Chamomile officinalis is a herbaceous annual plant with a branching stem and double-pinnately-divided leaves with narrow linear lobes.
The flowers are collected in medium-sized baskets; the petals consist of reed white marginal and middle tubular yellow petals. Unlike other types of daisies, the medicinal daisy is endowed with an oblong conical receptacle hollow inside. Plant height reaches 20 - 40cm.
Chamomile, properties
Chamomile blooms in May-September, i.e. throughout the summer.
Chamomile flower is found everywhere - in gardens, in the fields, cultivated on plantations for growing medicinal plants.
In the treatment of flowers are used.
Chamomile is collected in May - August.
Chemical composition and action
The composition of chamomile flowers includes essential oil, including a substance similar to coumarins, called hamaluzen. They also contain acids (caprylic, salicylic, ascorbic, isovalerianic, nicotinic), potassium and calcium salts, flavonoids, mucus, lactones, bitterness, protein, choline, phytosterols, tannins, alcohol, carotene.
Chamomile medicinal acts as an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiseptic, anticonvulsant, disinfectant, antispasmodic, carminative, astringent, anti-allergic, sedative, diuretic, antiulcer. Chamomile tends to increase the secretion of the glands of the gastrointestinal tract, stimulate appetite, reduce fermentation processes, relax smooth muscles, expand the vessels of the heart. It also increases biliary excretion, relieves inflammation, and reduces spasm of the bile ducts.
Application
It is used for bloating in the form of enemas and decoction. In chronic and acute inflammation of the stomach and intestines (gastritis, colitis, enterocolitis, hemorrhoids, duodenal ulcer and stomach, colitis with a predominance of constipation, allergic gastritis and colitis), cholecystitis, hepatitis. With neurological diseases - chorea, hysteria, epilepsy, headache, migraine, insomnia, inflammation of the trigeminal nerve. For colds with respiratory diseases, rinse with chamomile infusion is used . Outwardly, flowers in the form of a decoction are used for skin diseases. Hot poultices are used for joint pain.
Recipes
1. A tablespoon of dry chamomile is infused in a glass of boiling water and drunk several times a day in a tablespoon before meals for 15 minutes.
2. Insist a teaspoon of flowers in a glass of boiling water and drink three times a day for 1/3 cup half an hour before meals. For children, the dose is reduced to a teaspoon.
3. Sick joints are treated with chamomile and black elderberry flowers. To do this, they are laid out in a bag of gauze in an even layer, rolled up, doused with boiling water and compresses the joints for 30-40 minutes.
4. A tablespoon of dried flowers is insisted in a glass of boiling water. For douching, rinsing is applied externally. Use in the form of lotions and enemas.
Chamomile is contraindicated during pregnancy, with a tendency to diarrhea should be used with caution. Sometimes large doses can cause headaches and weaknesses.