Common Chamomile - Calm Down!

Common Chamomile

Chamaemelum Nobile (garden/ Roman chamomile), Matricaria Recutita (wild/ German chamomile)

Thanks to chamomile tea, chamomile is one of few herbs most people know about, recognise and use. We all know nothing soothes upset stomach or shattered nerves better than a cup of chamomile tea. When most herbs are regarded as weeds, chamomile is the one which has managed to defend its reputation and prove that herbs can actually be useful.

Note: Chamomile refers to a group of flowers which all belong to Asteraceae family.

Description

A hardy evergreen perennial with daisy like flowers with a yellow centre and white petals. It’s got feathery leaves ad its sweet apple scent makes it easy to identify. Flowers June to September. 

What’s in it?

The flowers contain volatile oils, flavonoids, coumarines, terpenoids and mucilage.

Properties and Use

Digestive system

• It’s used for digestive disorders such as travel sickness, colic, nausea, heartburn, indigestion, vomiting and diarrhoea 
• Mouth ulcers, colitis, gastritis, irritable bowel complaints, gastrointestinal problems, upset stomach and abscesses 
• It stimulates the appetite
• Chamomile aids digestion and cleans out the digestive tract

Respiratory system

• It helps with asthmatic problems

Nervous system

• Chamomile has got soothing and relaxing properties; it relieves stress, anxiety, hysteria and restlessness; it calms down the nerves and helps with insomnia and sleeping problems, e.g. nightmares
• It is used for hyperactivity in children
• Neuralgia and depression 

Menstruation

• The herb eases menstrual cramps and pain

Pregnancy & Maternity

• Chamomile helps with cracked nipples and mastitis in breast-feeding mothers

Cold and Flu

• The herb has been used to relieve the symptoms of fever, flu and cold

Detox

• It cleanses the blood 

Eyes

• It soothes sore and inflamed eyes as well as conjunctivitis

Skin

• Chamomile helps to relieve such skin conditions as burns, sunburns, inflammations, rashes, wounds, ulcers, swelling, wounds and bruises
• It soothes sore, irritated, inflamed and itchy skin
• Eczema, chickenpox, psoriasis

Hair

• It lightens fair hair, thus used in shampoos and conditioners for blondes

Other

• It's been used for lumbago, gout, back pain, rheumatic complaints and joint and muscle pain
• Haemorrhoids
  
• It alleviates teething in babies and young children
• It soothes nappy rash 
• It protects gums and keeps them healthy
• In research studies it has presented an anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-spasmotic and anti-microbial effect
• Chamomile oil is highly valued in aromatherapy

Dried and fresh flowers are used in herbal medicine. Ideally, pick them on a sunny and dry morning when the flowers just start to open.

Chamomile flowers are used to prepare teas, infusions, creams, oils, ointments, vapours, baths, balms, eye washes/ lotions, hair rinses, mouthwashes, cosmetics, perfumes and tisanes, beer.

They are applied both externally and internally.

Although it's very rare, chamomile can cause allergic reactions, especially if you're allergic to ragweed pollen. 

It may interfere with blood thinners.

Roman Chamomile is not recommended for pregnant women.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Herbs may cause allergic reactions, interfere with other medications and supplements or lead to unknown side effects. You should always speak to your doctor if you have any health concerns.

For a full MEDICAL DISCLAIMER, click here.

abscesses, anxiety, asthma, burns, chickenpox, cold, colic, colitis, conjunctivitis, depression, detox, diarrhoea, eczema, eye inflammation, fever, flu, gastritis, gout, heartburn, hyperactivity, indigestion, insomnia, irritation, itchiness joint pain, mastitis, menstruation, muscle pain, nappy rash,nausea, neuralgia, psoriasis, rashes, redness, rheumatism, stress, sunburn, swelling, teething, travel sickness, ulcers, upset stomach, vomiting

Reading list:

Clevely, A. and Richmond, K. (1994) The Complete Book of Herbs. London: Lorenz Books.
Mabey, R. (2012) Food for Free.London: Harper Collins Publishers
McVicar, J. (2103) Grow Herbs. London: Dorling Kindersley Ltd
http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-chamomile.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamomile
http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/chamomile-topic-overview
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2995283/