Chamomilla recutita HERBAL REMEDIES

REMEDIES
HERBAL

Chamomilla recutita

BY 

RETTODWIKART THENU

Chamomilla recutita syn. Matricaria recutita

DESCRIPTION (Medical Economics Company, Inc. 2000)

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts consist of the entire flowering herb or only the flowers.

Flower and Fruit: The flower heads are terminal and longpedicled. The flower is white with a yellow center. The margin flowers are obtuse with a tunicate margin. The ray florets are white, linguiform, female and 3-toothed. The disc florets are tubular, androgynous, 5-toothed, with a hollow receptacle.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a 20 to 40 cm high herb with an erect, glabrous stem, which is branched above. The leaves are 2 to 3 pinnatisect and have a narrow thorny tip.

Characteristic: The receptacle of the compound head of German Chamomile is hollow which distinguishes it from other types of chamomile.

Habitat: German Chamomile is indigenous to Europe and northwest Asia, naturalized in North America and elsewhere.

Production: German Chamomile consists of the fresh or dried flower heads of Matricaria recutita and their preparations.

Other Names: Pin Heads, Chamomilla. Chamomile, Single Chamomile, Hungarian Chamomile

CONSTITUENTS (Barnes, J et al., 2007)

The following is compiled from several sources, including General References G2, G6 and G52. Coumarins Umbelliferone and its methyl ether, heniarin.

Flavonoids Apigenin, apigetrin, apiin, luteolin, quercetin, quercimeritrin and rutin.

Volatile oils 0.24–1.9%. Pharmacopoeial standard not less than 4 mg/kg blue oil.(G84) Main components are (_)-a-bisabolol (up to 50%)(1) and chamazulene (1–15%).(2) Others include (_)-abisabolol oxide A and B, (_)-a-bisabolone oxide A, spiroethers (e.g. cis- and trans-en-yn-dicycloether), sesquiterpenes (e.g. anthecotulid), cadinene, farnesene, furfural, spathulenol and proazulenes (e.g. matricarin and matricin). Chamazulene is formed from matricin during steam distillation of the oil. It varies in yield depending on the origin and age of the flowers.(2)

Other constituents Amino acids, anthemic acid (bitter), choline, polysaccharide, plant and fatty acids, tannin and triterpene hydrocarbons (e.g. triacontane).

ESSENTIAL OIL (Braun, L and Cohen, M. 2010)

Chamomile extract produced by a cold extraction process is yellow; steam distillation produces the blue essential oil. This is derived from matricin, also known as proazulene or prochamazulene, a precursor

of chamazulene. Chamazulene (1–15%), farnesene, alpha-bisabolol and bisabolol oxides A and B (up to 50% of

the essential oil; proportions vary depending on the chemotype), bisabolone oxide, chamazulene (from matricin on distillation), matricin, chamaviolin, spathulenol and cis- and trans-enyne dicyclo ethers (spiroether, polyacetylenes). German chamomile has four chemotypes (variations of the plant product according to chemical composition). These relate to slight variations in the bisabolol oxide content of the essential oil (Gasic et al 1986). Chemotypes, which contain highest levels of alpha-bisabolol (known as C and D chemotypes), should be sourced when an essential oil is required for antiphlogistic or spasmolytic properties.

D O S A G E

DOSAGE RANGE (Braun, L and Cohen, M. 2010)

Internal use

German chamomile is used either as a tea made from the dried flower heads, or as an extract.

v  Dried flower heads: 2–8 g three times daily by infusion.

v  Fluid extract (1:2): 3–6 mL/day.

v  Tincture (1:5): 3–10 mL three times daily.

The quality of chamomile varies greatly. For maximum efficacy, use high-grade chamomile (high in alpha-bisabolol). Standardised extracts are usually standardised to either bisabolol or apigenin.

External use

The dried flowers can also be made into a poultice with the addition of hot water and applied directly to the skin, or the tea can be used to bathe inflamed skin and eyes.

v  Essential oil (external use): Five drops per 100 mL of oil, or per 100 g of cream or ointment.

v  In baths and water for compresses, the dose should not exceed 10 drops.

v  Inhalation: Five drops of essential oil in 1 L hot water.

