Five cups a day for a fortnight is enough to boost urine levels of substances that can ease muscle spasms and fight inflammation.

Drinking camomile tea can fight a cold and banish menstrual cramps, researchers from London’s Imperial College believe, following urine tests from 14 healthy camomile drinkers. Five cups a day for a fortnight is enough to boost urine levels of substances that can ease muscle spasms and fight inflammation. Their research will appear in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

For years, people have used camomile as an anti-inflammatory, a mild sedative and as an anti-ulcer remedy. It has also been reported to have anti-oxidant activity and the essential oil extracted from the chamomile flowers has been shown to possess antimicrobial activity.

(By www.foodingredientsfirst.com, January 2005)