Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)

OriginThe potato from the grain field

Chamaimelon, The Greeks called it "earth apple" because of the fragrance that rises when the blossoms are crushed, which actually smells more like ripe apple than anything else.

German chamomile is an annual wild plant native to southern and eastern Europe that migrated to central Europe along with grain cultivation. For centuries, it grew among rye and wheat fields and was therefore readily available everywhere – one of those plants that didn't need to be cultivated because it was already there. With modern agriculture, it has largely disappeared from the fields; today, almost everything that ends up in a tea package comes from deliberate cultivation in Egypt, Argentina, Hungary, and eastern Europe.

In the Middle Ages, it was one of the plants found in every monastery garden and every pharmacopoeia – in the works of Hildegard von Bingen, the Lorsch Pharmacopoeia, and Paracelsus. The German proverb "to try everything possible" used to mean "to try chamomile," and that pretty much sums up its reputation: the first remedy people reach for, for almost everything.

When collecting and buying plants, it's worth distinguishing between three plants. True chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) is the medicinal plant; its cone-shaped receptacle is inside hollow - Simply cut it lengthwise; that's the safest test. Dog chamomile It looks deceptively similar, but has a pith-filled receptacle and smells unpleasant or nonexistent. Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) is another species with its own profile, also used medicinally, but it is significantly less common in Germany. And finally, there is the Radiationless chamomile, the pineapple chamomile from the roadside - edible, aromatic, but not a medicinal drug.

To useWhat chamomile does for you

Chamomile is one of the few medicinal plants where there's no need for qualification. The European Medicines Agency lists it in the highest category. well-established use, with sufficient clinical evidence - for two approaches: internally For mild cramps in the gastrointestinal tract, for bloating and a feeling of fullness, and externally For mild inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes, for minor wounds, and as a mouthwash. The German Commission E had already given it a positive assessment in 1984.

The mechanism of action is well understood and multifaceted. The essential oil with Bisabolol and Chamazulen It has anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic effects; the flavonoids, especially Apigenin, They enhance the antispasmodic effect on smooth muscle and bind to the same receptors in the laboratory as sedatives; the mucilage forms a film on irritated mucous membranes. This is why the same plant works for nervous stomach, a sore toe, and a scratchy throat – different substances are at work in each case.

Two things must be said honestly. First, the essential oil evaporates with the steam: a chamomile tea without a lid is a significantly weaker chamomile tea. Second, the previously common use as Eye baths or eye compresses are outdated. - Infusions are never sterile, chamomile pollen can get into the eyes, and the conjunctiva is more sensitive than any other mucous membrane. Sterile preparations are available from the pharmacy for the eyes; chamomile is best left for the stomach, skin, and mouth.

IngredientsThat's what's in the flower

The essential oil It makes up only about 0.5 to 1.5 percent of the dried flower, but carries the majority of the anti-inflammatory effect. Its key substances are: (–)-α-Bisabolol and its oxides Chamazulen And chamazulene is a bit of a peculiarity: it's not actually present in the flower itself, but rather in its precursor, matricin. Chamazulene only forms during steam distillation, and this is what gives chamomile oil its deep blue color. So, if you see a blue oil in a bottle, you're looking at a distillation product, not a flower extract.

The second large group are the Flavonoids, The main constituents are apigenin and its glycosides, as well as luteolin and quercetin. These are water-soluble and therefore readily transfer into the tea – unlike the essential oil, of which only a small portion is present. Apigenin is the substance to which the calming effect is attributed; in the laboratory, it binds to the benzodiazepine binding site of the GABA receptor. Whether this explains the effect of a cup of tea is another question – this is a laboratory finding, not evidence from human experience.

Join in Mucus (around ten percent, which explain the soothing effect on irritated mucous membranes), coumarins, and bitter substances. Practically speaking, this means that good chamomile has a distinct, warm aroma when the package is opened, is yellowish-white rather than brownish, and consists of whole flower heads rather than dust. Broken tea bags often contain only a fraction of the oil.

Enhanced combinationsWhat makes chamomile stronger

Almost everything about chamomile depends on a single rule: its active ingredients are volatile. What keeps the vapor in the container intensifies it.

What contradicts itselfIt's best to avoid these combinations.

To which courtWhere she belongs

• Chamomile teaTwo teaspoons of blossoms to 250 ml, covered for ten minutes - the basic formula for everything.
• Stomach-friendly herbal teaEqual parts chamomile, fennel, caraway and anise, freshly crushed.
• RollkurStrong tea on an empty stomach, then lie for five minutes each on your back, side, stomach, and side again.
• MouthwashStrong, cooled infusion, two to three times daily for sore gums.
• Steam inhalationA handful of blossoms to one liter of hot water, ten minutes under a towel.
• chamomile compressAllow the infusion to cool, soak a linen cloth, and place it on irritated skin areas.
• Sitz bathA liter of strong infusion in a sitz bath - traditionally used for irritated skin in the intimate area.
• chamomile milkBriefly steeping blossoms in warm milk with honey - a childhood evening ritual.
• chamomile syrupSteep blossoms in sugar water overnight, strain - for lemonade and desserts.
• Panna cotta with chamomileLet the blossoms infuse in the cream, strain, then thicken - subtly apple-flavored.

As a home remedyThe rollkur

Ayurveda & TCMWhat the old systems say

Warning noticesWhen you should be careful

This page provides information and does not replace medical advice. If symptoms persist, please consult a doctor.

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