Chamomile Tea Study Shows Promise for PCOS
By Amy Medling, founder of PCOS Diva
Tea is an important part of my self-care regimen. Not only is it part of my meditation practice, depending upon the blend, it has many medicinal properties. A recent study on chamomile tea has drawn attention from the PCOS community since it is related to some common PCOS symptoms such as high levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, and higher levels of testosterone. It finds that chamomile tea has promise for women interested in treating PCOS naturally. Here’s the scoop:
Chamomile Tea: More than just a sleep aid
Chamomile tea is a tea best known for its calming aroma. Fans of the beverage use it frequently for better sleep quality, but recent data suggests it possesses benefits for blood sugar management and reducing risk of cardiovascular disease. It’s also been studied for its cancer-protective and anti-inflammatory properties as well as its benefits for bone health. [1, 2]
Chamomile Tea: A possible treatment for cholesterol and testosterone-related symptoms in PCOS
A recent study published the result of a clinical trial involving the use of chamomile tea and women with PCOS. Half the group were provided a capsule containing 370 mg of chamomile tea three times per day for 90 days. The control group were given placebo. Both testosterone and lipid levels were measured before the start of the experiment. [3]
After 90 days, the results showed chamomile consumption was directly associated with a decrease in LDL cholesterol and triglycerides as well as an increase in HDL cholesterol. Despite the increase, it was not significant compared to the placebo group. There was also a significant decrease in testosterone levels.
The scientists explained the decrease in lipid and testosterone markers were mostly due to the presence of phytosterols and phytoestrogen compounds in chamomile.
Phytosterols have been shown to reduce testosterone production and interfere with cholesterol absorption which caused the decrease in LDL cholesterol and Triglyceride levels Phytoestrogens inhibit the production of testosterone due to its negative effect on luteinizing hormone, a hormone that controls the frequency of our ovulation. [4]
The study didn’t outright recommend supplementation as it only concluded the positive effects of chamomile tea intake. So long as you drink the equivalent of the extract in the study, you should get the benefits mentioned.
Supplement or brew my own?
While the standardization of the extract varies per brand, commercial products available claim one capsule of around 200 mg is equivalent to one cup of good quality chamomile tea. So, you can really get away without supplementation, but you’re also going to have to brew about six cups a day for at least 90 days. Just be mindful of the brand quality and concentration per capsule.
For me, that’s a lot of tea! I think I will stick to my regular tea routine and enjoy it just a little more knowing that science supports my tea habit.
Amy Medling, best-selling author of Healing PCOS and certified health coach, specializes in working with women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), who are frustrated and have lost all hope when the only solution their doctors offer is to lose weight, take a pill, and live with their symptoms. In response, Amy founded PCOS Diva and developed a proven protocol of supplements, diet, and lifestyle programs that offer women tools to help gain control of their PCOS and regain their fertility, femininity, health, and happiness.
References:
- Khan SS, Najam R, Anser H, Riaz B, Alam N. Chamomile tea: herbal hypoglycemic alternative for conventional medicine. Pak J Pharm Sci. 2014;27(5 Spec no):1509-14.
- Srivastava JK, Shankar E, Gupta S. Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with bright future. Mol Med Rep. 2010;3(6):895-901.
- Heidary M, Yazdanpanahi Z, Dabbaghmanesh MH, Parsanezhad ME, Emamghoreishi M, Akbarzadeh M. Effect of chamomile capsule on lipid- and hormonal-related parameters among women of reproductive age with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Res Med Sci. 2018;23:33. Published 2018 Apr 26. doi:10.4103/jrms.JRMS_90_17
- Karampoor P, Azarnia M, Mirabolghasemi G, Alizadeh F. The effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) seed on serum levels of sexual hormones in female Wistar rats with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) Arak Med Univ J. 2014;17:70–8
