Matricaria chamomilla
(German chamomile)

Therapeutic Actions:

• Anti-inflammatory
• Antispasmodic
• Anti toxic against both staph and strep
• Nervine
• Diaphoretic
• Analgesic
• Sedative

Clinical Indications:

• Asthma (use as steam inhalation)
• Bipolar disorder
• Eczema (use externally to soothe)
• Insomnia
• Otitis media (very safe for children)
• Anxiety
• Dyspepsia
• Gastritis
• Gingivitis
• Hyperactive children
• Insomnia
• Pharyngitis
• PMS migraines
• Teething babies

Contraindications:

• Allergic hypersensitivity in very rare cases
• Early pregnancy with excessively large doses

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• Liquid extract prevents ulcers caused by ethyl alcohol
• Volatile oil inhibits ulcers caused by indomethacin

Chemical Constituents:

• Amino acids
• Azulenes:
  
  Chamazulene (a sesquiterpene derivative that relieves pain, encourages wound healing, is anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic)
  Guiazulene
  Matricine (volatile oil that degrades to chamazulene with distillation)
  a-Bisabolol oxides A and B
  a-Bisabolone oxide A
  Farnesene
• Choline
• Coumarins:
  
  Umbelliferon
  Herniarin
• Flavonoids:
  
  Apigenin (a potent spasmolytic agent)
  Luteolin
  Patuletin
  Quercitin
• Polysaccharides
• Salicylate derivatives
• Spiroethers (dicyclos ether having antiphlogistic and antispasmodic properties):
  
  Cis- and trans-en-dicycloether
• Volatile oil, up to 2%, containing:a-bisabolol (speeds up healing of ulcers)
• Xyloglucurans

Toxicity:

• No known toxicity

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).