The most used and renowned species of chamomile for medicinal use is the German Chamomile, also known as Water of Youth. It can also be eaten. As a medicine, it's used to calm frayed nerves, help sooth stomach problems, reduce muscle spasms, and treat skin conditions.

_{Photo by @krnel}

The scientific botanical name of German Chamomile is Matricaria chamomilla. It's also called Italian camomilla, German chamomile, Hungarian chamomile (kamilla), wild chamomile or scented mayweed. Other names include Blue Chamomile, Camomèle, Camomilla, Camomille, Camomille Allemande, Camomille Sauvage, Camomille Tronquée, Camomille Vraie, Chamomilla recutita, Echte Kamille, Feldkamille, Fleur de Camomile, Kamillen, Kleine Kamille, Manzanilla, Manzanilla Alemana, Matricaire, Matricaire Camomille, Matricaria chamomilla, Matricaria recutita, Matricariae Flos, Oeil du Soleil, Petite Camomille, Pin Heads, Sweet False Chamomile, True Chamomile.

_{Photo by @krnel}

Key Points

• most popular kind of chamomile
• popular use as herbal medicine
• can be eaten safely
• grows everywhere in Europe and North America

History

Chamomile gets its name from the Greek χαμαίμηλον (chamaimēlon) which means earth-apple, further derived from χαμαί (chamai) meaning "on the ground" and μήλον (mēlon) meaning "apple". It has an apple-like scent as well.

Where is it found?

Matricaria chamomilla is found all over Europe and Asia. It's been introduced into North jAmeria and grows everywhere here too. South Ameria and AUstralia has also seen it itroduced and spread.

You can find it near roads, landfills, and cultivated fields. The seeds require open soil to survive. It does well in poor clay soils, and thrives in open sunny locations, and tolerate lightly shaded areas.

What's it used for?

Leaves and flowers can be eaten, and have a slight apple taste. They can be tossed into a salad or made into a herbal tea.

Chamomile is taken orally to treat stomach and intestinal spasms, stomach and intestinal inflammation, stomach ulcers, colic, indigestion, menstrual cramps, intestinal gas, travel sickness, stuffy nose, hay fever, diarrhea, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), fibromyalgia, anxiety, restlessness, and trouble sleeping.

Some skin applications have been used to treat uncontrolled urination or bedwetting, hemorrhoids, breast soreness, leg ulcers, pressure ulcers, allergic skin irritation, and bacterial skin diseases, including those of the mouth and gums, treating or preventing damage to the inside of the mouth caused by chemotherapy or radiation, to treat skin breakdown around colostomy appliances, and skin rash.

An inhaled form can be used to treat inflammation (swelling) and irritation of the respiratory tract and the common cold.

It's also been used as a flavoring of foods and beverages, as well as used in cosmetics, soaps and mouthwashes.

Blue chamomile refers to the purified deep-blue essential oil derived from steam distillation.

Are there any risks?

Long term use isn't known to be dangerous, and short term use is considered safe. People with allergies to the Asteraceae/Compositae family of plants like ragweed, marigolds, daisies, and other related herbs might have an allergic reaction to chamomile.

Hormone-sensitive condition such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids can be worsened with exposure to chamomile as it might act like an estrogen in the body.

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References:

• Matricaria chamomilla
• GERMAN CHAMOMILE
• Chamomile

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Previous posts on Getting to Know Herbs:
Blue Vervain | Blessed or Holy Thistle | Common Horehound | Cayenne | Ashwagandha | Gotu Kola | Common Verbana/Vervain | Holy Basil | Sweet Annie | Globe Artichoke | Butterfly Weed / Pleurisy Root | Joe-Pye Weed / Gravel Root | Valerian | Malva/Mallow | Boneset | Elecampane | Lungwort | Cramp Bark | Motherwort | Common Plantain | Eleuthero (Siberian ginseng) | Black Cohosh | Common Bearberry | Mahonia Mountain Grape (Oregon Grape) | Blue Cohosh | Goldenseal

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