4. Chamomile Tea May Aid Sleep
If you’re feeling wired at bedtime, consider sipping a cup of chamomile tea to wind down. Research suggests that chamomile may also improve sleep by helping you wake up less often during the night.
“Since chamomile tea is an herbal tea that contains no caffeine, it can be a calming beverage before bed,” Retelny says. An herbal tea is one that’s not made from the Camellia sinensis plant, but rather from herbs, flowers, spices, and other ingredients that may have their own health benefits.
Better sleep isn’t the only benefit you might reap from a cup of chamomile, one of the oldest documented medicinal plants, Retelny says. Another older review suggests that chamomile tea may help alleviate premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms — including anxiety and irritability. The researchers also noted the tea’s anti-inflammatory properties.
In a more recent study, chamomile capsules provided better relief from emotional symptoms of PMS than a placebo, but it remains to be seen whether chamomile tea has a similar effect.
5. Ginger Tea May Help Ease Nausea and Vomiting
Got tummy troubles or a bout of morning sickness? You may want to sip some ginger tea, which could help ease digestive distress.
Research suggests that tea made from ginger, an ancient root known for its medicinal properties, shows promise as a safe and effective treatment for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy and may help alleviate symptoms of motion sickness and vertigo.
Another review notes that ginger may help reduce nausea and vomiting related to pregnancy or chemotherapy.
However, some of the studies in this review looked at ginger in food and supplement forms, not as a tea.
6. Peppermint Tea Is Associated With a Healthy Digestive System
Peppermint is known for promoting healthy digestion. “Peppermint contains a compound called menthol that can help relax the intestinal tract and help relieve bloating,” Al Bochi says.
Research supports this claim, suggesting that peppermint may be especially helpful in alleviating symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, which can include bloating, diarrhea or constipation, and feeling uncomfortably full.
That said, studies have yet to specifically address the role of peppermint tea (as opposed to peppermint supplements).
Other research suggests that peppermint could relieve discomfort and calm the stomach during gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures.
If you’ll be undergoing this procedure, it may be worth asking your doctor if peppermint tea is worth a try.
7. Hibiscus Tea May Play a Role in Lowering Blood Pressure
Hibiscus tea, which is made from dry hibiscus leaves, doesn’t just taste tangy and delicious — it may help your ticker too.
There may also be cognitive health benefits to hibiscus tea. In one small study, people who drank a hibiscus beverage had better word recall on a visual verbal learning test than people who drank a placebo. They also had significantly lower blood sugar at 30 and 45 minutes after eating.
The researchers note, however, that these findings require further study.
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