What is chamomile used for?

Chamomile is one of the oldest medicinal herbs known to humankind.
Chamomile is represented by two common varieties: German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) and Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile). Chamomile is used for many different ailments such as hay fever, inflammation, muscle spasms, menstrual disorders, insomnia, wounds, ulcers, gastrointestinal disorders, rheumatic pain, and hemorrhoids.
Chamomile essential oils are used by the cosmetics industry and in aromatherapy. Many different preparations of chamomile have been developed, but the most popular is in the form of herbal tea, with over a million cups consumed daily.

What does Chamomile contain and what are its bioactive components?

Various classes of bioactive components found in chamomile have been isolated and used as medicinal preparations and cosmetics.

Chamomile contains 0.24% –1.9% volatile oil.

When the flower is steam distilled, the oil ranges in color from brilliant blue to deep green when fresh, but turns dark yellow after storage. Despite the color change, the oil does not lose its potency.

Approximately 120 secondary metabolites have been identified in chamomile, including 28 terpenoids and 36 flavonoids.

Both α-bisabolol, bisabolol or also known as levomenol A and B and Chamazulene (an aromatic chemical compound), farnesene, glycosides, hydroxycoumarins, flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin, patuletin, and quercetin), coumarins (herniarin and umbelliferone) are considered the most important bioactive ingredients.

Among flavonoids, apigenin is the most promising compound. It is found in very small quantities as free apigenin, but predominantly exists in the form of various glycosides. Apigenin has strong anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiviral activities, and is therefore believed to have many health benefits.

Researchers are studying apigenin's potential to improve cell health in various tissues of the human body. Most promising is apigenin's impact on prostate health, but studies have already shown it to be beneficial for many other tissues as well. Other benefits of apigenin will surely become known over time.

General use of the Chamomile flower

The chamomile flower has anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and antibacterial effects. The volatile oils of the camellia flower, including alpha-bisabolol, alpha-bisabolol oxides A & B, and chamazulene, and other flavonoids have anti-inflammatory properties.

In ancient Greece, chamomile was recommended for fever and "women's ailments."

In many monastic medicine recipe collections, chamomile was highlighted as a true panacea. As early as the 8th century, monks used chamomile oil for mouthwash in cases of gingivitis. In the 16th century, chamomile was considered the most useful medicinal herb of all, and it was used for almost all complaints.

A study showed that chamomile flavonoids and essential oils penetrate beneath the skin surface into the deeper skin layers. This is important for their use as topical anti-inflammatory agents. One of chamomile's anti-inflammatory activities involves the inhibition of LPS-induced prostaglandin release and the dampening of cyclooxygenase (COX-2) (an enzyme involved in the formation of several different important substances in the body without affecting the basic form, COX-1).

What is the effect of Chamomile on the Gastrointestinal Tract?

Chamomile is traditionally used for many gastrointestinal complaints, such as indigestion, colic, flatulence, ulcers, and gastrointestinal irritation.

Chamomile is useful for expelling gas, calming the stomach, and relaxing the muscles that move food through the intestines.

Studies of a commercial preparation (STW5, Iberogast), (containing extracts of, bitter candytuft, lemon balm leaf, chamomile flower, caraway fruit, peppermint leaf, licorice root, angelica root, milk thistle fruit, and greater celandine), for the indication of stomach ulcers show that the STW5 extract produced an anti-ulcerogenic effect resulting in reduced acid production, increased mucin secretion (mucins are secreted as main components of mucus by mucous membranes or secreted to become a component of saliva).

The obtained results showed that STW5 not only effectively lowered gastric acid as a commercial antacid, but was more effective in inhibiting overproduction of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.

Antacids work by neutralizing acid in the stomach or by reducing its production. When food enters the stomach, hydrochloric acid is secreted to break down the food. The correct strength of hydrochloric acid is important, as it allows the food to be completely broken down to be released, passed, and absorbed by the intestines for healthy digestion.

Chamomile for Colic and Diarrhea conditions?

An apple pectin chamomile extract can help shorten the course of diarrhea in children and alleviate symptoms associated with the condition. Two clinical trials have evaluated the effect of chamomile for the treatment of colic in children. Chamomile tea was combined with other herbs (German chamomile, vervain, licorice, fennel, balm mint) for administration.

In a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 68 healthy infants with colic (2 to 8 weeks old) received either herbal tea or placebo (glucose, flavoring agents). Each infant was offered treatment with each colic, up to 150 ml/dose, maximum three times a day. After seven days of treatment, parents reported that the tea eliminated colic in 57% of the infants, while placebo was helpful for only 26% (P <0.01). No negative effects regarding the number of night awakenings were noted in either group.

Another study investigated the effects of a chamomile extract and apple pectin preparation in 79 children (0.5–5.5 years) with acute, uncomplicated diarrhea who received either the chamomile/pectin preparation (n = 39) or placebo (n = 40) for 3 days.

Diarrhea stopped earlier in children treated with chamomile and pectin (85%) than in the placebo group (58%).

Other forms of chamomile

Chamomile tea bags are available on the market, containing powdered chamomile flowers, either pure or mixed with other popular medicinal herbs.

The entire chamomile plant is used, not just the flower.

Chamomile tincture can also be prepared as a part of chamomile flower in four parts water with 12% ethanol, which can be used against summer diarrhea in children.

Chamomile is also known to be used as a bath additive, recommended for soothing inflammation.

The tea infusion is used as a wash or gargle for inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat. Inhalation of the vaporized essential oils from chamomile flowers is recommended to relieve anxiety, general depression.

Roman chamomile is often used in cosmetic preparations and has a calming and softening effect on the skin.

Buy your Premium Chamomile HERE

Sources:

• Babenko NA, Shakhova EG. Effects of Chamomilla recutita flavonoids on age-related liver sphingolipid turnover in rats. Exp Gerontol. 2006;41:32–39.
• Redaelli C, Formentini L, Santaniello E. Reversed-Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Analysis of Apigenin and its Glucosides in Flowers of Matricaria chamomilla and Chamomile Extracts. Planta Med. 1981;42:288–292.
• Avallone R, Zanoli P, Puia G, Kleinschnitz M, Schreier P, Baraldi M. Pharmacological profile of apigenin, a flavonoid isolated from Matricaria chamomilla. Biochem Pharmacol. 2000;59:1387–1394.
• Svehliková V, Bennett RN, Mellon FA, et al. Isolation, identification and stability of acylated derivatives of apigenin 7-O-glucoside from chamomile (Chamomilla recutita [L.] Rauschert) Phytochemistry. 2004;65:2323–2332.
• Srivastava JK, Gupta S. Antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of chamomile extract in various human cancer cells. J Agric Food Chem. 2007;55:9470–9478.
• Srivastava JK, Pandey M, Gupta S. Chamomile, a novel and selective Cox-2 inhibitor with anti-inflammatory activity. Life Sci. 2009;85:663–669.
• Kroll U, Cordes C. Pharmaceutical prerequisites for a multi-target therapy. Phytomedicine. 2006;5:12–19.
• Khayyal MT, Seif-El-Nasr M, El-Ghazaly MA, Okpanyi SN, Kelber O, Weiser D. Mechanisms involved in the gastro-protective effect of STW 5 (Iberogast) and its components against ulcers and rebound acidity. Phytomedicine. 2006;13:56–66.