Chamomile, Ancient and Modern Herb Remedy

Chamomile has been used as a medicinal herb since ancient times. The Egyptians, Greeks and Indians have used it for thousands of years. Roman and German Chamomile, though unrelated botanically, produce similar light blue aromatic oils that were used for healing.

The ancient Egyptians related the chamomile flowers to the sun and the sun God, using it to treat fever, especially malarial recurring fever common at the time, due to malaria being endemic in the Nile area. Both Dioscorides, the Greek physician and Pliny, the Roman naturalist, suggested chamomile for kidney, bladder and liver ailments, in addition to headaches and fevers, as also Indian Ayurvedic practitioners. In Europe, especially Germany, it was used in treating digestive problems, promoting menstruation and treating menstrual cramps. Nicholas Culpepper, the seventeenth century English herbalist, recommended it for aches and pains, fevers, digestive ailments, promoting menstruation, kidney stones, jaundice and including congestive heart failure.

Chamomile was introduced to North America by the German and British immigrants, thus the German chamomile is the most commonly grown. During the nineteenth century, American physicians used chamomile to prevent gangrene and hasten healing wounds. Infusions were also prescribed for malaria, typhus, digestive disorders, menstrual cramps and to promote menstruation. It was also recommended for birthing complications like quieting fetal kicking, stopping premature labor, relieving sore nipples and breasts, suppressing milk production and in relieving infant colic.

A chamomile infusion or tincture has many proven healing properties. Two to three tablespoons of flowers in a cup, steeped with boiling water for ten to twenty minutes can be taken three times a day. Or, use as a tincture, half to one teaspoon, one to three times a day. Chamomile contains coumarin, an anti coagulant and must be used cautiously in children and pregnant women. Children under two can cautiously take very weak infusions for colic. Older children and the over sixty-fives, must begin with weak infusions and the strength increased gradually.

Chamomile herbal baths are relaxing and can be made by tying a handful of flowers in a cloth and running hot bath water over it. A cloth soaked in a strong infusion can be applied as a compress for scrapes, burns and cuts.

Generally, chamomile is not hazardous to health but those allergic to yarrow, a close relative and ragweed must not use it. Too much use of high concentrate infusions or tinctures has been known to cause vomiting and nausea.

The FDA's herbal list regards chamomile as a generally safe herb, within recommended dosages. Due to chamomile's coumarin content, it must be used moderately within medicinal dosages after consulting with a doctor, for cross reactions to other medication in use. Any sign of even minor discomfort or vomiting and nausea are indications to stop ingesting it immediately and check with a physician for stopping usage or diluting and using less. Just as with any medication, chamomile must not be abused.