Botanical Name: Matricaria Chamomilla
Family Name: Compositae
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Tribe: Anthemideae
Genus: Matricaria
Species: M. recutita
Popular Names: Matricaria, Anthemis, Ground Apple, Roman Camomile, Garden Camomile, Low Camomile, Whig Plant, German Chamomile, Wild Chamomile, Amerale, Bayboon, Babunnej, Kami-Ture, Manzanilla Dulce, Papatya, Blue Chamomile, Hungarian Chamomile, Scented Mayweed
Parts Used: Chamomile flowers, Chamomile stalks, Whole Plant
Habitat: Grows as a weed all over the dry parts of India
Description
Known by different names, chamomile is a perennial low-growing plant native to Europe and Western Asia. The branched stem of the plant is erect, smooth and grows to a height of 15 to 60 cm. The long and narrow leaves are bipinnate or tripinnate. The solitary, terminal flower heads consist of white ray florets that are furnished with a ligule and yellow disc florets. They bloom in early to mid- summer and have a strong, aromatic fragrance. Chamomile has now been introduced to temperate North America and Australia as well. The Roman Chamomile has a stronger fragrance as compared to the German Chamomile.
Plant Chemicals
(+)- alpha-bisabolol, choline, galacturonic-acid, glucose, 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic-acid, 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic-acid, 3,4-dihydroxycinnamic-acid, 3-carene, 3- hydroxy -2-methylidene-butyric-acid-angelate, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-be nzoic-acid, 4-methoxybenzoic-acid, 6-3-dimethoxyquercetin, 6,7-dimethoxyquercetin, 6-hydroxy-luteolin-7-glucoside, 6-methoxykaempferol, alpha-bisabololoxide-a, alpha-bisabololoxide-b, alpha-bisabololoxide-c, alpha-bisaboloneoxide-a, alpha- muurolene, ap igenin glucosides, ascorbic-acid, axillarin, azulene, betacaryo-phyllene, beta-damascenone, bisabolene, borneol, bornyl-acetate, caffeic-acid, calamene, capric-acid, caprylic-acid, caryophyllenepoxide, catechin-tannins, chamazulene, chamomilla-esters, chamomillol, chlorogenic-acid, chrysoeriol, chrysoeriol-7-glucoside, chrysosplenol, chrysosplentin, cis-caryophyllene, cis-en-yn-dicycloether, epsilon-1-(2,6-dimethylphenyl) -2-buten-1-one, ethyl- benzoate, ethyl-decanoate, ethyl-palmitate, ethyl-phenyl acetate, eupaletin, farnesene, farnesol, furfural, galactose, gallic-acid-tannin, gentisic-acid, geraniol, herniarin, hyperoside, isoferulic-acid, isorhamnetin, isorhamnetin -7-glucoside, jaceidin, kaempferol, linoleic-acid, luteolin, luteolin glucosides, matricarin, matricin, niacin, o-coumaric-acid, p-coumaric-acid, palmitic-acid, patuletin, pectic-acid, perillyl-alcohol, polyacetylene, quercetagetin-3,5,6,7,3′,4′-hexamethylether, quercetagetin-3,6,7,3′,4′-pentamethylether, querce-tagetin, tetrameth ylether, quercetin, quercetin-3-galactoside, quercetin-7-glucoside, quercetrin, quercimeritrin, rhamnose, rutin, salicylic-acid, sinapic-acid, spathulenol, spinacetin, tannin, thiamin, thujone, trans-alpha- farnesene, trans-en-yn-dicycloether, triaconta ne, umbelliferone, xanthoxylin, xylose
Uses and Benefits of Chamomile
- Chamomile is stomachic, tonic, anodyne, anti-spasmodic, laxative, diaphoretic, analgesic, carminative, anti-inflammatory and sedative.
- It is used for nervousness, headaches, anxiety and hysteria.
- The herb benefits cramps and spasms.
- One tablespoonful of chamomile powder steeped in a cup of boiling water, with two slices of ginger, is very effective in alleviating menstrual cramps and other pains.
- Chamomile tea is also useful for minor digestive problems like acid indigestion and gas, weak stomach, stomach pains, lack of appetite and colic pain. It also proves effective against intestinal parasites like worms.
- Chamomile, when taken regularly, regulates the bowels.
- The plant is very useful in aching muscles, hay fever, asthma, morning sickness, eczema, sore nipples and exhaustion.
- The herb is used as a mouthwash to relieve the pain of a toothache.
- It is used to treat insomnia and other nervous conditions, when taken as a strong tea.
- Chamomile flowers are made into a salve and used on haemorrhoids and wounds.
- The flowers are added to bath for relaxing tired, aching muscles and feet, and softening the skin.
- Applying chamomile as an external wash or compress treats skin inflammations, sunburns and burns.
- Chamomile relieves diaper rash and serious leg ulcers.
Cautions
- Any person allergic to ragweed should not use the chamomile herb, since it is a relative of the former.
- The plant contains coumarin. Thus, it should be taken with care, to avoid potential drug interactions.
- In rare cases, large doses of chamomile can cause nausea and vomiting. In rare cases, rashes may occur due to chamomile use.
