Introduction
Chamomile is often grown amongst wild flowers or deliberately planted in lawns so that they emit a pleasing smell when crushed underfoot. The name comes from the Greek for ‘earth apple’ which suggests it should be a potato but in fact refers to the apple-like smell which the plant emits when bruised. It is a member of the daisy family (Asteraceae).
Most often, a tea infusion from the flowers is prepared which is enjoyed by many although for some it is an acquired taste if you are used to peppermint tea.
The tea is the means by which we have benefited from its chemical componentry. A number of studies show promise but are contradicted by a few which simply do not. It should never replace any mainstream pharmaceutical interventions in those with serious illnesses. It does not suit everyone either so precautions need to be taken with it. However, it has a characteristic flavour enjoyed by many. The tea is prepared from infusing the flowers.
There are two species to be considered; German Chamomile which has the latin species name of Matricaria recutita (syn. Chamomilla recutita). The alternative is Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile). Of the many types available, there is one from Germany which is known as ‘alles zutraut’ which literally means its ‘good for everything’.
There are some excellent reviews covering the properties and uses of chamomile (McKay & Blumberg, 2006; Srivastava et al., 2010).
Componentry
The plant contains 0.24%–1.9% volatile oil, composed of a variety of separate oils (Srivastava et al., 2010). The principal components of the essential oil extracted from the German chamomile flowers are the terpenoids α-bisabolol and its oxide azulenes. These include chamazulene and acetylene derivatives. Azulene is a very unusual compound which is used in many preparations as an anti-inflammatory.
Uses
- Used to induce sleep and reduce anxiety
- Often used as a digestive aid
- Prevention and healing of stomach ulcers
- Chamomile oil can relax not only the muscles in the stomach but also the uterus, relieving pain and promoting menstruation
- Calming the nervous system, for anxiety or stress
- As an anti-inflammatory for relief of arthritic joint pain
- Claimed to kill Candida yeast and some bacteria such as Staphylococcus to prevent infections
- Chamomile stimulates the immune systems production of white blood cells to fight infection
Preparation
Chamomile tea is one of the most widely enjoyed herbal tea infusions in the world. To make a refreshing infusion simply add two to three teaspoons of flowers to a cup of boiling water. Steep for 10 minutes and enjoy! Drink up to three cups a day. If using a tincture, use half to one teaspoon up to three times a day.
You can soak a clean cloth in a strong infusion of Chamomile and apply it to a cut or burns for a soothing compress. For a relaxing Chamomile bath, put a handful of flowers in a cloth and hang it under the tap as the bath is running.
Vaping
The herb can be vaped at 125°C or 257°F to release the principal essential oils.
Chamomile Helps Some To Sleep
Chamomile tea is not only claimed to reduce stress but can also serve as a sleeping aid. It is ideal for those who do not sleep well or suffer with restfulness.
Chamomile & Diabetes Treatment
Chamomile tea has been used for centuries to calm people’s nerves and reduce anxiety. The exciting stuff started when in 2008, there was a study with mice which showed some benefits in terms of diabetes management. At the time, plenty of caution was thrown at the study because like many animal studies, there were positive benefits being reported and stakeholders were getting ahead of themselves in stating they had some sort of cure for type-2 diabetes in particular. Clearly, one study does not such a claim possible and since then, human clinical trials have been developed to try and tease out the benefits.
Chamomile & Skin Treatment
If chamomile is included in skin packs, it is said to regenerate skin cells and coupled with its anti-bacterial abilities, ward off the bacteria that cause acne. There are certainly powerful antioxidants and anti-microbials in chamomile extracts so it is not beyond belief that when applied externally, they should clear up acne by destroying the bacteria which inhabit the skin pores.
The Ayurvedic approach. Strain a half cup of chamomile tea without any sugar and mix with 3 teaspoons of the clay like material fuller’s earth. Apply this as a skin pack to the face twice every week. It removes blackheads, any deeply lodged dirt and removes dead skin cells.
Menstrual Pain Relief
A few studies show that drinking the tea can reduce the severity of menstrual pain and this may be linked to reducing anxiety and stress associated with period pains (Jenabi and Ebrahimzadeh, 2010).
Menstrual pain is extremely debilitating and the clinical term for it is primary dysmenorrhea which affects somewhere between 60 and 93 per cent of women able to menstruate. There is no issue very often with the genitals, just this griping feeling. The pain is characterized in the lower abdomen area of the body and usually radiates to the thighs. It usually lasts for 2 or 3 days. The pain is often accompanied by bloating and cramping with sweating and perspiring.
The Iranian researchers (Toyserkan Aazad University) suggested chamomile tea consumption alleviated menstrual pain. The study relied on data gathered from four types of questionnaire:- McGill Pain Questionnaire, Visual Analogue Scales for Anxiety, Perceived Stress Scale and The Psycho physiologic Life Adaptation Scale. These are all designed to make an assessment of discomfort and cover a number of aspects associated with pain and feeling well.
Issues
Some people who have drunk the tea have reported a reaction which is similar to allergenic one.
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References
Jenabi, E., & Ebrahimzadeh, S.,. (2010). Chamomile tea for relief of primary dysmenorrhea. Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility. 13. Pp. 39-42
McKay, D.L. Blumberg, J.B. (2006) A review of the bioactivity and potential health benefits of chamomile tea (Matricaria recutita L.). Phytother. Res., 20(7) pp. 519-530 (Article)
Srivastava, J.K., Shankar, E., Gupta, S. (2010) Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with bright future. Molecular Medicine Reports. 3(6) pp. 895-901. doi:10.3892/mmr.2010.377.
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