Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre
We Take Care of Your Health Naturally, Using Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture and Western Herbal Medicine, Diet and Body Therapies.
Medicinal Herb: German Chamomile
Medicinal Herb: German Chamomile
German Chamomile
Biological Name:
(Matricaria chamomilla, M. chamomilla)
Family:
Asteraceae
Other Names:
Camomile, matricaria, anthemis, ground apple, Roman camomile, garden camomile, low camomile, whig plant, German camomile, wild camomile.
Introduction to Chamomile:
Chamomile is a widely recognised herb in Western culture. Its medicinal usage dates back to antiquity where such notables as Hippocrates, Galen, and Asclepius made written reference to it. A common ingredient today in herbal teas because of its calming, carminative, and spasmolytic properties, it is also a popular ingredient in topical health and beauty products for its soothing and anti-inflammatory effects on skin. Chamomile has a sweet, grassy, and lightly fruity aroma. Its flowers are daisy-like, with yellow centres (approximately 1-1.5 cm in diameter) and white petals (between 12-20 in number). It is from the plant’s fresh and dried flower heads that infusions, liquid extracts, and essential oils are made[1].
Chamomile scientifically known as Matricaria chamomilla, is a flowering plant that belongs to the Asteraceae family. It is native to Europe and Western Asia but is now cultivated in many parts of the world, including North America.
German chamomile is widely recognised for its medicinal properties and is commonly used in traditional herbal medicine. The plant has delicate, daisy-like flowers with white petals and yellow centers. It grows to a height of about 15-60 cm (6-24 inches) and has a strong, pleasant aroma.
The flowers of German chamomile are the main part used for medicinal purposes. They are harvested and dried to make chamomile tea or extracted to produce essential oil. The essential oil contains various compounds, including chamazulene, which is responsible for the blue color of the oil and has anti-inflammatory properties.
Chamomile is known for its calming and soothing effects, both internally and externally. It is commonly used to promote relaxation, relieve stress, and aid in sleep. Chamomile tea is often consumed as a natural remedy for insomnia, anxiety, and digestive issues like indigestion, bloating, and gas.
In addition to its calming properties, German chamomile has been used topically for centuries to soothe skin irritations and promote wound healing. It can be applied as a diluted essential oil or used in the form of creams, ointments, or compresses to alleviate skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and minor burns.
It’s important to note that while German chamomile is generally considered safe for most people, it can cause allergic reactions in some individuals, especially those with known allergies to plants in the Asteraceae family, such as ragweed. If you have any concerns or specific health conditions, it’s best to consult with a healthcare professional before using German chamomile for medicinal purposes.
Active Constituents in Chamomile:
The flowers of chamomile provide 1-2% volatile oils containing alpha-bisabolol, alpha-bisabolol oxides A & B, and matricin (usually converted to chamazulene). Other active constituents include the bioflavonoids apigenin, luteolin, and quercetin.
These active ingredients contribute to chamomile’s actions and include: antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, anti-ulcer, anti-viral, sedative effects, and smooth muscle-relaxing effects, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract[1,2].
Traditional Applications of Chamomile in Herbal Medicine:
- Blocked tear duct
- Canker sores (mouth ulcers)
- Colic
- Diarrhoea
- Eczema
- Gingivitis (periodontal disease)
- Indigestion and heartburn
- Insomnia
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Peptic ulcer
- Skin irritations
Recent research has shown Chamomile to be effective in the treatment of other conditions including: Diabetes, Mouth, mucositis, and gingival bleeding, Osteoarthritis of the knee, Premenstrual syndrome, and Ulcerative colitis [3].
References
1. Matricaria chamomilla, Alternative Medicine Review Volume 13, Number 1 March 2008
2. Stuart, Malcolm. (1979). The Encyclopedia of herbs and herbalism. London : Orbis Books
Disclaimer
Disclaimer information for users of the Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre, Namaste Yoga Kurrajong and The Herbal Health Coach website.
Page last updated: 26th June 2020
Information provided for education and research information only
The information on this website is presented by Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre for the purpose of disseminating health information free of charge for the benefit of the public.
While Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre has exercised due care in ensuring the accuracy of the material contained on this website, the information on the site is made available on the basis that Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre is not providing professional advice on a particular matter.
This website is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Nothing contained in this site is intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional’s advice.
Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre does not accept any liability for any injury, loss or damage incurred by use of or reliance on the information provided on this website.
Quality of information
Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre makes every effort to ensure the quality of the information available on this website and updates the information regularly. Before relying on the information on this site, however, users should carefully evaluate its accuracy, currency, completeness and relevance for their purposes, and should obtain any appropriate professional advice relevant to their particular circumstances. Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre cannot guarantee and assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, currency, completeness or interpretation of the information.
The material may include the views or recommendations of third parties and does not necessarily reflect the views of Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre or indicate a commitment to a particular course of action.
Links to other websites
This website contains links to other websites which are external to Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre. Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre takes reasonable care in selecting linking websites but Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre accepts no responsibility for material contained in a website that is linked to this site. It is the responsibility of the user to make their own decisions about the accuracy, currency, reliability and correctness of information contained in linked external websites.
Links to external websites are provided for the user’s convenience and do not constitute an endorsement or a recommendation of any third party products or services offered by virtue of any information, material or content linked from or to this site. Users of links provided by this site are responsible for being aware of which organisation is hosting the site they visit.
Views or recommendations provided in linked sites may include the views or recommendations of third parties and do not necessarily reflect those of Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre or indicate a commitment to a particular course of action. .
