Chamomile - buy Chamomile UK

Latin Name
Chamaemelum Noble (Roman Chamomile) and Matricaria Recutita (German chamomile)

Origin
Chamomile has apple scented daisy like flowers. It flowers from June to July, and the seeds ripen from July to August. The scented flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees and flies. This herb grows in fields and many other places throughout England, Europe, Russia and Asia, and is naturalised in Australia and the US.

Cultivated/Parts Used
The flowering heads are harvested when fully open and are dried for later use. The flowers contain various volatile oils including proazulenes which upon steam distillation produce chamazulene, a remarkable anti-allergenic. The flowers can be added to cosmetics as an anti-allergenic agent.

History of Use

Called Maythen by the Anglo-Saxons, it was one of the nine sacred herbs given to the world by the god Woden. The root was traditionally chewed to relieve toothache. The Egyptians revered it for its virtues, and their strong belief in its power to cure led them to dedicate it to their gods.

Chamomile is most commonly known as a tea that has a wonderfully soothing, sedative and absolutely harmless effect. It makes an excellent tonic to sweat off a fever and flu, is particularly effective in treating various digestive disorders, nervous tension, irritability and hysterical and nervous affections in women. It has been used to relive morning sickness, menopausal symptoms, dysmenorrhoea, mastitis, anorexia nervosa and hysteria and is considered a preventive and the sole certain remedy for nightmares.

Chamomile is particularly useful for treating young children for stomach aches, sleeping problems colds and teething, due to its gentle nervine effect. It has been used traditionally in the UK and Europe as a treatment for asthma and hay fever as it is said to reduce the reaction to allergens in sensitive individuals. It is also used externally in compresses, lotions, and creams and can be used to treat wounds, sunburn, burns, haemorrhoids, mastitis and leg ulcers.

Chamomile baths are highly recommended for fatigue, stress, and colds, and inhaling the vapours when steaming the herbs is a good treatment for coughs.

Properties
Anodyne (soothing pain reliever), Anti-inflammatory, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic (calms muscles), Carminative (induces the expulsion of gases from the stomach and digestive system), Cholagogue (promotes the discharge of bile from the system), Diaphoretic (induces perspiration), Emmenagogue (aids blood flow in pelvic and uterine area), Febrifuge (fever inducing, brings out fever), Nervine, Sedative, Stomachic (aids digestion), Vasodilator (widens blood vessels for increased blood flow)

Nutritional Breakdown
The main chemical components of Roman chamomile oils are a-pinene, camphene, b-pinene, sabinene, myrcene, 1, 8-cineole, y-terpinene, caryophyllene, and propyl angelate and butyl angelate.

The main constituents of German chamomile oil are chamazulene, a-bisabolol, bisabolol oxide A, bisabolol oxide B and bisabolone oxide A.

Contraindications/Interactions
None known, although Chamomile is not recommended for use during pregnancy as in very high dosages it can induce bleeding.

Instructions For Use/Dosages
Use 1 teaspoon per cup to make a hot strong chamomile tea. Linden (Lime flower) and Elder flowers can be added to make the tea even more potent.

For a bath to relieve fatigue, stress, and colds, tie a handful of flowers into a cloth and drop into the bath or hang from the tap whilst running the bath.

For the treatment of coughs place a handful of the chamomile flowers in a bowl, pour hot water over them, place a towel over your head and your head over the bowl. Then inhale the vapours.