pharmaceutical camomile

Matricaria recutita (chamomilla) L.

Other names: German daisy.

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Botanical characteristics. Family Compositae. Annual herbaceous plant with a furrowed, strongly branched stem up to 40 cm high. Leaves alternate, pinnately divided, sessile. Flowers with white marginal flowers and yellow median are collected in baskets. A special feature of the medicinal chamomile (in contrast to chamomile chamomile, chamomile, odorless and nivyanka) is the conical hollow color of the baskets. Blossoms in May-July. Fruits - achenes, ripen in June-August.
Distribution, How a medicinal plant is cultivated in the southern regions of Ukraine and in the middle part of the European part of the country. It is found in the wild on the fields, along roads, like a weed, in gardens and orchards in most of Russia.

Used parts of the plant. Flower baskets collected at the beginning of flowering.
In the inflorescences of chamomile, an essential oil is contained, the main active principle of which is chamazulene; Flavonoids, organic acids, lactones, coumarins, terpenes, sesquiterpenes, alcohols, vitamins, bitter and gum are also found.

Application. Has a sedative effect on the nervous system, acts anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, hemostatic, analgesic, carminative, sweating, choleretic, astringent, laxative and anti-allergic.
Assign with diseases of the nervous system: neuroses, hysteria, chorea, epilepsy, neuralgia of the trigeminal nerve, as well as painful menstruation and dysmenorrhea.
Chamomile is used as a mild emollient and expectorant for diseases of the respiratory system. Acts as an effective remedy for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver: gastritis, peptic ulcer, enterocolitis, ulcerative colitis, with cholecystitis and hepatitis, with spasmic pains and flatulence.
Chamomile as a component of medicinal collections is prescribed for diseases of the kidneys and bladder, as well as for children's diathesis.
Infusions are used as an external means for lotions, douching, poultices, compresses and baths. Chamomile rinse the throat and mouth with angina and stomatitis, dental diseases. It is prescribed for eczema, abscesses and burns. With pain in the joints and bruises from the daisy make hot poultices.
Chamomile is used in cosmetics, its broth is rinsed hair after washing.

Contraindications. Pregnancy. Propensity to diarrhea.

Preparation. Infusion is prepared based on 2-3 tablespoons of raw materials for 2 cups of boiling water.
For outdoor use for infusions and decoctions take 4-6 tablespoons for 2 cups of boiling water.
For poultices 3-4 spoons of flowers are brewed with steep boiling water to form a thick mushy mass. Hot gruel is laid out on a thin cloth and applied to the sore spot for 20-40 minutes.
It is widely used in homeopathy Chamomilla 2x, 3x, 3, 6, 12. Reduces nervous excitability. It is indicated for neuroses and asthenic conditions, taking into account the characteristic symptom: the patient is angry and irritable, the child flinches in a dream, falls asleep badly. An effective remedy for some gastrointestinal diseases: gastralgia with a feeling of heaviness in the stomach after eating, dyskinesia of the gall bladder with a yellowish white tongue, bitter taste in the mouth and spasmodic pains. Chamomilla is indicated in children's dyspepsia during teething: diarrhea with yellowish-green stools resembling chopped eggs, with a strong smell of hydrogen sulfide. Homeopathic chamomile is also prescribed for certain inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract, rheumatism and in gynecological practice.