DOSAGE (Gladstar, R. 2012)

Chamomile flowers have rich amounts of azulene, a volatile oil with a whole range of active principles that serve as antiinfl ammatory and antifever agents, making it useful for treating arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. In one clinical study, 10 out of 12 people who drank chamomile tea instead of taking their regular

pain medication at bedtime (for relieving general aches and pains, headaches, or arthritic pain) went into a deep, restful sleep within 10 minutes of retiring.

CALMING CHAMOMILE TEA

Nothing could be simpler than making a cup of chamomile tea, whether with fresh or dried fl owers, and few things are more calming and peaceful.

To make the tea:

Prepare an infusion of the fl owers, following the instructions on page 29. Use 1 teaspoon of dried fl owers or 2 teaspoons fresh fl owers per cup of water, or 1 ounce of dried fl owers or 2 ounces fresh fl owers per quart of water. Let steep, covered, for 15 to 20 minutes. Chamomile contains bitters; the longer it steeps, the stronger the bitters. For a better-tasting, less bitter infusion, steep less.

To use:

Drink 2 to 3 cups daily, or as often as needed. This herb has lasting effects if used over a period of several weeks. It is nice to blend with other herbs that support the nervous system, such as lemon balm and rose petals, and it is excellent for infants and children as well as adults.

CHAMOMILE EYE PACKS

These eye packs will help relieve eye stress and strain, dark circles, and puffiness.

To make the packs:

Place two chamomile tea bags in hot water and let sit for a couple of minutes, or until thoroughly saturated. Remove and let cool to a tolerable temperature.

To use:

Place a tea bag directly over each eye. Lie back and relax, leaving on the chamomile packs for 15 to 20 minutes.

CALMING HERBAL BATH FOR DE-STRESSING

Immersing yourself in an herbal bath is much like stepping into a giant cup of tea: your pores open up, absorbing the healing properties of the herbs, and the warm water relaxes while it cleanses. It’s healing at its fi nest.

To prepare the bath:

Mix together a handful each of dried chamomile blossoms, lemon balm leaves, and rose petals. Place the mixture in a large muslin bag, an extra-large tea strainer, or even an old nylon stocking. Attach directly to the faucet of the tub. Let hot water (the hottest possible) run through the herbs for a few minutes. Then adjust the water temperature to a comfortable level and fill the tub.

To use:

Dim the lights, light a candle, and immerse yourself in the calming essence of herbs. You might even want to enhance the relaxing effects on your nervous system by drinking a cup of warm chamomile tea.

DOSAGE AND SENSIBLE USE (Chevallier, A. 2018)

As with all medicines, getting the dosage right is essential. Too much and you risk overdosing, too little and the remedy may not work. Follow the guidelines on these pages to ensure that you use herbal remedies safely and appropriately.

ADULT DOSAGES Each of the remedies listed in the A–Z of Herbal Remedies has a letter indicating its adult dosage—how much of the herb to take per day or per week.

To take an example, passion flower (Passiflora incarnata) on p.173 has C for its dosage. Looking at the dosage guide (right), it can be seen that C = 2–4g a day or 30g a week. Passion flower should therefore be taken at these recommended dosages.

As another example, hawthorn leaf (Crataegus spp.) has M and C for its dosage. M applies to manufactured products: take prepackaged hawthorn products, such as standardized tablets and capsules, at the manufacturer’s recommended dosage. C applies to dried hawthorn leaf or berry: take at the recommended daily or weekly dosage, i.e. 2–4g a day or 30g a week.  Similarly, each of the other letters gives specific recommendations on how to use the herb.

Teas and decoctions The dosages given in the guide apply when making teas and decoctions from dried herb material—bark, leaves, roots, etc. For fresh herb material you can use 11⁄2–2 times the quantity of dried material.

