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Home -> Shop By Store -> Chamomile
Chamomile
Other Common Names:
Chamomile, Camomile
Chamomile:
Chamomile is Known as nature’s safest and most effective sedatives, it is popular for it’s calming effect on nervous stomachs. It is a member of the daisy family. There are two major types of Chamomile –Roman and German. German Chamomile is used more in medical studies than Roman Chamomile. Both are effective when used properly. The dried and fresh flowers are used medicinally.
History of Chamomile:
The fresh plant is strongly and agreeably aromatic, with a distinct scent of apples - a characteristic noted by the Greeks, on account of which they named it 'ground-apple' - kamai (on the ground) and melon (an apple) - the origin of the name Chamomile. The Spaniards call it 'Manzanilla,' which signifies 'a little apple,' and give the same name to one of their lightest sherries, flavoured with this plant.
When walked on, its strong, fragrant scent will often reveal its presence before it is seen. For this reason it was employed as one of the aromatic strewing herbs in the Middle Ages, and used often to be purposely planted in green walks in gardens. Indeed walking over the plant seems specially beneficial to it.
- Like a camomile bed
- The more it is trodden
- The more it will spread,
The aromatic fragrance gives no hint of its bitterness of taste.
The Chamomile used in olden days to be looked upon as the 'Plant's Physician,' and it has been stated that nothing contributes so much to the health of a garden as a number of Chamomile herbs dispersed about it, and that if another plant is drooping and sickly, in nine cases out of ten, it will recover if you place a herb of Chamomile near it.
Chamomile is useful:
Many different species of chamomile grow throughout the world. The type commonly available in the United States is known as German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla). It is slightly different from the Roman or English chamomile (Chamaemelum nobilis or Anthemis nobilis) that is more common in Europe. While these two plants belong to different species, they are closely related and both are used for similar conditions.
In the United States, oral chamomile is used primarily for relaxation and sleep. However, this reputation is based mainly on tradition. Few human studies have been conducted to evaluate these possible effects. However, chamomile has shown some sedating and anti-anxiety effects in laboratory animals. In one study, chamomile attached to receptors in the body that are also the targets of prescription sedative medications. Low doses produced a calming effect, while higher doses were more likely to cause sleep.
Chamomile also has antispasmodic effects, which means it may relieve or prevent uncomfortable muscle contractions -- especially in the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, it has also been used to treat minor gastrointestinal complaints such as gas, motion sickness, and stomach cramps. Bisabolol, one of the chemicals in chamomile has shown antispasmodic activity in studies of laboratory animals. A small study of infants with colic showed that a tea containing chamomile and four other herbal ingredients relieved symptoms of colic about twice as often as a liquid with no active ingredients. All the children in the study were over two weeks old.
Chamomile is also thought to have a soothing effect on the tissues inside the mouth, nose, and throat. Sometimes, chamomile is boiled in water and the steam is inhaled to relieve a stuffy nose or congested chest. A chamomile mouthwash has been tested in clinical studies for the relief of mucositis -- painful mouth sores that develop in patients receiving radiation or drug therapy for cancer. Results are conflicting, however. In one study of about 100 cancer patients, a chamomile mouth rinse helped to prevent, delay, or lessen the occurrence of mucositis; but no particular benefit was seen in a later study. More research is needed for all of the potential oral uses of chamomile.
Topically, chamomile can be applied to the skin as a wash or a poultice for hemorrhoids and minor skin irritations. A poultice is usually a soft cloth that has been soaked in a medication, possibly heated, and applied to an aching or injured area of skin surface. Chamomile contains chemicals in a group known as azulenes, which are believed to block the production of histamine by body cells. Histamine is a chemical released in allergic responses. It causes inflammation and muscle spasms. Evidence from laboratory studies shows that chamomile has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties; but no animal or human studies verify its anti-infective activity.
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