Chamomile Flower Whole 100 g, 50 g, 25 g

Chamomile Flower – 100 g ($12.99), 50 g ($8.99), 25 g ($5.99)

Benefits:
Chamomile has antianxiety, antihistamine, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antispasmodic properties. It also may lower blood sugar and protect against cancer. As an antibacterial herb, chamomile may inhibit the growth of underarm bacteria, which eliminates underarm perspiration odor.

Allergies. If chamomile is steamed or placed in hot water, a substance called chamazulene, which has markedly antiallergenic properties, is formed. Studies have found that chamazulene prevents the formation of inflammatory leukotrienes, thereby inhibiting the generation of toxic free radicals needed to trigger the allergic response. A compound in the herb’s essential oil reinforces the effect of chamazulene by blocking the release of histamine. Chamazulene also stops stomach irritation caused by the release of free radicals that activate histamine. This explains chamomile’s traditional use in soothing upset stomach.

Anxiety, attention deficit disorder (ADD), insomnia, and stress. Chamomile has traditionally been used as a calmative for persons under stress. Herbalists especially recommend it for sleeplessness in children. Laboratory tests on animals show that inhaling the vapors of essential oil of chamomile reduces the body’s production of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), a stress hormone. Inhaling the essential oil lowers stress and makes other stress-reduction drugs, such as diazepam (Valium), more effective.

Cuts, scrapes, and abrasions. Chamomile creams reduce the “weeping” of fluid from cuts and scrapes and have been used on skin ulcers. A German study of people who had undergone dermabrasion for the removal of tattoos found that chamomile creams reduced both the amount of fluid lost and the size of the wounds. In another study, cancer patients receiving chemotherapy were given a mouthwash of chamomile three times a day for two weeks and their mouth sores did not heal better compared to a control group. However, in a case study on a woman who was receiving methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis, a chamomile mouthwash was shown to help with mouth sores. The patient was completely healed after four weeks. According to the German Commission E, chamomile is approved for treatment of inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes and diseases of the skin and gums. It may also act as a deodorant.

Endometrial cancer. Chamomile contains apigenin, a chemical that prevents the production of proteins that allow cancer cells from anchoring to new sites in cell lines.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and morning sickness. Naturopathic physicians in the United States frequently recommend chamomile tea as part of a treatment program for IBS because of its antispasmodic properties, which also makes it useful in treating morning sickness. Chamomile is more effective when used with ginger. (See GINGER.)

Peptic ulcers. For over twenty years, medical researchers have recognized the value of chamomile in preventing and treating peptic ulcers. Chamomile’s anti-inflammatory and antihistamine actions soothe inflammation throughout the digestive tract. When the discomfort of peptic ulcers is compounded by diarrhea, chamomile hastens recovery, especially if a high-fiber diet is maintained.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Traditional herbal medicine in England used chamomile as one of the five “opening” herbs for the treatment of irregular menstruation. Chamomile contains spiroether, a very strong antispasmodic agent that relaxes aching and tense muscles, and alleviates premenstrual pain.

Recommended Uses
People who are allergic to ragweed or members of the Compositae family (chrysanthemums) should avoid contact with chamomile because it could produce dermatitis or anaphylaxis.

Chamomile is used in teas and tinctures internally, and in creams and compresses externally. (See COMPRESSES in Part Three.) More than those of most other herbs, the effects of chamomile are cumulative. Use chamomile for at least three to four weeks before deciding whether or not it is effective.

Choose products made from German chamomile, Chamomilla recutita, or Matricaria recutita, rather than Roman chamomile, Anthemis cotula. In a few rare instances, Roman chamomile produces allergic skin reactions, but the allergenic compound in Roman chamomile is not found in German chamomile. It is also important to buy a chamomile product that consists only of flowers, without leaves and stems mixed in. Leaves and stems have much lower content of therapeutic essential oils than flowers.

