FOR centuries people have enjoyed a herbal quick fix, camomile tea being a traditional European favourite known for its therapeutic properties.

But, according to academics, there is more to it than merely being a soothing inf luence.

The "nighty-night" tea, as some call the popular brew, may help fight off colds and banish menstrual cramps.

The study by a team from Imperial College in London lends some scientific support to use of the tea as an ancient remedy for numerous conditions. It involved tracking the urine samples of seven men and seven women who drank multiple cups of camomile tea every day.

According to the research, five cups a day for a fortnight is said to be enough to raise levels of substances that can ease muscle spasms and fight inf lammation.

The tea they used in the study was made with the f lowers of German camomile (matricaria recutita) , the plant's botanical name which is derived from the Latin term for womb.

The study showed camomile tea produced changes in the body but Dr Elaine Holmes said what remained unknown was whether the changes were good or bad overall.

She said their work was one of a growing number of studies providing evidence that commonly used natural products contained chemicals that might be of medicinal value.

"There are good reasons why the tea may be beneficial but these hypotheses require further testing."

Maureen Robertson, from the Scottish School of Herbal Medicine, said camomile worked by removing heat from the body. "It's a very safe herb to use".

From Healthy.net