Short Takes - 2005-01-21

Chamomile tea can protect the body from a host of ills, including colds and menstrual cramps, suggests a study from the UK. Researchers at Imperial College London tested 14 people who drank five cups of chamomile tea every day for two weeks and found that they had higher levels of hippurate, a substance that can act as an anti-inflammatory. The tea also increased levels of glycine, which may relieve muscle spasms. The study appeared in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.