Chamomile

(Matricaria chamomilla)

Chamomile is probably the most famous herb in the northern hemisphere. It was used by grandmothers as a cure-all, when somebody was ill, and in the majority of cases they were correct to use it for medicinal reasons.

The medicinal uses of the Chamomile are very numerous. It can help in most cases for relatively minor illnesses.

The wild growing Chamomile has become very rare owing to modern intensive farming practices. Chamomile is nowadays grown by specialist herb-farmers, because of the demand from the public for it to be stocked in pharmacies and supermarkets.

Nearly everybody today knows of the special aroma of Chamomile, that is associated with health treatment.

Medicinal Uses

Antibacterial
Drying
Calming
Blood cleaning
Inflammation-inhibitory
Diuretic
Spasm-dissolvent
Analgesic
Sudorific
strengthening
Fever
Strep throat
Tonsillitis
Sinus inflammation
Cold
Flu
Asthma
Coughs
Swollen lymphatic glands
Flatulences
Belch
Stomach convulsions
Gastritis
Stomach-Ulcers
Diarrhea
Constipation
Mouth smell
Bladder weakness
Headaches
Sleeplessness
Nerve pain
Nervousness
Stress
Rheumatism
Gout
Lumbago
Sciatica
Menstrual complaints
Menses forcing
Discharge
Mouth inflammations
Gingivitis
Allergies
Wounds
Inflamed wounds
Infected wounds
Itch
Ulcers
Eczemas
Haemorrhoids
Furuncles

Information

Used Parts:	Flowers
Substances:	Apiin, Azulene, Bacteria-inhibiting substance, Bisabolol, Bitter essence, Tow, Borneol, Chamazulene, Choline, Flavonoid, Furfural, Geraniol, Resin, Herniarin, Coumarin, Kaempferol, Salicylate, Mucilage, Sulfur, Thujone, Xylose, Umbelliferone, Essential oil
Time to collect:	May - July
Other names:	Chamomille, Matricaria, Pineapple weed, Scented Mayweed

Methods

There are lots and lots of medical uses for the Chamomile.

It works antibacterial, drying, calming, blood cleaning, inflammation-inhibitory, diuretic, spasm-dissolvent, analgesic, sudorific and strengthening.

Internaly

Internal you can use the Chamomille as tea or as tincture.

Digestion

The Chamomille helps against belly-ache of children and of adults. Just cook a tea and let it drink in small sips.

Chamomille also helps against ulcers of the stomach, diarrhoe, obstipation and infections of the digestive system.

Tea against flatulences

Here is a tea that helps against flatulences and other belly-aches. As it has mild herbs it can be used for children.

Ingredients:

20 gr Chamomille
40 gr Aniseed
40 gr Fennel

Instruction:

Make an infusion using one teaspoon of this mixture for one cup of tea.
Wait for 10 minutes.
Pour the infusion through a sieve.
Drink the tea in small sips.

Urinary system

As the Chamomille is diuretic, inflammation-inhibitory and antibacterial it can help the organs of the urinary system to work.

The kidney is encouraged to produce urine and to excrete all the unneeded substances of the body.

The bladder is supported when inflamed or infected and can relaxe better because of the spasm-dissolvent effect of the Chamomille.

Metabolism

The metabolism is strengthened by the Chamomille because of its diuretic and bloodcleaning effects.

This helps against rheumatism and gout.

Nervous system

As the Chamomille works relaxing, analgesic and spasm-dissolvent you can use it against nervous pains like sciatica or lumbago.

It also helps against stress and sleeplessness.

Pulmonary system

Chamomille can help against the symptoms of a cold or flu.

It helps, when you have a fever, a rhinitis and a sore throat.

Drink a hot Chamomille when you catch a cold. Use honey to sweeten it, if you have a cough.

Inhalation against sinusitis and for cleansing the skin

You can do an inhalation with hot tea of Chamomille when you suffer from sinus inflammation or acne.

Cook an infusion with Chamomille.
Pour the infusion together with the flowers of the Chamomille in a bowl.
Put the bowl on a table.
Bow over the bowl that the steam can reach your face.
Cover with a big cloth, that the steam stays close to you.
Bow your face as near to the hot water as it is still comfortable, but don't touch the water.
Stay beneath the cloth in the steam for about 15 minutes.
Dry your face carefully after the inhalation.
Stay inside for a while an take a rest.

Womens diseases

With its spasm-dissolvent and antibacterial effects the Chamomille can help against a lot of womens problems.

It relaxes the uterus during the menses to avoid pain. It also encourages the menstruation.

And it can promote the production of the milk when feeding a baby.

When you have an vaginitis you can take a sitting bath with Chamomille.

Gargle against mouth-inflammation

Against inflammation of the mouth and sore throat you can gargle with Chamomille tea or Chamomille tincture with water.

This can also help against toothache before you have a date at your dentist.

Externally

The Chaomille can help skin problems in a lot of ways.

You can wash the problem skin with tea of Chamomille. Or you use a tincture diluted with water. You can also make a fomentation.

Another way to use the Chamomille external is bathing, either a small bath for inly parts of the body or as a full bath.

You could also prepare and use a cream with Chamomille to treat the skin.

Beware!
Chamomille dries the skin. This could not be wanted if you suffer from dry skin anyhow.

Attention!
Never use Chamomille for treating the eyes!
The flowers of Chamomille has small hairs that can be aggressive to the eyes.
Additionaly some people react allergic on Chamomille and may not use it.

Plant description

The Chamomille is at home in south and east of europe. But it came to all over europe long ago. It is grown in a lot of countries for medicinal purposes. A main country where it grows is France.

Chamomille doesn't need special soil to grow, but it loves lots of sun. It prefers to grow in fields of wheat, but there the farmers kill it regulary. You can grow it in your garden, if you like to have fresh Chamomille.

The plant lives only for one year. It becomes up to 50 cm.

The stalk is round and upright. It has a lot of branches.

The leaves are very thin, nearly like feathers.

From may on there are flowers with a yellow center and white petals. The flowers have the typical smell of Chamomille.

Translation note
As English is not my native language, some words may not be translated properly.
Please feel free to send me any corrections.
Thank you Eva