Chamomile (Matricaria recutita & Chamaemelum nobile).Plant Part Used: Flower.Dominican Medicinal Uses: Flowers: decoction/infusion, orally, for anxiety, nervousness, stress, insomnia (adults and children), menstrual cramps, post-partum recovery, childbirth and regulating blood pressure.Safety: Considered safe for internal use; slight potential for hypersensitivity, especially in patients with a history of allergic reaction to Aster species.Contraindications: Pregnancy: oral administration of whole plant extract at high doses may have emmenagogue effects; however, flower extracts have not shown this effect.Clinical Data: Clinical case report: mouthwash for oral mucositis (plant extract).Laboratory & Preclinical Data: In vivo: antipruritic, antiulcerogenic (plant extract); anxiolytic (constituents); hypoglycemic (aerial parts of Chamaemelum nobile).In vitro: antifungal (plant extracts).* See entry for Manzanilla in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.
Anthemis Nobilis. Chamaemelum nobile L. German: Romisch Kamille. French: Chamomille romaine. Italian: Camomilla odorosa. Spanish: Manzanilla.
Constituents: sesquiterpene lactones, flavonoids.
Action: antispasmodic, analgesic (mild), anti-inflammatory (simple acute), bitter, carminative, de- sensitiser (skin), tranquilliser (mild), anti-convulsant, anti-emetic, sedative (mild). One of the chief medicinal plants used by the phytotherapist.
Uses: Children’s convulsions, physical stress, hyperactive children. Indigestion in excitable females. Nausea and indigestion from emotional upset. Facial neuralgia. Insomnia. Meniere’s syndrome. Gastro- intestinal irritation with diarrhoea. Travel sickness (cup hot tea). Wind. Vomiting of pregnancy. Loss of appetite. Sore mouth, nasal catarrh. Infertility (sometimes successful). The oil is active against staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Skin disorders (steam face with hot tea). Autonomic imbalance. Hot tired feet (strong tea used as a footbath). Hair loss: strong tea, externally. Inflammation of the skin. Psychosomatic:– keynote: irritability. “Cannot bear it”; temper, everything seems intolerable, uncivil, impatient in sickness.
Preparations: As necessary. 4-6 flowerheads to each cup boiling water infuse 15 minutes; half-1 cup. Tincture BHC Vol 1. 1:5, 45 per cent ethanol. Dose: 3-5ml.
Oil of Chamomile. Prepare as for OILS, IMPREGNATED. For cracked lips, dry hands and feet, massage or deodorant.
Essential oil (Aromatherapy): widely used as an inhalant.
Compress. Half-1oz flowers to small muslin or linen bag; immerse in half a pint boiling water; wring out and apply bag over affected area. Repeatedly moisten bag when dry.
Large doses emetic. Not used in pregnancy. Enema. See: GERMAN CHAMOMILE.
Chamomile ointment. Nappy rash, dry skin, irritation. ... chamomile flowers (roman)
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