German Chamomile
(Matricaria recutita, Chamaemelum nobile)
Family: ASTERACEAE
Energetics: Warming. Drying.
Taste: Bitter.
Tissue States:
Systems Affected:
Parts Used: Flower
Key Components: Volatile oils including Azulene. Flavonoids. Tannins. Bitter Glycosides. Salicylates. Coumarins. Calcium. Magnesium. Phosphorus.
Preparations & dosage: Infusion: 1-2 tsp steeped in 8 oz water. 10-20 minutes depending on how much of the bitter principle you want in it. The longer the steep the more bitter it gets. For an even stronger digestive brew, steep up to 1/2 cup in 1 pint for 20-30 minutes. This can also be used for a bath. Tincture: 1:5 ratio in 80 proof alcohol. Essential oil. Hydrosol. Infused oil. Poultice: To ease pain and inflammation when applied to swollen jaw or painful ear.
Actions:
Foundational: Aromatic. Bitter. Relaxant
Primary: Nervine. Carminative. Mild Diaphoretic. Mild Sedative. Mild Diuretic.
Secondary: Analgesic. Antispasmodic. Modulates inflammation.
Uses:
For this purpose, chamomile can be taken internally as a tea, tincture or glycerite or used externally on the affected area as an infused oil, essential oil or liniment.
Cold/Flu:Excellent for fevers with aches and pains (such as with cold or flu). It does not actually lower the body temperature but is a relaxing diaphoretic that allows excess heat in the body to escape through the skin.
As a strong, earn tea it can also be sedative, allowing the patient to sleep.
Chamomile tincture can work with demulcent teas such as marshmallow or violet as an anti-spasmodic for those dry hacking coughs that often occur at the end of an illness.
Combines well with:
Identifying:
Growing: Can easily be grown from seed. Sow directly into soil in early spring. Chamomile is most comfortable in a dry light soil but isn't super fussy about its home. It likes full sun. Chamomile is often planted near food crops to keep them healthy.
Harvesting: Harvest when the flowers are completely open. You can easily rake your fingers through the patch to harvest many flowers at once. They are very small so harvesting one flower at a time can be tedious. Beware the bee friends though!
Contraindications: Some people have allergies to the large family of plants that Chamomile belongs to. If you get itchy eyes or any other allergy symptoms to chamomile stop using it. I feel like this is kind of a silly warming because this can really be true of ANYTHING.
Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs: Rosemary Gladstar. Pg 117-120
Energetics: Warming. Drying.
Taste: Bitter.
Tissue States:
Systems Affected:
Parts Used: Flower
Key Components: Volatile oils including Azulene. Flavonoids. Tannins. Bitter Glycosides. Salicylates. Coumarins. Calcium. Magnesium. Phosphorus.
Preparations & dosage: Infusion: 1-2 tsp steeped in 8 oz water. 10-20 minutes depending on how much of the bitter principle you want in it. The longer the steep the more bitter it gets. For an even stronger digestive brew, steep up to 1/2 cup in 1 pint for 20-30 minutes. This can also be used for a bath. Tincture: 1:5 ratio in 80 proof alcohol. Essential oil. Hydrosol. Infused oil. Poultice: To ease pain and inflammation when applied to swollen jaw or painful ear.
Actions:
Foundational: Aromatic. Bitter. Relaxant
Primary: Nervine. Carminative. Mild Diaphoretic. Mild Sedative. Mild Diuretic.
Secondary: Analgesic. Antispasmodic. Modulates inflammation.
Uses:
- Acid Reflux
- Anxiety
- Burns
- Cold/flu
- Colic
- Conjunctivitis
- Digestive complaints such as Gastritis, IBS, flatulence, etc.
- Insomnia
- Indigestion
- Inflammation
- Inflamed and sore eyes
- Gingivitis
- Rashes
- Sore throat
- Teething
- Mouth rinse for gingivitis or bacterial infections of mouth or gums.
Digestion:
A popular tea after a big meal due to its aromatic and bitter components that aid in proper digestive function, particularly the breakdown of fats. A strong brew of 15-20 minutes releases the bitter properties of Chamomile, promoting a healthy digestion. The bitter principles in chamomile make it an excellent tonic for the liver and digestive system. The bittersweet flavor stimulate the gastric juices, and help to settle the stomach.
Especially beneficial for those with a nervous stomach because it both calms and soothes anxiety and tension while stimulating digestion.
The aromatic qualities of Chamomile help to break up stagnation in the digestive system. Stagnation is characterized by bloating and the feeling like there’s a beach ball in your stomach.
Chamomile teas can be used as part of a program for peptic ulcers, colitis, spastic colon and irritable bowel syndrome because of its anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties..
Chamomile teas can be used as part of a program for peptic ulcers, colitis, spastic colon and irritable bowel syndrome because of its anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties..
Women’s Health: Chamomile is an mild but effective remedy for delayed menstruation and irregular menstruation, and is especially helpful in these conditions that may be triggered by stress, anxiety, and tension. Chamomile contains spiroether, a very strong antispasmodic agent that relaxes aching, tense muscles and alleviates premenstrual pain. Chamomile is an excellent healing agent in douche formulas and sitz baths to treat vaginitis and yeast infections (Gladstar, Rosemary)
Chamomile is more effective for nausea and morning sickness when used with ginger. Steep chamomile for at least 20 minutes to more thoroughly extract the bitters.
