Stay Calm with Chamomile

Chamomile belongs to the Asteraceae family of plants and shares looks with daisies. However it is not an ordinary plant. The flower has a bright yellow center surrounded by numerous tiny white petals. It does not need much maintenance to grow but add glory to the garden or indoor. Wherever it is planted, it brings glory and a cheerful vibe. Chamomiles are of many types but the two types of chamomile that are usually used for good health are German chamomile (Matricaria retutica) and Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile).

Looks is not the only genre the herb specializes in. It serves very important medicinal purposes too. To extract these purposes from chamomile is not a very difficult process. Chamomile can be bought as dried flower heads, tea, liquid extract, tinctures, and in creams and ointments. If you want to prepare a flavorsome chamomile tea, sip chamomile in boiling water. If you intend to use it for aromatherapy, just toss a handful into warm water before bath. It can also be used as a nutritional supplement. Chamomile can also relax and sedate a person.

Uses of Chamomile

Chamomile acts as a mild sedative. It relaxes the nervous system and relieves migraine pains, anxiety, and depression. It is also used to make nervous system ailments.

It also acts as a stomach ailment and eases upset stomach, heartburn, nausea, and vomiting. Chamomile also helps colicky babies.
It has sedative properties that calm restless minds, jittered nerves and twitchy muscles. It is also option for those with difficulty falling asleep. People suffering from insomnia think it is easier to fall asleep after drinking herbal chamomile tea. They may also slip into occasional peaceful dreams.

A mouth rinse containing chamomiles might relieve mouth sores caused by cancer treatments.  Drinking a cup of chamomile tea can have an immediate soothing effect on the body as well. It would help with health conditions like diarrhea in children and hemorrhoids. When used on the skin, chamomile might help with skin irritation and wound healing. Some research has documented that it may be as effective as hydrocortisone cream for eczema.

For those preferring aromatherapy, taking a chamomile-scented bath or using chamomile essential oil could prove to be an equally satisfying experience.

Some people also prefer to ingest nutritional suppliments containing chamomile. These supplements work best if taken over a long period of time. Initially, the supplement does not have a visible effect. These can be bought at medical stores in the form of capsules and tablets.

Risks of Taking Chamomile

Like any over the counter medicines, herbs may also have side effects or trigger allergic reactions. Chamomile is considered really safe. Even some doctors recommend it to patients. However not all patients are recommended to intake chamomile. Those who are prone to allergic reactions should not use the herb. Especially people who are allergic to ragweed are adviced to be cautious. Common symptoms in such situations involve fever, runny nose, itching and rash. Pregnant women too should stay away from it as it has the potential to induce absorption. Also, lactating women should stay away from it. When a patient takes anticoagulation agent, also known as blood-thinning medication, he should consult with the doctors before in taking chamomile in any form. Chamomile has sedative properties. So it is also recommended to not use it before driving operating dangerous machinery.

Overall, chamomile could be beneficial to anyone seeking to relax, enhance the feeling of calmness or simply relief stress. Apart from the people list in the above section, anyone else can benefit from the positives of chamomile. It is an extraordinary herb with plenty of benefits in the world of medicine. Chamomile can be bought at any of your nearest superstores. Make sure to take advantage of the herb’s powers.