Matricaria recutita/M. chamomilla (Compositae)

GERMAN CHAMOMILE, WILD CHAMOMILE

The flowers are used by herbalists and homeopaths for many conditions, ranging from a nervous stomach and anxiety to teething and period pains. It is also applied externally for eczema.

Although not the true chamomile (Chamamaelum nobilis) in the botanical sense, M. recutita closely resembles it in appearance and medical uses. It has been known of since ancient times and has been called the plant's physician because ailing garden plants recover when it is planted close to them. Native to Europe and northern Africa but naturalized in North America, it is a low-growing perennial with finely divided leaves and daisy-like flowers.

PARTS USED

Flowers.

ACTIVE INGREDIENTS

Volatile oil, containing azulenes, particularly chamazulene, matricine, and alpha-bisabolol oxides A and B; flavonoids, including apigenin, luteolin, and quercetin; coumarins.

ACTIONS

Reduces muscle tension and spasm; sedative; antifungal; antibacterial; relieves pain; promotes wound healing; relieves wind and colic; bitter (digestive stimulant).

MEDICINAL USE

Used internally as a gentle relaxing sedative for adults and children, for gastritis (stomach inflammation) and irritated intestines, for calming a nervous stomach, and to help relieve period pains, migraine, rheumatism and gout. It is also applied externally in tea bags to ease allergic dermatitis and eczema, and to help heal burns and weeping wounds. Used in homeopathy (Chamomilla) for inner turmoil, anxiety and anger, convulsions, throbbing headache, earache, teething, hacking coughs, period pains, and diarrhoea.

PREPARATIONS

Dried flowers, tincture, infusion, essential oil, cream, homeopathic remedies.