Chamomile Flowers

Chamomile Flowers

Latin name: Matricaria recutita

Health Benefits of Chamomile Flowers

Chamomile Flowers can be used internally or externally to treat a myriad of ailments.  It is one of the best all-around children's herbs and is really quite versatile.  Health benefits include: 

• Is a great sedative and relaxant. It helps settle the stomach and calm the nerves, and is an excellent nervine for children.
• Used to treat colic, stress, and stomach disorders, especially in children.
• Can be added to bath water to ease pain and itching from skin irritations such as eczema.
• It has great anti-inflammatory properties that can help with ulcers, Crohn’s disease, and colitis.
• Other uses include regulating menstrual flow, inducing perspiration, relieving symptoms from drug and smoking withdrawal, relieving nausea and vomiting, relieving bronchitis, urinary tract infections, headaches, and menstrual cramps.
• Useful in relieving seasonal allergy symptoms.
• Helps to improve appetite.  

Nutritional Benefits of Chamomile Flowers 

• One of the best herbal sources of niacin, magnesium, and essential fatty acids.   

How to Use Chamomile Flowers

• When used internally, taken in tinctures or tea combinations most commonly.  It has a delicious apple flavor!
• When used externally, added to bath water. 

Cautions and Side Effects of Chamomile Flowers

• If pregnant, use caution as too much chamomile can cause spontaneous abortion.  Chamomile is fine in small, weak doses, such as a diluted tea.  Just do not overdo.
• Use caution if you have an allergy to ragweed, as chamomile may aggravate the symptoms from these ailments.
• Should not be taken with other sedatives as in can increase the effect.
• Can interfere with blood clotting so do not use in correlation with aspirin or other drugs that have anti-coagulating properties.