What is Chamomile?
Related to the daisy, chamomile is indigenous to regions of Europe and western Asia. One type of the herb, German chamomile, is the type that is most often used as an herbal remedy.
Benefits of Chamomile
Chamomile is used to treat many maladies including fevers, stomach pain, and stroke. Chamomile is also very commonly used to soothe, relax, and aid sleep.
Other benefits include soothing colds, helping wounds or abscesses heal, reducing gum inflammation, treating skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema, and treating ulcerative colitis.
Dosage and preparation of chamomile
1-2 milliliters of the glycerate type of German chamomile can be used 1-2 times per day as an antispasmodic or anti-inflammatory.
When it’s taken for ulcers, stomach disorders, heartburn, or gas, 2-3 grams of German chamomile can be brewed into a tea by steeping in boiling water for 10 minutes. The tea can be taken regularly, up to four times per day.
To soothe lungs in extremely cold temperatures, add a few drops of essential oil to boiling water and breathe deeply.
To treat hemorrhoids, wounds, skin disorders, or insect bites, pour a quarter-pound of dried blossoms into a bath and soak. Or, use alcohol extracts of chamomile in the bath.