Chamomile
Description
A glabrous, branched, perennial or annual herb, 15 to 60 cm tall. It is aromatic and native to Mediterranean Europe. It has white ray florets with yellow centers. The flowers contain essential oil (chamazulene, bisalobol), flavonoids, coumarins, and bitter principles.
Basic Uses
Gastrointestinal: Cordial, digestive, carminative, antispasmodic, stomachic. Treats digestive ailments, abdominal pain and colic, diarrhea, nausea (including morning sickness), and indigestion. Respiratory/Fever: Respiratory ailments (asthma, catarrh, cold, cough) and fever reducer. Sedative/Nervousness: Sedative, treats insomnia and anxiety/nervousness. Eyes and Skin: Conjunctivitis, eye inflammation. Cleansing of the complexion, eczema, sores, and ulcers. Other: Headaches, muscle aches, menstrual cramps, and liver and kidney ailments.
Cultural Significance
Chamomile is a domestic plant popularly used in home remedies: infusions for babies and the elderly; present in domestic rituals of cleansing and calming souls in some traditions.
Spiritual & Ceremonial Use
Used in cleansing baths, calming rituals and in domestic offerings; it symbolizes calm and cleanliness.
Preparation Methods
Infusion/Stepping/Tea: Used for tender parts such as flowers and fine leaves. This involves steeping the plant material in boiling water for 5-10 minutes. Decoction: Used for infusions, although steeping is preferred for delicate parts. Eye Drops/Washes: Cooled decoction with salt. Compresses/Washes/Baths: External use with infusion or decoction. Gargles/Rinses: Liquid application to the oral cavity/throat. Syrup: Preparation for oral use
Dosage Guidelines
Infusion (General): 1-2 g/cup of infusion or 20 flowers in 1 liter of water. Take 3 to 4 times/day. Infusion (Mixture for abdominal pain): 5 or 10 sprigs in 1 liter of water (part of a mixture, boil for 10 minutes). Drink 1 or 2 glasses as needed. Use for Insomnia/Nervousness: Drink one glass before sleeping, or one glass at 4 p.m. and another before going to bed. Topical Use (Conjunctivitis): The decoction should contain 2 teaspoons of salt per liter of water. Pour a few drops into the eyes 3 to 6 times a day. Topical Use (Compresses): Infusion or decoction of 50-60 g/L. Tincture: 10-20 drops of 1:8 tincture in 35% ethanol. Syrup/Fluid Extract: 1-3 g or 5-20 ml of infant syrup.
Precautions & Warnings
Internal Use: Excessive use may cause abortion. Do not prescribe the essential oil orally during pregnancy, nor to patients with gastritis, colitis, or peptic ulcers. Its compounds are not toxic, but the crude extract has an LD50 of 670 mg/kg in mice. Topical Use: The flowers may cause contact dermatitis and allergies. Avoid applying saline eye drops if the oil is spoiled to prevent eye irritation.
Ethical Harvesting
Harvest at peak bloom. The flower heads are very delicate and are dried in thin layers in the shade or with forced air at 30-40°C. Fresh material is preferred for infusions and tinctures. Wash your hands thoroughly and clean your tools before harvesting. Avoid harvesting near contaminated areas (waste, roads, chemicals).