Relax with Chamomile Smoothies by Rev. Carol A. Ingle (Raven)

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Relax with Chamomile Smoothies

When you're stressed out or feel like lashing out, it's amazing what a little chamomile can do. Chamomile has long been known as a relaxing, calming herb and chamomile contains substances that affect the same parts of the brain that anti-anxiety drugs do. In fact, Canadian studies tell us that chamomile shows "significant inhibition" of generalized anxiety disorder. A flavonoid in chamomile, called apigenin, may be responsible for the anti-anxiety and calming effects. Its action on brain receptors is similar to Valium and Xanax, but unlike the drugs, chamomile's not addictive or harmful. Chamomile has also been found to increase glycine in the body, which is an amino acid that acts as a nerve and muscle relaxant.

Chamomile tea is the most popular tea in the world and it's easily made by brewing the fresh or dried flowers, but most people aren't familiar with chamomile smoothies. Chamomile smoothies can be a more powerful relaxant and anti-anxiety aid, because you're actually consuming the entire flower. If you can get your hands on fresh chamomile flowers, they're excellent in chamomile smoothies. A few minutes after consuming one, you can literally feel your stress and tension melt away. For those really tough times, you can drink one every few hours.

To make a chamomile smoothie, just use 8 to 10 fresh or dried flowers and add them to any fruit smoothie.

Some great concoctions include:

Blend: 3 bananas, 8 - 10 fresh or dried flowers, 1/2 cup of water, and a little stevia for sweetness

Blend: 1 banana, 1/2 papaya, 8 - 10 fresh or dried flowers, 1/2 cup of water, and a bit of stevia for sweetness

Blend: 1 cup seeded watermelon, 1 banana, 8 - 10 fresh or dried flowers, 1/4 cup of water, and a touch of stevia

Great times to have one:

If your children are having a fit or are prone to them, you might want to introduce chamomile smoothies (for you and them).

If you have an aggressive spouse or family member, perhaps you want to serve them regularly.

If you're over-worked and just can't seem to relax.

If you're feeling fearful, anxious, nervous or just irritable - especially when the invoking situation has passed.

As a society, we often see tension and stress as factors related to what's going on outside of us, but often how we feel has a lot to do with what's going on inside of us too - and this simple flower can help us tip the scales in our favor when it's needed. Chamomile is also widely used as a sleep aid, for stomach problems and as an anti-inflammatory. Chamomile, however, should be avoided by those with ragweed allergies.

More:

http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com...
http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-cham...
http://health.learninginfo.org/bene...   
http://www.flowersociety.org/Ask-FE...
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/...