Medicinal Properties Of Chamomile

2024 Author: Sebastian Paterson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:47

How beautiful the flower is - it looks like the sun

If you say the word "chamomile", then, perhaps, ninety out of a hundred people imagine a fairly tall plant - up to 60 cm tall with beautiful large inflorescences-baskets. These amazing flowers can be found in meadows, forest glades, and now they are already widespread in garden beds.

A beautiful plant, but, alas, it is not a chamomile, but an ordinary daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), or popovnik, as it is sometimes called in our lands. True, he, like chamomile, belongs to the same family - Astrovye, but his genus is different - Nivyanik.

Chamomiles, including the pharmacy chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) of interest to us, also belong to the Astrovye family, but to the Chamomile genus. She, in contrast to the perennial cornflower, is an annual plant.

Of course, this chamomile is not as spectacular as the daisy, although outwardly it is similar - the same flower basket with white marginal flowers-petals and inner yellow tubular flowers, but the size, alas, is not the same. In the daisy, the inflorescence can reach six centimeters in diameter, and in the chamomile, the diameter of the inflorescence is much smaller - up to 2.5 cm.

The extreme ligulate chamomile petal flowers have one characteristic feature: at first they stand vertically, then they are arranged horizontally, and by the end of flowering they bend down, and the receptacle protrudes forward along with tubular flowers, where the seeds will then ripen. By the way, experts say that it is this feature that helps to distinguish chamomile from its other types. And one more big difference between chamomile and cornflower - the whole chamomile plant has a strong specific bitter-spicy smell.

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Like the daisy, chamomile can also be found in meadows, but only where the grass is sparse. This is due to the fact that the germination of its seeds is high, but certain conditions are required for the germination of seeds: good illumination and moisture supply. But with a dense and high grass stand, it is difficult for her to break through.

But it develops well on the outskirts of fields and among crops, along roads, on vacant lots, near residential buildings. Due to the high germination of seeds, it has another interesting feature: it can be spring and winter. Since the first seeds on a plant ripen, depending on temperature conditions and terrain, in the second half of July, then, once in favorable conditions, they can germinate and sprout until autumn and form a rosette of leaves.

The young plant then, with the onset of cold weather, will go green under the snow, and in the spring it will continue to develop and give flowers very early. Other seeds that matured later or did not get into favorable conditions, after lying in the soil for a cold time, will sprout in the spring - already like a spring plant.

The stem of chamomile is erect, up to half a meter high, with shoots extending almost from the ground. At the end of the stem and all shoots, inflorescences are formed. There are many of them, so up to five thousand seeds can be collected from one bush. Leaves are double- and thrice-cut, from a distance resembling a "herringbone". Chamomile blooms in June, and the seeds on the first flowers are ready in mid-June.

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Pharmacy chamomile - its very name speaks of its medicinal properties - has been used for medicinal purposes since ancient times. And it is still used in both official and folk medicine.

The raw materials that are collected and used are inflorescences. Flower baskets are harvested at the initial stage of flowering, when the white reed flower petals are horizontal. The collected medicinal raw materials are dried, scattering in a not very thick layer - up to 5 cm, in a ventilated room, in the shade, stirring it regularly to prevent mold and rot.

The high medicinal properties of chamomile pharmacy, and it is used as an antiseptic, and as a sedative, and as an anti-inflammatory agent, and as a drug that helps to improve metabolic processes, as well as normalize blood pressure and heart function, are determined by the rich chemical composition of this plant. The main thing that chamomile flowers are famous for is a valuable essential oil, which contains sexviterpenoids and montorepenes; chamomile also contains a lot of flavonoids, which provide this plant with powerful anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral effects.

In addition, chamomile contains fatty acid glycerides, coumarins, polysaccharides, phytosterone, and choline. It is these substances that have a beneficial effect on the treatment of many diseases, endowing chamomile with an almost miraculous power that is used by both official and traditional medicine. In this case, chamomile preparations are used both internally and externally.

As an antiseptic, chamomile herb successfully fights bacteria. Its broth, if necessary, is used to treat wounds. Timely drunk chamomile decoction will help with mild poisoning.

As an anti-inflammatory agent, chamomile helps relieve skin inflammation, heals small cracks and damage to the epidermis. And it is no coincidence that the essential oil of this plant is included in many creams and lipsticks.

Taking chamomile in the form of flower tea helps with sleep disorders, stress, depression, sudden anxiety. They calm and strengthen the human nervous system.

Regular intake of chamomile flowers helps to improve the body's work, strengthen the immune system.

In official medicine, a whole arsenal of medicines from chamomile is now used for treatment. Its essential oil is most appreciated. It is very expensive, sometimes unscrupulous manufacturers even replace it with other oils.

This oil is used in the treatment of many diseases, such as inflammation of the upper respiratory tract - it relieves inflammation of the respiratory tract and relieves cough; externally used for ulcerative lesions, burns, skin diseases, herpes, acne; and in the form of lotions and rinses, it is the most effective remedy in the treatment of periodontal disease.

Other drugs based on chamomile are also used; they are available in pharmacies.

For example, Ayurom liniment serves as a local analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent, it helps to actively fight sciatica, arthritis and bedsores.

