Posted in Healthful Eating and Living

Chamomile has been described as a wonderful herb, capable of all healing and well being.  A perfect description for this very popular herb that has been used extensively in Europe and most of the Western world as a calming tea.  However, it is not just in recent times that chamomile has found its way into natural remedies, for records show it was used in ancient Greece and Rome, where it was favored to help cure cramps, digestive problems and in skin remedies.

Europeans served chamomile tea after large meals, probably because of its carminative action in helping digestion.  It also has the properties of stimulating the appetite before meals.  Chamomile tea is safe, however, it should not be consume in extremely large quantities.

There are two types of chamomile: Roman and German.  Many times, the two are used interchangeably. Today, I will discuss Roman chamomile as it is the more popular of the two. 

Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) is a great remedy for the digestive system.  An infusion of Roman chamomile is an excellent remedy for nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite.  It is sedative and calming, relieves anxiousness, helps with insomnia, and makes an excellent bedtime drink. Research has shown that those drinking chamomile tea can fall asleep in as little as ten minutes.  And we all know how Peter RabbitÂ’s Mother gave him chamomile to calm him down after his scuffle with Farmer McGregor!

Roman chamomile is antispasmodic and mildly analgesic, which helps with colic, intestinal discomforts, and cramps.  By stimulating intestinal secretions and relaxing muscles of the intestines, it helps to calm upset stomachs.  It also relieves women with uterus pain and menstrual cramps, and helps regulate the menstrual flow.

The herb also has anti-inflammatory properties, which make it an excellent herb to use in face soaps, skin tonics, and is quite helpful for dry, irritated skin.  The chemical compound present in Roman chamomile responsible for its anti-inflammatory properties is alpha bisabolol, which is much more effective that hydrocortisol in relieving and treating skin inflammation.

Rinses made with Chamomile can be used to add golden tints to hair.  It brings out natural blonde highlights without all the chemicals and toxins found in hair coloring agents.

Mix with lemon balm, peppermint, and hops in a tea or tincture to calm over stimulated children, or to use as a calming and centering remedy.  Chamomile baths, whether salt or bath teas, can prove to be a relaxing end to a stressful day.

Those who are sensitive to ragweed, asters, and mums should test chamomile before using on a large scale, to be sure of no allergic reaction.

Carla Lynne Klimuk

Senior Editor

The materials and information shared here are historic or botanical in origin.  The information is not meant to take the place of your qualified health care professional.  Avail yourself of the information on the internet and through books, videos, and other media, and share your discoveries with your primary care practitioner.  The herbal and health information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.  Nothing on the site is considered medical advice.  Seek your health care professional for individual guidance or for serious medical conditions