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Overview
Chamomile is a gentle herb known throughout most of the
world which has been used continually for many centuries. It is often
ingested as a tea to calm the nervous system and the digestive tract,
and is mild enough to be administered to babies with colic. Chamomile is
soothing to irritated skin and membranes, and is often found in lotions
and hair products. Other studies illuminate this plant's potential to
assist in healing wounds and soothing gastrointestinal conditions.4
Botany
Members of the Asteraceae family, these aromatic
herbaceous plants have white daisy like flowers and scent reminiscent of
apples or pineapple. In fact, the common name "chamomile" is derived
from the Greek word kamai which translates to "on the ground" and melon which means apple. Accordingly, the Spanish name Manzanilla, means "little apple."5 M. chamomilla is an annual that can grow up to 24 inches whereas the similar C. nobile is a perennial low growing groundcover growing no more than 10 inches high.6,7 M. chamomilla is native to Europe and western Asia.
Cultivation And Harvesting
This herb prefers full sun, and light, sandy, and moist soil. It is often found along roadsides and can become rather weedy. M. chamomilla needs a fair amount of water and a brief cool season6
and thus doesn't grow well in tropical or arid environments. Thus, most
chamomile is currently cultivated in areas which provide these
conditions such as Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Egypt, Germany,
Hungary, Poland, and Russia.6
Harvest when the flowers are in bloom. Flowers may be picked by hand
or with a "chamomile rake" which is a tool developed for this type of
harvesting.7 The whole plant may be used, yet the flowers are the most potent.
History And Folklore
Chamomile was used in ancient Egypt and was given as an offering to their gods.5
Chamomile has been utilized extensively in Europe as somewhat of a
panacea which supported digestive health. Common preparations were teas,
baths and sitzbaths, gargles, inhalations, and compresses. Germans
refer to this herb as alles zutraut meaning 'capable of anything.'6 Matricaria chamomilla and Chamaemelum nobile
are similar and have been traditionally used interchangeably to some
degree, although differences in taste and action have been noted.
Additionally, other species such as pineapple weed or M. matricaroides, (referred to as manzanilla
in Spanish, however this name may refer to anyone of 'the chamomiles'),
which grow in the desert southwest of the U.S. and in Mexico, have
similar uses. 8 In the Mexican folkloric tradition, manzanilla was used to support healthy respiratory function and for soothing the stomach and easing digestion.9
In the highlands of southern Mexico, the Tzeltal Maya make a chamomile
tea containing an orange and a lime leaf to lift the mood.10
Native Americans have used this and related species since their
introduction to the Americas, often utilizing the entire plant. The
Aleut drank teas to alleviate gas, and also considered the plant a
cure-all. Drinking the tea was a Cherokee trick for "regularity." The
Kutenai and Cheyenne got creative, the former making jewelry and the
later, perfume, out of the pulverized dry flowers.11
Chamomile has magical implications for attracting money and, accordingly, as a hand rinse for gamblers needing good luck.12 Cosmetically, chamomile has also been used as a rinse for accentuating highlights and lightening blonde hair.6 Topically, this herb has an emollient and sedative effect and is softening and soothing irritated skin.15 It has also been used as a perfume and flavoring agent for liqueurs such as Benedictine and vermouth.
According to an herbalist Matthew Becker, the type of person who
responds best to chamomile is one "who complains often…for fretful
children…and for adults who act like children." Chamomile soothes the
liver and is a gentle yet effective sedative.13 The genus name Matricaria stems from the Latin word matrix meaning 'womb' hinting at its therapeutic effects in women. Chamomile is indeed a superior medicinal for women13,14
having what Rosemary Gladstar describes as "soft power" to assuage
stress and tension. She suggests not only sipping chamomile tea while
bathing in it, but also tucking a chamomile sachet under the pillow at
night to insure a restful sleep.14
Flavor Notes And Energetics
Flavor: Slightly bitter, sweet, aromatic.2
Herbal Actions
Tonic, anodyne, carminative, sedative,5,16 stomachic, laxative, diaphoretic, sedative,16,6 emmenagogic,6 anxiolytic3
According to German Commission E: antiphlogistic, musculotropic, promotes wound healing, deodorant, stimulates skin metabolism.19
According to herbalist, Paul Bergner, chamomile is rare in its
qualities of being both a bitter digestive tonic and a
relaxant/sedative, meaning that it has both the ability to tone the
digestive organs and at the same time relax the nervous system.13
Uses And Preparations
Flower dried as a tea, tincture, or powdered and encapsulated.
Fresh plant tincture
Essential oil
Common Name
Standardized: chamomile
Other: German chamomile, Hungarian chamomile, mayweed, sweet false chamomile, true chamomile
Botanical Name
Matricaria chamomilla L.
Plant Family: Asteraceae
Synonyms
Chamomilla recutita , Matricaria recutita, Matricaria suaveolens.2
Note: Chamaemelum nobile or Anthemis nobilis is also commonly known as chamomile, however it is a different plant than Matricaria chamomilla L.1
Constituents
The flower contains 0.24%–1.9% bright blue volatile oil 28 terpenoids and 36 flavanoids.4
Flavone derivatives include apigenen, quercetin, patuletin as
glucosides, and sesquiterpenes including alpha-bisabolol and its oxide
azulenes such as matricin (which is converted to chamazulene).4,17,18 C. nobile contains less chamazulene than M. chamomilla.4
Scientific Research
Approved by the German Commission E to soothe skin and mucous membranes and supporting gastrointestinal health.19
One study showed that the flavonoids are absorbed deep into the skin
layers thus pointing to the effectiveness of topical application.
Another controlled, bilateral, comparative study of 161 patients
revealed the efficacy of a chamomile ointment as a soothing agent for
skin.20
Precautions
Specific: Persons with allergies to other members of the Asteraceae family should exercise caution with chamomile. The infusion should not be used near the eyes.
General: We recommend that you consult with a
qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products,
particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
For educational purposes only This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Caution: As with any dietary or herbal supplement, you should advise your health care practitioner of the use of this product. If you are nursing, pregnant, or considering pregnancy, you should consult your health care practitioner prior to using this product.
This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease; the law applicable to dietary supplements, the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, commonly referred to as DSHEA, does not permit us to do so and it is not our intention to do so. The Contraindications and Potential Drug Interactions information provided on this website is not intended to be all-inclusive. Keep your healthcare provider informed about any herbal and other dietary supplement products that you are taking.
- Smile Herb Shop staff recommends this product!
Ingredients: Organic Dried Chamomile Flowers
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Additional information
- Manufacturer: Smile Herb Shop Product Form Factor: Bulk / Organic Chamomile Flowers, Cut & Sifted Product Variation: Ounces
Sold by the ounce.
Bulk Discounts: 4+ oz = 10% off 8+ oz = 15% off 16+ oz = 20% off
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