Chamomile is often recommended as a beverage which will catalyse a deep and restful sleep. Today, let’s uncover whether this is a fact, or a myth propagated by pop culture.

Before we delve into the not-so-science part of it, lets first discover what chamomile actually is. Chamomile is a herb that comes from the daisy-like flowers of the Asteraceae plant family. It has been consumed for centuries as a natural remedy for several health conditions. To make chamomile tea, the flowers are dried and then infused into hot water. 

Looks like all naturally beautiful things are not that useless after all. All that glitters might actually be gold? Or not...

Studies have shown that the leaf can actually help with insomnia, anxiety, menstrual cramps, and stomach issues, among other things (you'll see different ailments every time you read an article or tea package). However, the science hasn't backed it up significantly—meaning you really could go either way, especially with the power of something like the placebo effect in place. If it's part of your nightly routine and you really feel like it helps you, then it probably does! Thousands of years of tradition probably got something right.

For many, the process of making tea is relaxing in itself—the water boiling, the steeping, selecting the cup, smelling the aroma, and waiting for it to cool to a drinkable temperature. A case of classical conditioning might also come into play where the aroma of the tea acts as a stimulus for drowsiness. 

Moreover, hot beverages are comforting in nature as it excuses your body from expending effort to keep itself cool—a form of heat fatigue. 

The fact of the matter is that tea is nowhere near a tranquilizer and the effects it has is much more subtle (just like the flavour) than one may think. However, the art of this subtlety is definitely worth mastering.