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Chamomile
Description:
Chamomile is an annual herb found in southern Europe and northern Asia. It grows along roadsides and fields. The plant produces a round, furrowed, and branched stem which grows one to two feet in height. The leaves are pale green, incised, and sessile, with thread-shaped leaflets. The flower heads consists of yellow disk flowers and white petal-shaped ray flowers that are bent downward to make the disk flowers more prominent. The medicinal part is the flower.
Properties & Uses:
Anodyne - a substance which relieves pain, usually with accompanied sedation.
Anthelmintic - an agent which destroys or expels intestinal worms.
Antispasmodic - an agent which relieves or prevents spasms, usually of the smooth muscles. Barbiturates and valerian are examples of antispasmodics.
Calmative - a substance that has a soothing or sedative effect.
Carminative - an agent which assists in expelling gas from the intestines.
Diaphoretic - an agent which increases perspiration.
Stimulant - an agent that temporarily increases activity or physiological processes. Stimulants may be classified according to the organ upon which they act; for example, an intestinal stimulant is that which stimulates the intestines.
Tonic - an agent which strengthens or tones.
Chamomile helps promote thyroxine which helps rejuvenate the texture of the hair and skin, and also promotes mental alertness. It is also a soothing sedative and is useful internally for babies and children as an aid in colds, stomach trouble, colitis, sleeplessness, and as a gargle, and externally for eczema and inflammation. As a tea it is used for nerves and menstrual cramps. It has been recommended for persons who cannot tolerate caffeine, such as those with peptic ulcers, hypertension, and heart problems.
It is recognized by the orthodox medical profession, especially in France and Spain, as a valuable medicine for the young. Doctors in an eastern United States hospital gave this herb, as a tea, to heart patients who had not responded to sleep-inducing drugs. Of the 12 patients, 10 immediately fell asleep.
Chamomile contains chamazulene, which has antiallergenic and anti-inflammatory properties. Some species of chamomile contain alkaloids which could induce spasms, but the substance does not have a significant biological effect at the concentrations obtained in a normal human dose of chamomile tea. However, such teas are usually used over a long period of time, during which a cumulative effect might result.
Toxicity Levels:
Chamomile can produce severe shock in individuals allergic to ragweed pollen. Chamomile should be taken in moderate doses; large doses can cause vomiting. Chamomile can cause contact dermatitis or external skin rashes. Chamomile tea has a marked hypnotic effect.
Recommended Dietary Allowances:
Chamomile is often taken three to four times daily between meals10 as a tea. Common alternatives are to use 2–3 grams of the herb in tablet or capsule form or 4–6 ml of tincture three times per day between meals. Standardized extracts containing 1% apigenin and 0.5% volatile oils may also be used. One to two capsules containing 300–400 mg of extract may be taken three times daily. Topical creams or ointments can be applied to the affected area three to four times daily.
Food Sources:
Chamomile, a member of the daisy family, is native to Europe and western Asia. German chamomile is the most commonly used. The dried and fresh flowers are used medicinally.
Side Effects & Interactions:
Though rare, allergic reactions to chamomile have been reported.11 These reactions have included bronchial constriction with internal use and allergic skin reactions with topical use.12 While reports of such side effects are uncommon, people with allergies to plants of the Asteraceae family (ragweed, aster, and chrysanthemums), as well as mugwort pollen should avoid using chamomile.13 Chamomile is usually considered to be safe during pregnancy or breast-feeding. However, there is one case report in which a pregnant woman who took chamomile as an enema had an allergic reaction that led to the death of her newborn.14