Plant Remedies Chamomile

The fresh plant is strongly aromatic with a distinct scent of apples, a characteristic noted by the Greeks, on account of which they named it ‘ground apple’. Chamomile tea is an old fashioned, but effective remedy for hysterical and nervous affections.

Volatile oil, flavonoids, valerianic acid, coumarins, tannins, salicylates, cyanogenic glycosides

In Chinese herbal medicine chamomile is regarded as bitter, mainly warm, moist.

It is traditionally known as a tonic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, bitter, sedative and prevents vomiting.

Flowers One home-dried flower can give more flavour than a teabag of commercial offering. It is traditionally taken for irritable bowel syndrome, poor appetite, indigestion. Drink a cup at night for insomnia, anxiety and stress. Adding 200-400ml strained infusion to a baby’s bath water may help encourage sleep at night.

Tincture This is traditionally used for irritable bowel, insomnia and tension.

Ointment This is traditionally used for insect bites, wounds, itching eczema, and for anal or vulval irritation.

Mouthwash This is traditionally used as an infusion for mouth inflammations.

Eyewash Dissolve 5 –10 drops of tincture in warm water and can be used for conjunctivitis or strained eyes.

Inhalation Add 2 tsp flowers to a basin of boiling water which may help catarrah, hay fever, asthma, bronchitis.

Lotion This is traditonally used for eczema, using 5 drops chamomile oil to 50ml distilled witch hazel

Inhalation Traditional 2-3 drops in a saucer of warm water and left in the room at night for bad nasal catarrah, asthma (under medical supervision) whooping cough

Do not exceed stated doses of the herb and avoid oil completely in pregnancy.

Chamomile can cause dermatitis particularly if sunbathing on damp chamomile lawns