Chamomile contains the natural blood-thinners known as coumarins. Since these chemicals in the herb are similar to the prescription drug warfarin (Coumadin), avoid chamomile teas when taking warfarin. However, some argue that the risk may not be significant and chamomile may be taken with warfarin. Check with your doctor if you are on blood-thinners before using chamomile. It may also cause drowsiness.

Botanical Name: Matricaria chamomilla
English: German chamomile
Also, Known As: Wild Chamomile, Garden Chamomile, Ground Apple, Pinheads, Baabunaa, Babuna Camornile, Babuna, Babunj, English chamomile, Scented mayweed, Camomilla, Flos Chamomile, Single Chamomile, and Sweet False Chamomile.
Habitat: Europe and Asia
Origin: Egypt

General Information:
Matricaria chamomilla is a well-known medicinal plant species from the Asteraceae family often referred to as the star among medicinal species.” Nowadays it is a highly favored and much used medicinal plant in folk and traditional medicine.
There are two different types of chamomile: German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) and Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile). While there are some similarities between the two, there are also significant differences. This information provided here is for German Chamomile. It is native to southern and eastern Europe but has spread all over the world either in the garden or growing as a weed in disturbed soils. Chamomile is a member of the Asteraceae plant family and has an appearance like daisies. Chamomile is an annual plant with thin spindle-shaped roots only penetrating flatly into the soil. The plant grows to a height of about 3-4 feet and has small daisy like yellow flower heads with white petals. The long and narrow leaves are bi to tri pinnate. The flower heads are placed separately, they have a diameter of 10-30 mm, and they are pedunculated and heterogamous. Humans have been interacting with chamomile for tens of thousands of years.

 

How to use:
We make these suggestions to help you get the best benefit from the herbs that you’re choosing to improve your health. Also we make these ideas and recommendations so that consuming them easier and better fit into your lifestyle by adding them to the food that you already eat.
For the full health benefit, it is best to consume (or use the whole herb in poultices) the whole herb. All of the compounds in the herb act best together, as nature intends. Extracts draw out the most prominent beneficial compounds and may concentrate them. What is not extracted can be helpful in ways that we do not yet understand.

Cut Pieces or Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use cut pieces or powdered herb.
Food Preparation: You can add powdered or pieces of herb (if the pieces you buy are bigger than you like, a coffee or herb grinder will quickly reduce) to any yogurt, smoothie, apple or other sauces, spreads, salads or other foods more familiar to you that don’t use heat. Heat can be damaging to the beneficial compounds in the herb. Other options like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pasta sauce, soup, cookies and anything else that fits your lifestyle, but minimizing (by adding near the end of cooking) the heat is helpful.
Also, for children, you can mix powdered herb with honey or glycerin to make paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help medicine go down. The resulting liquid is called an electuary.
For seeds in general, but especially small seeds, it’s best to grind these to break the protective hulls a short time before consumption. This makes all the benefits available, rather than some remaining locked inside the hulls that are unbroken by insufficient chewing.
To make adding herbs even easier, you could add a week’s worth of your chosen herb(s) to an amount of, for example, yogurt that you would eat in a week. Mix thoroughly and eat this each day of the week. So you make once /week and just eat each other day.
Hot Infusion: The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. The heat from making tea can degrade some of the beneficial compounds in the herb. This method minimizes this effect. For the full health benefit, it is recommended to consume what is left over after making tea.
Decoctions: Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water, Bring the water to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-60 minutes with the pot covered. Squeeze out as much as liquid as possible. Best practice is to drink the liquid and also consume the solid material that remains. Herb pieces can also be used.
Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use powdered herb.
Capsules: HerbsCrafters makes capsules guaranteed to be filled with the pure herb with no filler or any other products. You can also use powdered herb to make your own capsules at home. These capsules are best taken with liquid to aid in digestion and absorption and to ensure it doesn’t stick in your throat.
Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.
Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot.

Tips:
You can sweeten your herbal decoctions with bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder or licorice root powder.

Precautions:
You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
All information on this website is for educational purpose ONLY.
This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.