Chamomile is renowned for its medical and household uses. The apparently endless list of conditions it can help all fall into areas that the relaxing, carminative, and anti-inflammatory actions can aid.

 

Common Name:           chamomile

Botanical Name:           Matricaria chamomile (German), Anthemis nobilis (Roman)

Parts Used:                     flower

 

Chamomile has a calming and nourishing effect on the entire nervous system (nervine or sedative). It reduces anxiety and nervousness, aids sleep, and is used to treat headaches and cramps and muscle spasms (antispasmodic). Chamomile is one of a group of mild analgesic herbs that reduce pain by affecting the nerves directly, reducing pain signals to the brain. It is also anti-inflammatory and antiseptic, and so can be applied externally as a poultice on sore muscles, painful joints and swellings. 

 

YOU MIGHT LIKE TO TRY:

 

Chamomile is safe even for children. A warm chamomile tea with honey is a great way to prepare kids for bed. 

 

A tablespoon of chamomile (or one tea bag) steeped in a cup of boiling water with two slices of fresh ginger makes an excellent treatment for menstrual cramps and will do wonders for minor digestive issues, such as acid indigestion, gas (carminative), loss of appetite, and even the nausea of morning sickness, especially when combined with other calming herbs such as meadowsweet. 

 

Contraindications, if any: None known. Some slight allergy to chamomile is sometimes reported.