The drug "Rotokan" on the basis of chamomile is used by dentists to dull pain.

The "Rekutan" remedy performs wound healing and anti-inflammatory functions.

Means "Romazulon" is used in a variety of situations: when rinsing and rinsing, as compresses in the case of cystitis, otitis media, colitis, gastritis.

In folk medicine, the range of application of chamomile is much wider. It is used as an antibacterial and soothing agent. Both adults and children are treated with it. Since ancient times, folk healers have used chamomile decoctions to treat inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.

After all, chamomile is one of the few plants that can be used by patients with high acidity of gastric juice. A decoction of chamomile reduces the swelling of the gastric mucosa, enhances bile secretion, promotes rapid healing of stomach and duodenal ulcers, reduces gas formation and fermentation processes, relieves stomach cramps.

Chamomile is also used as a diaphoretic for colds.

Chamomile tea

Most often, pharmacy chamomile, more precisely - its flowers are used in the form of tea. It helps to normalize the functioning of the gallbladder and stomach. For example, it will help relieve colic, eliminate gas formation, abdominal pain. Since it has the property of thinning the blood, it should not be drunk when taking drugs that have the same property, for example, simultaneously with aspirin.

This tea also helps relieve chronic inflammation and clear mucous membranes. Chamomile tea is also used to treat infections of the upper respiratory tract and mouth. It is recommended to use it for rinsing the mouth if a toothache or gums become inflamed, as well as if you have sores on the mucous membrane. If you need to relieve pain, it is better to rinse your mouth with cool tea.

The ability of chamomile to calm the nervous system is also well known to many. A cup of chamomile tea that you drink in the evening will help you fall asleep faster and make your sleep restful and deep.

How to make chamomile tea? The recipe is very simple: for this you need to pour 1 teaspoon of dried chamomile flowers with a glass (200 ml) of boiling water. When the tea is brewed in a quarter of an hour, the liquid must be filtered. It is recommended to drink this tea warm, but not hot. If you bought chamomile tea bags, then in this case you need one tea bag for a glass of boiling water. It is recommended to drink chamomile tea three times a day before meals.

If you are making tea for children, the ratio of flowers to boiling water is different. For 1 teaspoon of chamomile, you need two glasses of boiling water. Better to brew immediately in a large mug. After about 20 minutes, when the tea is brewed, strain it, wait until it cools down to an acceptable temperature. For children, you can add 1 teaspoon of honey to this tea.

Chamomile decoction

It is prepared in the following way: 1 tablespoon of dried chamomile flowers is placed in an enamel vessel, poured with a glass of boiling water (200 ml) and placed in a water bath for half an hour, covered with a lid. The resulting broth is then insisted for another two to three hours and filtered. Then the resulting broth is brought to the original volume (200 ml) by adding boiling water.

Drink a glass of decoction three times a day in the treatment of colitis, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, flatulence, neuralgia and insomnia.

A decoction of chamomile is also used externally: for the treatment of skin diseases - eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis and festering wounds.

For such a decoction, you need to take 1 tablespoon of chamomile flowers and 500 ml of water. Pour chamomile with water and put on the stove. After boiling water, remove the container with the broth from the heat and leave for 15-20 minutes to infuse. After that, filter the broth and cool a little, and then moisten a soft tissue with it and apply it to the affected area. This procedure is repeated several times a day.

The same broth can be used to treat a sore throat - gargle with it, and in case of a cold, use it to wash the nose.

Camomile tea

Its preparation is simpler than the preparation of decoctions. To do this, pour 2 teaspoons of dried chamomile flowers in a thermos with 1 cup of boiling water. Close the thermos and keep the liquid there for three hours. After that, the infusion must be filtered and taken in a third of a glass three times a day for flatulence, gastritis, colitis and enteritis.

There is a recipe for cold chamomile infusion. For its preparation, 1 tablespoon of dried chamomile flowers are poured with one glass of cold water and kept for about half a day. After that, the infusion is filtered and taken during the day in several doses.

Chamomile inhalation

For colds - bronchitis, tracheitis, bronchial asthma, diseases of the nasopharynx, chamomile inhalations (inhalation of medicinal substances) are recommended. To obtain a medicinal product, 2 tablespoons of dried chamomile flowers should be poured with one liter of boiling water. To enhance the healing effect, you can add 1 tablespoon of honey and soda to this liquid. You can apply this composition using a special inhaler, and if it is not there, then simply exhale the hot vapors of this remedy, covering your head with a towel over the container.

The duration of inhalations is 10-15 minutes for adults and 3-4 minutes for children. Spend them twice a day.

Contraindications

Traditional medicine preparations from chamomile pharmacy, like preparations from many other medicinal plants, have some contraindications. Chamomile is not recommended during pregnancy. And some people may have allergic reactions to chamomile. Since chamomile has a sedative effect, it is not recommended for mental disorders and schizophrenia. It is also contraindicated for antacid (low acidity) gastritis.

In addition, like other medicinal plants, it must be used taking into account the recipes, in consultation with your doctor. Practice has shown that excessive consumption of chamomile teas and infusions can cause headaches, depression, coughing and hoarseness.

Anatoly Petrov