How much chamomile tea should I drink before bed?

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Noddie Night · Accepted Answer

There is no official amount of chamomile tea proven for sleep, so most people stick with one ordinary cup in the last half hour or so before bed. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) says chamomile is likely safe in the amounts commonly found in teas. Steep a tea bag or a spoonful of dried flowers with a lid on the cup, then sip it slowly.

Traditional use is simple: a warm cup, a quiet few minutes and the same routine every night. Drinking it earlier in your wind-down, rather than right at lights-out, also avoids a late trip to the bathroom. A much stronger brew mostly tastes more bitter; it is not shown to work better.

NCCIH does not give a sleep dose for chamomile, and its evidence for insomnia is minimal, so treat the tea as a gentle habit rather than a dependable fix. Side effects are uncommon, but nausea, dizziness and allergic reactions can happen. People with ragweed, daisy, marigold or chrysanthemum allergies are more likely to react.

Chamomile may interact with warfarin and possibly with sedatives. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or have a medical condition.

How much chamomile tea should I drink before bed?

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