Chamomile

What is Chamomile? 

A native of Asia and Europe, Chamomile has made its way to North America and various other parts of the world. This plant is a typical example of the saying that “good things come in small packages”. While the plant grows to approximately 15 inches, all the parts of the plant including the stem, roots and its white flowers can be used as medicine.

Discovering Chamomile 

German chamomile is the most commonly used herb and it is most commonly associated with problems in the gastrointestinal tract. Beginning from the ancient cultures of Rome, Greece and Egypt, people have been using chamomile to treat a variety of ailments like fever, stroke and abdominal discomforts. In Germany the plant is so common that people call it ‘all cure’.

In recent times, Chamomile has gained much popularity as a relaxant and sleep inducer. As Chamomile helps the digestive system and soothes the abdominal muscles, it is also used in case of minor stomach ailments caused by indigestion. It helps relieve flatulence and is a popular antidote for motion sickness.

Chamomile is a fairly ancient herb that has been used for ages as a mild relaxant and a mild anti-inflammatory agent. In the past 20 years or so, extensive research has been conducted to prove the effectiveness of the herb. According to one research paper, over a million cups of chamomile tea is ingested each day all over the world.

Benefits of Chamomile

In the ancient herbal tradition, Chamomile was a cure for many diverse and seemingly unrelated conditions. While a cup of Chamomile tea right after food was supposed to relieve heartburn and flatulence, others used stronger doses for treating ulcers. The flavonoids in Chamomile has anti-inflammatory properties which makes it suitable for use against all kinds of inflammation, like sore gums, slow healing and open wounds, open abscesses, diaper rash and minor burns. In dire cases it was also used to treat psoriasis, eczema and ulcerative colitis.

In modern medicine, Chamomile is used as an anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antibacterial, antiallergenic and sedative agent. Extracts of the herb is used to clean wounds. They are also used to treat cystitis and dental afflictions. The herb has also been used to treat inflammations of the anto-genital areas and for inflammations of the gastrointestinal tract.

Chamomile Cautions 

There are no known contraindications, but high dosages can irritate the intestinal tract. It is not safe to get Chamomile oil into the eyes. Ironically, while Chamomile has an anti-allergic effect, it also induces allergy in some people.

Growing Chamomile