“This is one of a growing number of studies that provide evidence that commonly used natural products really do contain chemicals that may be of medicinal value,” said study author Elaine Holmes, PhD. The researchers were quick to point out that more studies need to be conducted before people start rushing out and consuming massive amounts of chamomile. While the tea produces definite changes in the body, the study’s authors noted that they were unsure whether this was good or bad overall. Additionally, chamomile can produce some bad effects, such as affecting the body’s ability to absorb iron. It can also present real problems for those allergic to ragweed.

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