Is chamomile tea beneficial to an asthmatic?

As far as I know, no. I have never seen any evidence that chamomile can be used to treat or alleviate Asthma. Furthermore, in a small number of people, it can actually make things worse; chamomile is in the composite family, and in rare cases, cross-reactivity can cause people with Allergies to plants in this family (like Ragweed). This effect is rare; chamomile allergies are not common, even among people with ragweed allergies, but it is worth exercising caution if your allergy is very serious.

For herbal asthma relief, check out Rooibos tea(South African Red Tea). Although there is not evidence from humans yet, preliminary studies on animals have shown rooibos to have a dose-dependent bronchodilator effect--meaning that the tea improves breathing. This is a similar effect to the typical inhalers given for asthma. Rooibos tea is safe to drink as a beverage, is caffeine-free, has no serious side effects, and has a number of other health benefits as well.

Several of my friends who have problems with asthma have told me that it has helped. It is not as fast-acting as an inhaler but it offers good long-term relief if you drink a few cups of it throughout the day.