Vegetable synonyms: The true chamomile belongs to the family Asteraceae, the composite flower. It is also called German chamomile, field chamomile, ermine and feverfew. In addition, you can still find the popular names, such as Apfelkraut, Haugenblum, Mondkrud, Kuhmelle and Romeri. Latin name: Matricaria recutita
Plant description
Chamomile is an annual herb, 20-40 centimeters high, with an upright, round stem, which is glabrous and branched upwards. The leaves are light green and pinnate two to three times. They have narrow leaf tips that end in pointed tips.
The 1.8 cm to 2.5 cm wide flower heads are terminal and have the characteristic white ray florets with yellow, domed bases. Camomile grows on undemanding, nutrient-poor soils at field and road sides. When the flower heads are crushed, the camomile smells very aromatic, which can only be found in real camomile.
Camomile is found in Europe and North Africa. The main import country is France. The medicinal plant camomile is collected from May to August in sunshine.
Medicinally used plant parts
The flowers and the essential oil extracted from them.
Ingredients
Up to 3% essential oil with bisabolol and proazulene which has a blue color. Also flavonoids, coumarins. Interaction of all active ingredients results in the well-known camomile effect and is thoroughly researched.
Production
The fresh and dried flower heads of real chamomile are used for medicinal purposes. Camomile flowers are offered as alcoholic extracts or as tea for internal or external use. In cosmetic products such as ointments, creams and baths, extracts of the medicinal plant chamomile are frequently found.
When used as tea, the dose of the ingredients should be available or finished products should be used. The following preparation forms are possible:
- Camomile tea: 1 to 2 heaped teaspoons of camomile blossoms with 1⁄4 l of hot water pour over, after 10 minutes strain, unsweetened and well warm drink. With stomach complaints kurmäßig over several weeks always between the meals.
- Camomile steam bath: In a larger bowl, pour about 1 liter of very hot water over a handful of camomile flowers.
Head over the bowl, covered with a large towel, inhale the warm camomile vapors.
When using chamomile flowers for medicinal purposes, you should ask your pharmacy for standardized chamomile preparations. Most studies on efficacy have been carried out with these preparations. The standardized finished products are tinctures or fluid extracts (liquid extracts).
The adult dose is 3 gr. concentrate, which corresponds to about three teaspoons of dried flower. For dry extract the dose is 50 to 300 mg, three times daily, for fluid extract (liquid extracts) 1:2 with 50% ethanol 3-6 ml daily.
Chamomile tea relieves stomach ache in the case of upset stomach. It relaxes and has an antibacterial effect. Mild kidney and bladder complaints as well as menstrual problems or vaginal inflammation can be relieved by chamomile.
Chamomile tea also has a calming effect and temporarily relieves toothache. Tea preparations are made by pouring 150 ml of boiling water over three teaspoons of dried blossom and covering it for five to ten minutes. The tea is drunk three to four times a cup a day.
A chamomile steam bath or inhalation helps with colds such as sinusitis and stuffy nose or even with impure skin. For inhalation, take 10 to 20 ml of alcoholic extract or two to three tablespoons of dried chamomile flowers per 1 l of hot water. For compresses, rinses and gargle solutions, 1% fluid extracts (liquid extracts) or 5% tinctures are often used
