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Chamomile apothecary is distributed in the European part of the USSR. Grows in open meadows, meadows, by roads, on light sandy soils, between crops. Cultivated as a medicinal plant.
Chamomile flower baskets are used (without stems, with the length of the remnants of pedicels not more than 3 cm), collected at the beginning of flowering, when the marginal tongue flowers in the baskets are arranged horizontally. The odor is strong, fragrant, especially when rubbed. The flavor is bitter, spicy.
Chemical composition
.Chamomile flower baskets contain essential oil (0.1-0.8%), which includes hamazulene, cadinene; flavonoids, nicotinic and ascorbic, caprylic, anthemisic, isovaleric, salicylic acids, coumarins, choline, phytosterols, carotene, bitters, mucilages, gum, sugars, protein substances, as well as glycoside of antispasmodic action, relaxing smooth muscles and anesthetizing in intestinal spasms, glycoside of diaphoretic action, apigenin, apiin, gerniarin, matricin.
Action and application
.Chamomile flower baskets are ideal for preparing a medicinal infusion. It has anti-inflammatory, styptic, antiseptic, slightly astringent, analgesic, sedative, anticonvulsant, diaphoretic, choleretic effect. Chamomile essential oil has disinfectant and diaphoretic effect, reduces gas formation, relieves pain, reduces inflammation, normalizes the disturbed function of the gastrointestinal tract, excitatory effect on the central nervous system: increases and increases respiration, increases the number of heartbeats, dilates cerebral vessels. Large doses of essential oil cause headaches and general weakness.
Glycoside increases secretion of gastric and intestinal juices; increases biliary secretion and stimulates appetite. Apiin, apigenin and gerniarin have a moderately antispasmodic effect.
Hamazulen has a pronounced anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, local anesthetic effect, enhances regenerative processes. Hamazulene and its synthetic analogs find use in the treatment of bronchial asthma, rheumatism, allergic gastritis and colitis, eczema, X-ray burns and other diseases. Hamazulene passes into the infusion, but is partially decomposed by boiling. Chamomile flower baskets in the form of infusion are used internally for intestinal spasms, gastritis, enteritis, flatulence, inflammation of the liver and gallbladder, kidney, bladder, dysmenorrhea, hysteria, neuroses and convulsions, trigeminal neuralgia. Externally as an astringent antiseptic, anti-inflammatory agent in the form of rinses, lotions, baths and therapeutic enemas.
Bulgarian scientists note the special value of chamomile herb as a healing agent, confirmed by pharmacological and clinical study of it. They note that its action is persistent and most favorable in the treatment of acute and chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, colitis, as well as in hyperexcitability, neuralgic pains, painful menstruation, uterine bleeding, etc. Externally, chamomile apothecary is used to wash inflamed mucous membranes with hemorrhoids, for foot baths with sweaty feet. In case of flu, it is recommended to inhale vapors of hot infusion of chamomile.
In France, chamomile infusion is used for digestive disorders, fatigue, physical overload, over-saturation of coffee and tobacco, ill health and colds. In pharmacies in France, chamomile is available in filter packets, each packet (6 g) is a daily dose. The filter bag with chamomile should be lowered into a cup into which boiling water is slowly poured. After 5 minutes it is necessary to stir with a spoon. After 20-30 minutes, remove the filter bag. Sugar may be added if desired (for ingestion). Chamomile and sugar filter packets are available at drugstores.
Pharmacological studies and clinical testing by a number of pharmacologists and clinicians in Prague have proven the significant therapeutic effect of hamazulene, especially in inflammation resulting from radiation.
In New York, in some salons it is customary to serve chamomile tea with sugar and cream (15 g to 1 liter, insist 15 minutes); drunk at night, it causes a strong, restful sleep. In addition to the above, chamomile is used as a spicy, flavoring agent to increase appetite and improve nutrient absorption. In Poland it is used as an appetite enhancer, for gastrointestinal diseases, as an analgesic, especially for painful menstruation. Externally - for burns, frostbite, wounds and for hair loss.
In cosmetics, chamomile infusion is used to give a golden hue to the hair and to keep the skin fresh as a wash.
Chamomile flower baskets are an official raw material in 26 countries (Klan, 1948). Medicinal chamomile should be used only as prescribed by a doctor.
In Russian folk medicine infusion of chamomile from its baskets is used in the form of infusion for gastritis, colitis, liver diseases, kidney, bladder, malaria, colds, diseases accompanied by fever, scrofula, diseases of the nervous system, insomnia and other diseases. Externally - as a mild remedy for various inflammatory processes of mucous membranes, with sluggishly healing wounds and is especially widely used in children's practice for spasms in the gastrointestinal tract. In the form of decoction mixed with salt - for gout, ulcers and boils.
Flower baskets of chamomile pharmacy we widely used as an anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, emollient, analgesic, antispasmodic, stimulating bile formation and biliary secretion, soothing and aromatic remedy. Used by us in gastritis, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer, colitis, dysentery, liver disease, as well as for baths and sprinzhevaniya with trichomonadnyh colpitis..
