I've had a pack of Sonnentor chamomile flowers in my cabinet for years because my grandma recommended it to me. Now I'm wondering if it actually does anything or if it's just placebo? Honestly, I don't really notice much difference compared to regular tea.
Do you drink the tea more as a preventative or only when you're actually feeling bad?
Chamomile actually does have anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties that are scientifically proven - so it's not just placebo. The active ingredients help especially with mild stomach discomfort, cramps, or bloating. But if you have acute, severe pain, the tea probably won't do much for you, I'll give you that. With chronic or recurring problems, regular consumption can definitely help soothe the stomach lining. Though you sometimes don't notice that until a few weeks in, not right after one cup.
The thing is, a lot of people expect tea to work like a painkiller right away - it doesn't. Chamomile works more subtly and supportively. If you really notice it's not helping, it could also be that your stomach pain has a different cause, where chamomile just doesn't help. In that case, I'd rather see a doctor to figure out what's going on. The Sonnentor package isn't wasted anyway, but I wouldn't see it as a universal solution either.
Chamomile tea actually did something for me, but only once I started drinking it regularly instead of just sporadically. At first I thought it was more of a myth too, because I'd only have a cup when I felt bad. But if you have chronic stomach problems, drinking it regularly is way more important than making a spontaneous cup when it flares up. The anti-inflammatory stuff in chamomile basically builds up when you take it consistently.
But I also think this is important: how exactly are you drinking it? If you just quickly pour hot water and drink it right away, the tea can't really develop properly. I let my chamomile flowers steep for at least 5-10 minutes, usually longer. And whether it's Sonnentor or whatever other flowers - that's probably less important than the quality and how long they've been stored. Old flowers that got too dried out won't do as much for you.
Stomach pain has different causes too. Do you get it more after eating, or is it constant? And what else? Chamomile works well for cramps and mild inflammation, but if it's something more serious, you should see a doctor anyway.
How long are you letting the tea steep? That's actually the crucial part - chamomile needs at least 5-10 minutes for the active ingredients to properly dissolve into the water, otherwise you honestly won't notice much difference from regular tea. The anti-inflammatory effect is scientifically proven, but that doesn't mean it'll work like a miracle cure for you right away - some people notice a difference, some don't. If you've only been drinking a cup sporadically over the years and haven't noticed anything else, it could just be that you're not the type of person it affects strongly. But it's not a waste of money anyway, because it does have anti-inflammatory properties even if you don't directly feel the effect.
Chamomile actually does help, but probably not as dramatically as some people think. The anti-inflammatory effect is there, just pretty subtle - you won't suddenly be pain-free, but you'll notice it doesn't pull as much anymore. If you've already had Sonnentor sitting in your cabinet for years anyway, there's nothing wrong with drinking it, but don't expect miracles from it.
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