(Matricaria camomilla)
• used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, including inflammation, spasm, nervous stomach, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, flatulence, and bloating
• used to treat insomnia, neuralgia, restlessness and anxiety, especially in children
• used to treat menstrual complaints like dysmenorrhea and amenorrhea
Chamomile is one of the most distinguished and effective plants in the herbal repertoire of the West, going all the way back to classical antiquity. The wonderful thing is that the therapeutic effectiveness of this remarkable medicinal herb has been amply corroborated by modern research studies.
Leading Eclectic physicians point out that this herb “has two particular specific fields of action—one upon the nervous system, subduing nervous irritability, and the other upon the gastro-intestinal tract, relieving irritation.” At the same time they link its use to the alleviation of menstrual conditions.
The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia lists the specific indication of chamomile as: “Gastro-intestinal disturbance with associated nervous irritability in children.”
The Commission E, Germany’s main herbal authority, approves the use of chamomile for gastrointestinal spasms and inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
In his monograph on this herb, well-known herbalist David Hoffmann explains that “A comprehensive list of medicinal uses for chamomile would be very long… it simply reflects the wide range of chamomile’s actions in the body. Chamomile, probably the most widely used relaxing nervine herb in the Western world, is safe for use in all types of anxiety and stress-related disorders. It relaxes and tones the nervous system, and is especially valuable when anxiety and tension produce digestive symptoms, such as gas, colic pains, and even ulcers…. Because chamomile is rich in essential oil, it acts on the digestive system, promoting proper function. This usually involves soothing the walls of the intestines, easing griping pains, and facilitating the elimination of gas.”.
Administration:
24-96 drops (0.8-3.2 ml), three times daily, in a mouthful of water, before meals.
Contraindications and Cautions:
In anemia and cases in which iron supplementation is required, chamomile should not be taken simultaneously with meals or iron supplements. Sensitive individuals, especially those with allergies to members of the Compositae family (including ragweed) of plants may experience allergic reactions. Consult a health care practitioner prior to use if you are taking sedatives or blood thinning medications.
Available in bottle sizes of 50ml, 100ml, and 250ml.
A NOTE ON TINCTURES
Tinctures are more readily absorbed by the body and have a high degree of bio-availability. As well, they have a long shelf life.
Sometimes people ask us why tinctures are alcohol-based. There are very good reasons. Alcohol is critically important in the extraction of an herb's medicinal ingredients. It also helps to stabilize and preserve them. Alcohol is the ideal carrier substance, conveying the therapeutic goodness of the herb to the body. In itself, too, science has proven that alcohol enhances the immune system and its defences.
As for the amount of alcohol taken in an average dose of tincture, you'll be surprised to learn that it's about the same as what you'd find in an overly ripe banana!
Tinctures remain the most practical way to take advantage of the amazing, health-giving power of herbs.
Ingredients:
Certified Organic
Chamomile
(Matricaria camomilla) |
