Manzanilla tea, the Spanish name for chamomile tea, is most commonly used to promote relaxation and sleep, ease digestive discomfort, and reduce inflammation. It has been a staple in traditional medicine across Latin American and European cultures for centuries, and modern research supports several of its uses while still catching up on others.
Sleep and Relaxation
The calming effect of manzanilla tea is its most well-known benefit, and there’s a biological explanation for it. Chamomile contains a plant compound called apigenin that interacts with the brain’s signaling systems. Specifically, apigenin reduces excitatory activity in nerve cells, which lowers overall brain arousal. Think of it as turning down the volume on your nervous system. This reduction in neural “noise” is likely what produces the mild sedative feeling many people experience after a cup before bed.
The effect is gentle. Manzanilla tea won’t knock you out like a sleep medication, but drinking it regularly in the evening can help ease the transition into sleep, especially if anxiety or racing thoughts are what keep you up. It pairs well with a consistent wind-down routine.
Digestive Comfort
Settling an upset stomach is one of the oldest and most widespread uses for manzanilla tea. Traditional medicine systems across cultures have relied on it for nausea, gas, bloating, and general indigestion. Some animal studies suggest it may help control diarrhea and even protect against stomach ulcers.
That said, strong human clinical evidence is still limited. Most of what we know comes from long traditional use and anecdotal reports rather than controlled trials. If you find that a warm cup after a heavy meal settles your stomach, you’re far from alone, but the science hasn’t yet pinpointed exactly how it works in human digestion.
Blood Sugar Support
One of the more promising areas of research involves blood sugar management. In a clinical trial, people with type 2 diabetes who drank chamomile tea three times a day immediately after meals for eight weeks saw significant improvements. Their long-term blood sugar marker (HbA1c), insulin levels, and insulin resistance all dropped compared to a control group that didn’t drink the tea.
This doesn’t mean manzanilla tea replaces diabetes management, but it suggests that regular consumption could be a helpful addition for people already working to control their blood sugar. The key detail from the study: participants used about 3 grams of chamomile steeped in hot water per serving, three times daily with meals.
Menstrual Symptoms
Manzanilla tea is often recommended for period cramps, but the evidence here is nuanced. Research hasn’t shown a direct effect on menstrual pain specifically. However, one small study of 118 women found that taking chamomile from the week before their period until the start of the next cycle resulted in less menstrual bleeding compared to a placebo. The tea’s relaxation and sleep-promoting effects may also indirectly help with the fatigue and restlessness that often accompany menstruation.
Skin and Topical Uses
Beyond drinking it, manzanilla tea has a history of being applied directly to the skin, usually as a cooled compress or rinse. Animal studies have found that chamomile extract has antimicrobial properties and can speed wound healing. In one study, chamomile ointment applied to infected wounds performed better than both a standard antibiotic ointment and a placebo in promoting healing.
For skin inflammation, animal research suggests topical chamomile may help manage symptoms of eczema, including redness and irritation. A small human study involving cancer patients found that chamomile gel slowed the onset of radiation-related skin symptoms like itching, hotness, and darkening of the skin. While these results are encouraging, most topical research has been conducted on animals, so the evidence for human skin applications is still developing.
How to Brew It for Best Results
Steeping time matters. For a standard cup, let your manzanilla tea bag or loose flowers steep for 5 to 7 minutes. If you prefer a stronger brew with more of the active plant compounds, you can steep for up to 15 minutes without the tea becoming unpleasantly bitter (unlike green or black tea, chamomile is forgiving with longer steeping). If you’re making a larger batch, such as a pitcher to refrigerate, a 30-minute steep works well. Use freshly boiled water and cover your cup while steeping to trap the aromatic oils that would otherwise evaporate.
Who Should Be Careful
Manzanilla tea is safe for most people, but there’s one important exception: anyone with ragweed allergies. Chamomile belongs to the same plant family as ragweed and mugwort, and cross-reactivity between these plants has been documented. In rare cases, people sensitized to ragweed or mugwort pollen have experienced severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, after drinking chamomile tea. If you know you’re allergic to ragweed, daisies, or chrysanthemums, try a very small amount first or avoid it altogether.
Chamomile can also interact with blood-thinning medications, so if you take anticoagulants, it’s worth checking with your pharmacist before making it a daily habit.