Tinctures It is not possible to give clear guidelines for tinctures owing to the wide variation in their strength. Ask advice on dosage when purchasing a tincture. In general, the dosage range for a 1:3 tincture is the same (in milliliters not grams) as the above dosages, i.e. for A, the dosage of a 1:3 tincture is 5–15ml a day.

ADULT DOSAGE GUIDE

Recommended ADULT dosage as given in the key information boxes (see opposite page). For children and people over 70, see below and opposite.

Ø  A = 5–15g a day, or max. 100g (31⁄2 oz) per week

Ø  B = 3–7.5g a day, or max. 50g (2 oz) per week

Ø  C = 2–4g a day, or max. 30g (1 oz) per week

Ø  D = 1–2g a day, or max. 15g (1⁄2 oz) per week

Ø  M = Take product at manufacturer’s recommended dosage.

Ø  T = Topical application on the skin only (Note: preparations made specifically for topical use should not be taken internally.)

Powders Take the minimum recommended daily dosage only.

Tablets and capsules Take at the manufacturer’s recommended dosage.

CHILDREN’S DOSAGES Do not give babies under 6 months any medication without professional advice. You may need to adjust dosage levels for children who are particularly small or large for their age.

§  From 6 months to 1 year: give 1⁄10 the minimum adult dose

§  From 1 to 6 years: give 1⁄3 the minimum adult dose

§  From 7 to 11 years: give 1⁄2 the minimum adult dose

§  From 12 to 16 years: give the low adult dose.

DOSAGES FOR OVER 70s As we age, our bodies become less efficient at breaking down drugs, including herbs. From the age of about 70 onward it is advisable to take slightly lower doses: 80 percent of the standard adult dose is normally recommended. In very old and frail people the dosage may need to be as low as 50 percent of the standard adult dosage.

GENERAL CAUTIONS

v  Do not take essential oils internally unless on advice of a suitably qualified health care professional.

v  Do not give herbs to babies under 6 months old.

v  Do not exceed the recommended dosage levels.

v  If you are taking drugs prescribed by your doctor or hospital, check with them, or with a registered herbal or naturopathic practitioner, before taking a herbal remedy.

v  People known to have allergies should start by taking a low dose and, if this is fine, then increase the dose.

Contact allergy can occur on handling fresh or dried herbs. Where such allergy occurs, do not take the remedy internally. Some people are allergic to specific plant families, for example the daisy (Asteraceae) family. Several herbs listed in this book, including chamomile (Chamomilla recutita), echinacea (Echinacea spp.), and feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium), belong to this family and are known to cause contact allergy in sensitive individuals.

KEY INFORMATION (Chevallier, A. 2018)

Every remedy in the A–Z features a key information box that provides essential data on the herb. At the top, each herb is rated using a 5-star rating system, with 5 black stars = most. This gives some idea of the herb’s:

v  overall safety record (Safety)

v  long-standing use in traditional medicine (Traditional use)

v  evidence of effectiveness, as supported by scientific research (Research).

On the line below (Best taken as), suitable types of preparation are recommended; for example, yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is best taken as a tea, which gets 3 checks. Dosage information is provided on the following line. Some entries include an “Often used with” recommendation. The last and most important section lists known cautions for the remedy, and should be read carefully, especially before taking a remedy.

    

                 Figure 1. Example  Key Information Used Herbal                    Figure 2. Key Information Chamomile Used

REFERENCE

Barnes, J., Anderson, L. A., and Phillipson, J. D.  2007.  Herbal Medicines Third Edition. Pharmaceutical Press. Auckland and London.

Braun, L and Cohen, M. 2010. Hebs and Natural Supplements An Evidence Based Guide 3R D Edition. Elsevier Australia. Australia.

Chevallier, A. 2018. Herbal Remedies Handbook. DK Publishing. New York.

Gladstar, R. 2012. Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs : A Beginner’s Guide. 210 MASS MoCA. Way North Adams, MA 01247 www.storey.com

Medical Economics Company, Inc. 2000. PDR for Herbal Medicines". Medical Economics Company, Inc. at Montvale, NJ 07645-1742.