Chrysanthemum tea is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a variety of ailments. It may have several benefits, including the ability to treat fevers and high blood pressure. Chrysanthemum tea is prepared by infusing the flowers with water for 10 minutes. Consult a doctor before using chrysanthemum tea for health purposes or if you have a health condition or take medication. Avoid it if you are allergic to ragweed.
Heart Health and Blood Pressure
Chrysanthemum tea may have protective effects for your heart, says C.K. Lii, lead author for a study published in the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology." The tea appears to affect oxidation of low-density lipoprotein, or the "bad" cholesterol. Oxidation of LDL is the primary event in the formation of atherosclerosis plaque. The flower's flavonoids, called apigenin and luteolin, are responsible, Lii says. In traditional Chinese medicine, Chrysanthemum tea is used to treat hypertension, or high blood pressure, as well as angina, which is chest discomfort or pain that comes from coronary heart disease, according to the Sloan Kettering Memorial Cancer Center in New York. However, more study is needed before the tea can be recommended for these uses, say the experts at SKMCC.
Fever Reducer
Chrysanthemum tea is used in Chinese medicine to treat fevers as well as the common cold, according to SKMCC. The flower shows promise for these uses because it demonstrates antipyretic, meaning fever-reducing, properties in lab and animal tests. However, no clinical trials have been done as of 2010 to confirm whether this benefit extends to humans, say the experts at SKMCC. The flowering heads in chrysanthemum also provide antiviral and anti-inflammatory activity, notes Jian Zhang, lead author for a study published in "Chinese Chemical Letters."
Neuron Protection
In theory, chrysanthemum tea might help people who suffer neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease, says I.S. Kim, lead author for a study published in the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology." That's because chrysanthemum has potent neuroprotective properties, meaning it helps protect your neurons from degeneration or injury, Kim says. Neurons are the cells of your central nervous system that carry messages via electrochemical processes. You have some 100 billion neurons in your brain, according to the University of Washington. Parkinson's occurs due to loss of loss of dopamine-producing brain cells.
Other Possible Benefits
Chrysanthemum tea traditionally is used to treat a variety of other ailments, says Lester Packer, lead author of "Herbal and Traditional Medicine." These include eye irritation, conjunctivitis, migraines and ulcerative colitis. Chrysanthemum also has antioxidant properties, Lii notes. Antioxidants protect your body from cell-damaging free radicals.
References
- "Herbal and Traditional Medicine"; Lester Packer et al.; 2004
- Sloan Kettering Memorial Cancer Center: Chrysanthemum
- "Journal of Ethnopharmacology"; Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. reduces the oxidized LDL-induced expression; C.K. Lii et al.; 2010
- PubMed: "Journal of Ethnopharmacology"; Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat (CM) extract protects human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells against MPP+-induced cytotoxicity; I.S. Kim; 2009
- PubMed: "Die Pharmazie"; Hawthorn extracts inhibit LDL oxidation; C. Quettier-Deleu et al.; 2003
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