Chamomile flower

Matricaria recutita

Description: Chamomile is an erect, 20 to 40 cm high herb with white composite flowers with a yellow center. True camomile is indigenous to Europe and northwest Asia.

Composition: The medicinal parts consists of fresh or dried flower heads. The essential oil of the flowers contain alpha-bisabolol or bisabolol oxide A and B. The flowers also contain matricin and flavone derivatives such as apigenin and apigenin-7-glucoside.

Actions: Promotes wound healing. The flavones are anti-inflammatory. Antiphlogistic. Musculotropic. Antispasmodic. Deodorant. Antibacterial. Bacteriostatic. Stimulates skin metabolism.

Use:
External: Skin and mucous membrane inflammations. Bacterial skin diseases (including the oral cavity and gums). Inflammation or irritation of the respiratory tract. Ano-genital inflammation.
Internal: Gastrointestinal spasms. Inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Additional Uses: Common cold. Cough/Bronchitis. Fevers and colds. Inflammation of skin. Inflammation of the mouth and pharynx. Liver and gallbladder complaints. Loss of appetite. Tendency to infection. Wounds and burns.

Side Effects: None Known.

Contraindications: None known.

Administration: May be taken internally as a tea. May be used externally as a bath additive or for poultices. There are liquid and solid preparations available for external and internal application.