1. Press TV Print Page 1 of 3
Alternative medicine: Chamomile
Tue, 13 Nov 2007 20:20:38
By Patricia Khashayar, MD., Press TV, Tehran
Considered an effective remedy by ancient Egyptians, Chamomile continues to be used to
fight ailments, and relieve bedtime anxiety.
Botanical: Anthemis nobilis (LINN.)
Family: N.O. Compositae
Synonym: Matricaria chamomilla, German Chamomile, and Wild Chamomile.
Habitat:
Various Chamomile species are spread over Europe, North Africa and the temperate region of
Asia.
Hungary was once the main supplier of Chamomile; however, today it is mainly imported
from Eastern European countries, Egypt and Argentina.
Description:
Chamomile is a downy and grayish green, low-growing plant. The root is perennial, jointed
and fibrous. The hairy and freely branching stems are covered with leaves, which give the
plant a feathery appearance.
German Chamomile is of very high quality.
Part Used Medicinally:
Flowers and herb.
Constituents:
The active principles are volatile oil, Anthemic acid (the bitter principle), tannic acid and
glucoside.
Medicinal Uses:
Chamomile is used to treat motion sickness, tension, restlessness, spasms, headaches,
migraine and depression.
Chamomile tea is an extremely effective remedy for hysterical and nervous breakdowns and
is also used as an emmenagogue.
It is considered as a preventive and the sole certain remedy for nightmares. It can cut
delirium tremens attacks in the early stage and has sometimes been employed in wax and
wane fevers.
It is also used to treat hemorrhoids, swollen and painful breasts, wounds, rashes, and leg
ulcers.
Chamomile tincture is the cure for summer diarrhea in children and is believed to be useful in
nervous stomach, colitis, peptic ulcer, Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
http://www.presstv.com/pop/print.aspx?id=30940 3/26/2008

2. Press TV Print Page 2 of 3
Chamomile is used with purgatives to prevent colds. It is proven to be useful in treating
conjunctivitis and eye irritations and all conditions affecting the mucosa.
Chamomile is thought to have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic
powers. Its oil is an active ingredient in many over-the-counter anti-inflammatory and
antiseptic drugs.
Some herbalists recommend Chamomile flowers for treating water retention, blood clots,
muscle tension, and a depressed immune system.
Chamomile flower is especially known to be effective in fighting gram positive bacteria
(staphylococcus aureus) and candida albicans.
Chamomile flower also reduces the urea level in blood and is used to treat menstrual
disorders.
Combined with ginger and alkalies, the cold infusion proves an excellent stomachic in cases of
ordinary indigestion, such as flatulent colic, heartburn, loss of appetite, and also in gout and
periodic headache.
It is an appetizing tonic, especially for the elderly, when taken an hour or more before a
principal meal. A strong, warm infusion is a useful emetic.
Chamomile flowers used alone, or combined with an equal quantity of crushed poppy-heads,
is a poultice and fomentation for external swelling, inflammatory pain or congested neuralgia.
It will relieve where other remedies have failed, proving invaluable for reducing swellings of
the face caused through abscesses.
It is used in several skin conditions such as dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, acne, blisters and
boils. However, it can aggravate certain conditions.
Chamomile's antiseptic powers are 120 times stronger than sea-water.
The whole herb is used for making lotions for external application in toothache, earache,
neuralgia, etc. The herb has also been employed in hot fomentations to treat local and
intestinal inflammation.
Preparation:
Chamomile is most frequently taken as tea: 1 tablespoon of the chamomile flowers can be
added to hot water and steeped for 10 minutes in a covered pot. Chamomile infusion can also
be applied topically to skin as a compress.
A decoction of Chamomile flowers and poppy heads is applied as hot fomentation to
abscesses - 10 parts of Chamomile flowers to 5 of poppy capsules, to 100 of distilled water.
Inhaling a mixture of a handful of Chamomile flowers in water is shown to be effective in
treating headaches, earaches and toothaches. It may also be helpful to add other herbs
(thyme, wild oregano) to enhance the effects of the infusion.
Gargling or rinsing the mouth with warm chamomile tea at hourly intervals may treat acute
mouth and throat inflammation as well as peritonsillar abscess.
It should be noted that the curative effect of Chamomile takes a relatively long time to
develop. As a result, treatment should be continued for at least one week after the acute
symptoms have subsided.
In addition, the prescribed dose must be high enough to be effective and the medication
should be taken several times during the day.
http://www.presstv.com/pop/print.aspx?id=30940 3/26/2008

3. Press TV Print Page 3 of 3
Chamomile is commonly used in partial baths, wet compresses and steam baths to treat
inflamed hemorrhoids.
The steam bath is prepared by placing a handful of bath quality Chamomile into a bucket and
pouring 2-3 liters of boiling water onto it. The patient then sits on the top of the bucket
covered with a blanket to ensure no steam escapes.
Caution:
Chamomile should not be taken during pregnancy or breast-feeding.
Chamomile contains coumarin, a naturally occurring compound with anticoagulant or blood-
thinning effects. It should not be combined with warfarin.
People with allergies may react when they use chamomile either internally or topically. It may
cause skin irritation.
It is not recommended in teething babies, individuals with hay fever, asthma or other health
problems such as high blood pressure and heart or blood vessel diseases.
Patients allergic to any medicines should be cautioned while using the herb.
Chamomile may cause drowsiness (make you tired), so be careful while driving an automobile
or operating machinery.
In case of having any of the following side effects, one must discontinue consuming the herb
as it means you are allergic to it:
- Breathing problems or tightness in your throat or chest
- Chest pains
- Skin hives, rash, or itchy or swollen skin
High doses of the herb may cause vomiting.
PKH/HGH
Count of views : 2250
© Press TV 2007. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.presstv.com/pop/print.aspx?id=30940 3/26/2008