Other Names: Camomile, Wild Chamomile, Hungarian Chamomile, Scented Mayweed
German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita), also spelt Camomile, is an annual plant of the sunflower family Asteraceae.
It usually grows near populated areas all over Europe and temperate Asia. It is widely introduced in temperate
North America and Australia. As the seeds need open soil to survive, it often grows near roads, around landfills
and in cultivated fields as a weed.
German Chamomile flowers are used in alternative medicine as an anodyne, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, nervine,
stomachic, tonic, vasodilatory. The flowers contain various volatile oils including proazulenes. Upon steam
distillation these proazulenes produce chamazulene, this is remarkably anti-allergenic and is useful in the
treatment of asthma and hay fever.
It can be taken as an herbal tea. Chamomile flower tea is used as a sedative and is good for insomnia and many
other nervous conditions. The tea has anti-inflammatory properties, good for rheumatism, arthritis, and other
painful swellings. It is also an antispasmodic for intestinal and menstrual cramps, relieving gas pains, acts
as a very mild but efficient laxative, and loosens tight muscles. Milder tea in large doses is given throughout
the day for fevers, sore throats, the aches and pains due to colds, flu, and allergies. It is nervine and sedative
especially suited to teething children and those who have been in a highly emotional state over a long period
of time. Applied externally as a wash or compress for skin inflammations, sunburn, burns, and added to bath for
relaxing tired, achy muscles and feet, and softening the skin.
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