Chamomile is more effective for nausea and morning sickness when used with ginger. Steep chamomile for at least 20 minutes to more thoroughly extract the bitters.
In 2016 a study found that women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer who took 1 gram of encapsulated chamomile prepay had a significant decrease in vomiting compared to those taking placebo. It was found to be as effective as ginger against vomiting but was less effective when it came to feelings of nausea.
Emotional healing: Chamomile is a relaxing nervine, meaning it decreases nervous system energy and helps the body switch to a more parasympathetic (rest and digest) nervous system function. It calms anxiety and pent up nervous system energy (rather than low or depressive energy), eases stress and may have a positive effect on attention deficit disorder (ADD). Chamomile tea and chamomile oil are safe for children and babies who have trouble sleeping or are under stress.
Muscle tension, cramps and pain:
Relaxing to the musculoskeletal system. Can relieve severe menstrual cramps and tension headaches with tension in the neck, shoulders and back.
For this purpose, chamomile can be taken internally as a tea, tincture or glycerite or used externally on the affected area as an infused oil, essential oil or liniment.
Cold/Flu:Excellent for fevers with aches and pains (such as with cold or flu). It does not actually lower the body temperature but is a relaxing diaphoretic that allows excess heat in the body to escape through the skin.
As a strong, earn tea it can also be sedative, allowing the patient to sleep.
Chamomile tincture can work with demulcent teas such as marshmallow or violet as an anti-spasmodic for those dry hacking coughs that often occur at the end of an illness.
Skin and hair:
Chamomile contains compounds that are antibacterial and anti-inflammatory; one of these, the lovely blue chamazulene, is noted for promoting tissue regeneration. The anti-inflammatory effect of the essential oil applied topically improves skin regeneration. Skin washes and baths with chamomile tea can calm skin inflammations, as well as bacterial skin diseases according to the Commission E Monographs. The anti-inflammatory effect of the essential oil applied topically improves skin regeneration and a cold compress does wonders for puffy eyes. Cooled chamomile tea used as a hair rinse brings on the highlights in blonde or light colored hair. Add lemon juice to enhance the effect. Chamomile flower extracts are helpful in managing eczema .
First Aid :
Both Chamomile teas, and chamomile essential oils can be used in herbal skin washes to help heal cuts, scrapes, and abrasions.
Within a minute of sipping the brew, I could feel myself relaxing. My typically cranky evening digestive system also felt much more relaxed and better able to do it's job. If I had laid down, I have no doubt that I could have fallen immediately asleep. Something that is more than unusual for me.
Seriously, me right here.....
My personal experience with Chamomile:
I began by steeping approximately 2 tablespoons of chamomile flowers in about 8 ounces of just boiling water. I steeped it for 15 minutes then strained out the herbs. It smells wonderful and floral and the initial taste was not unpleasant. There is a distinct, bitter aftertaste that hits you in the back of the throat.
If you steep it for less time, 10 minutes or less, You no longer get any of that bitter taste, but you trade that taste for not getting those bitter components that are so beneficial to the digestive system. I wouldn’t steep for less than 5 as there really wouldn’t be enough time for any of the beneficial components to be released.
If you steep it for less time, 10 minutes or less, You no longer get any of that bitter taste, but you trade that taste for not getting those bitter components that are so beneficial to the digestive system. I wouldn’t steep for less than 5 as there really wouldn’t be enough time for any of the beneficial components to be released.
Within a minute of sipping the brew, I could feel myself relaxing. My typically cranky evening digestive system also felt much more relaxed and better able to do it's job. If I had laid down, I have no doubt that I could have fallen immediately asleep. Something that is more than unusual for me.
Seriously, me right here.....
I am completely impressed by how powerful yet gentle Chamomile is 💛 It is definitely true that gentle does not necessarily mean weak. There are so many amazing uses for this incredible plant 💜
Combines well with:
Identifying:
Growing: Can easily be grown from seed. Sow directly into soil in early spring. Chamomile is most comfortable in a dry light soil but isn't super fussy about its home. It likes full sun. Chamomile is often planted near food crops to keep them healthy.
Harvesting: Harvest when the flowers are completely open. You can easily rake your fingers through the patch to harvest many flowers at once. They are very small so harvesting one flower at a time can be tedious. Beware the bee friends though!
Contraindications: Some people have allergies to the large family of plants that Chamomile belongs to. If you get itchy eyes or any other allergy symptoms to chamomile stop using it. I feel like this is kind of a silly warming because this can really be true of ANYTHING.
Sources:
Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs: Rosemary Gladstar. Pg 117-120
Studies:
- Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with bright future: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2995283/
- A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of oral Matricaria recutita (chamomile) extract therapy for generalized anxiety disorder: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19593179
- Both Matricaria chamomilla and Metformin Extract Improved the Function and Histological Structure of Thyroid Gland in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Rats through Antioxidant Mechanism: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31948119
- Effect of chamomile on chemotherapy-induced neutropenia in pediatric leukemia patients: A randomized triple-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31921608
- Efficacy and safety of topical Matricaria chamomilla L. (chamomile) oil for knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled clinical trial: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26256137
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