The information given is informative. In case of doubt, consult the doctor. "Botanical" is not responsible for damages caused by self-medication

 

 


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Detail of the plant with the flowers

 

 

  Common noun: Camomile  
Scientific noun: Matricaria chamomilla L  
Family. Daisy family - asteraceae/compositae  
Habitat: In cultivated soils , sandy and uncultivated lands.  

Characteristics :Annual scented herb of the daisy family - composite - till 60 cm tall. Erect glabrous stems. Divided leaves, toothed- lobed. Head flowers till 2,5 cm wide; White ligules , hanging as they grow up. Yellow florets , pentalobulated in a conical receptacle..

     
 

Components:

  • Acids: Alpha-bisabolol (flower), ascorbic, caffeic, cápric, gentisic, linoleic palmitic, oleic, pectic (plant)
  • Vitamins: C (ascorbic acid) (plant)
  • Pigments : Luteolin, apigenin, quercetin ( yellow pigments)(plant)
  • Alcohols: farnesol, geraniol, borneol (plant)
  • Mucilage (flower)
  • Azulene (plant)
  • Chamazulene (plant)
  • Farnesene (plant)
  • Matricarin (plant)
  • Patuletin (plant)
  • Jaceidin (plant)
  • Hyperoside (plant)
  • Axillarin (plant)
  • Choline (flower)
  • Sugars: fructose, galactose ( plant) glucose (flower)
 
     

Medicinal properties:

Internal use

Digestive,hepatic, biliary, antispasmodic and carminative: By his condition of protector and repairer of the gastric membrane it is very suitable in all those affections in which it is affected some organ of the digestive tract. It favors the difficult digestions and aids to expel gases from the digestive tract. It is also interesting in cases of intestinal spasms. Also very appropriate for ulcers, gastritis, colics etc. The azulene, because of its antiulcerous value, as well as the antispasmodic values of the jaceidine and the gentisic acid can entail these properties, although it seems the bisabolol to be the component that presents the greater anti-inflammatory and repairing value. It is also necessary to mention the value of this plant like colagoge, it is to say that it stimulates the production of the bile (the patuletine is the component that infers this value ) and hepatic, protecting the liver or helping when some disease of the liver appears (Infusion of a spoonful of dry . flowers by water cup. Drink 2 or 3 cups per day)

Vomitive: When too much loaded infusions are taken and in certain very prolonged processings , although this last case is not very habitual, can produce the vomit , being interesting this property in case of having ingested some toxic product.

Anti-cholesterol: Cholesterol depends on the performance of fatty acids in the organism. The presence of choline helps to eliminate fats of the blood which entails to a diminution of the cholesterol in the arteries, preventing from arteriosclerosis , the degeneration of the biliary vesicle and the kidneys. ( 2 or 3 cups a day of the infusion of a teaspoonful of dry flowers by each cup of water)

Emenagogue: It facilitates the menstruation, avoiding the corresponding pains (the same infusion previously mentioned)

Sedative: In cases of nervousness and insomnia, it is interesting to take infusions from dry flowers

Soft diuretic: It favors the elimination of liquid in the body, reason why it is interesting not only in case of obesity , but also in that assembly of ailments that improve with the water elimination and the consequent toxin elimination specially the uric acid : circulatory and hepatic diseases, gout, arthritis , etc.

Anticancerous: Recent studies have demonstrated the influence that acids caffeic and flavonoids have in the prevention or improvement of the cancerous processes.

 

External use

 

Skin: Its content in mucilages confers it a repairing value of the affections of the skin, the great presence of components with antiseptical and vulnerary properties- apigenine, chamazulene, gentisic acid, etc. - make it very worthy in the care and repair of the affections of the skin: grains, wounds, dermatitis , etc. (Apply wet clothes on the affected part. The baths will be made with a loaded infusion of dry flowers in a pair of liters of water, during 15 minutes approximately. The flowers must be of the annual harvest. They mustn't be keep more than a year.)

Articular pains: In cases of rheumatism, sciatic, boneaches, etc., frictions with the resulting liquid of the maceration of 2 ounces of dry flowers in a liter of olive during a pair of hours can be very soothing. Keep the liquid in a dark and well closed container and to apply when pain appears.

Ophthalmologic repairer: When we have the eyes ill - conjunctivitis, allergies, tired eyes , etc. - the presence of several anti-inflammatory components, as well as the caffeic and linoleic acids, Aldose--Reductose- Inhibitors- control the presence of aldose, an enzyme in the human body whose excess can produce corporal damages, specially in the eyes, (Infusion during 15 minutes of a spoonful of dry flowers in a cup of water. Soak a gauze in the resulting liquid and apply on the eyes.)

 

 

Toxicity: Although in no case it is toxic, prolonged processings or with too much amount can lead to digestive irritations with vomit sensation. Also certain cases have been described in which, instead of producing sedative effect, have entailed the opposite process: insomnia and nervousness.

 

 

Gardening: Cultivation

 


 

Picking-up and storing: The flowers should be harvested from the spring to the first third of summer. They will have to be dried in the shade and to be conserved in a closed and dark place, only during a year at the most.