Naturopathy

chamomile

Synonyms in a broader sense

Synonyms in a broader sense

Herbal synonyms: The real chamomile belongs to the Asteraceae family, the daisy family. It is also called German chamomile, field chamomile, ermine and motherwort. You can also find popular names such as Apfelkraut, Haugenblum, Mondkrud, Kuhmelle and Romeri.

Latin name: Matricaria recutita

Plant description

The chamomile is a 20-40 centimeter high annual herb with an upright, round stem, which is bare towards the top and branched out. The leaves are light green and pinnate two to three times. They have narrow leaf tips that taper off in pointed tips. The 1.8 cm to 2.5 cm wide flower heads are terminal and have the characteristic, white ray florets with a yellow, convex flower base. The chamomile grows on undemanding, nutrient-poor soils at the edges of fields and roads. When rubbing the chamomile smells of the flower heads very aromaticwhich can only be found in real chamomile. The chamomile is in Europe and North Africa to find. The The main importing country is France. The medicinal plant chamomile is collected from May to August at Sunshine.

Medicinal parts of plants

The flowers and the essential oil obtained from them.

ingredients

Up to 3% essential oil with bisabolol and proazulene which is blue in color. In addition, flavonoids, coumarins. The interaction of all active ingredients results in the well-known chamomile effect and has been thoroughly researched.

Manufacturing

To medicinal use come the fresh and dried flower heads of real chamomile. Chamomile flowers are called alcoholic extracts or as tea offered for internal or external use. In cosmetic products like ointments, creams and baths can be found again and again Extracts of the medicinal plant chamomile. When used as a tea, the dose of the ingredients should be available or ready-made products should be used.

The following forms of preparation are possible:

Camomile tea: Pour ¼ l of hot water over 1 to 2 heaped teaspoons of chamomile flowers, strain after 10 minutes, unsweetened and drink well warm. In the case of stomach problems, take a cure for several weeks between meals.
Chamomile steam bath: In a larger bowl, pour about 1 liter of very hot water over a handful of chamomile flowers. Head over the bowl, cover with a large towel, inhale the warm chamomile vapors.

Dosage form and dose

When using chamomile flowers for medicinal purposes, you should be in the pharmacy to standardized chamomile preparations ask. Most of the studies on effectiveness have been / are carried out with these preparations. The standardized finished products are tinctures or fluid extracts (liquid extracts).
The Adult dose amounts 3 g concentrate, that's about three teaspoons of dried flower.
At the Dry extract is the dose 50 to 300 mg, three times a day, at the Fluid extract (liquid extracts) 1: 2 with 50% ethanol 3-6 ml daily.
Camomile tea soothes Abdominal pain with upset stomach. He relaxed and has an antibacterial effect. Mild kidney and bladder problems such as Menstrual cramps or Vaginal infections can be alleviated by chamomile. Chamomile tea works also reassuring and soothes temporarily Toothache. Tea preparations are poured from three teaspoons of dried flowers with 150 ml of boiling water and covered for five to ten minutes. The tea is drunk three to four times a day.
A Chamomile steam bath, or a inhalation helps with colds how Frontal sinus infections and nasal congestion or for blemished skin. For inhalation, take 10 to 20 ml of alcoholic extract or two to three tablespoons of dried chamomile flowers in 1 liter of hot water. For compresses, douches and gargle solutions, 1% fluid extracts (liquid extracts) or 5% tinctures are often used

Read detailed information on the subject inhalation

Combination with other medicinal plants

Chamomile flowers are a component of many tea blends, especially for disorders in the digestive tract. But also used as a so-called constituent which is supposed to make a tea mixture look better. In the case of gallbladder problems, it is recommended to use equal parts of the chamomile flowers Peppermint leaves to mix and use it to prepare a tea as described above. If you have nervous stomach problems, mix chamomile flowers and Melissa leaves equal parts.

Application in homeopathy

Here has Chamomilla a clear reference to the vegetative nervous system. In the case of nervous hypersensitivity, the so-called "irritable weakness", impatience, hypersensitivity to pain. With nervous insomnia, facial neuralgia, headache. Even with a feeling of fullness with a bitter taste in the mouth and flatulence. Especially indicated if the symptoms worsen in the evening and at night, as well as from warmth and anger. The cramps in the gastrointestinal area are relieved by warmth.

Contraindication

The medicinal plant chamomile should never come into contact with the eyes. The fine hairs of the chamomile flower are very irritating to the eyes.

Summary

Chamomile is one of the most popular and well-known medicinal plants. It is known from ancient times. Probably originating from Eurasia, the Germanic tribes consecrated the medicinal plant chamomile to the god Baldur. This should be harvested on Midsummer Day, as it would have a lot of healing power on this day. Therefore, chamomile is particularly valued in folk medicine. Hieronymus Bock and Jakob Theodor Tabernaemontanus mentioned chamomile as an effective wound and stomach remedy in ancient times.