La Chamomile matricaria o Matricaria recutita it is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the Asteraceae family, with erect and branched stem, up to 50 cm high. It has particular bipinnate leaves of an intense green and divided into thin lacinias. The flower, hermaphrodite with a classic daisy, is long pedunculated with an intense yellow heart and white petals which, at the end of flowering, are turned downwards. Its pollination takes place thanks to the work of insects!
It is very similar to Roman chamomile (Anhtemis rank) which is not found in the spontaneous state, but only cultivated, and has larger flowers with greater aromatic strength.
The fruits are small ovoid achenes containing a single seed.
It is widespread throughout Italy and is easily found in meadows, along paths or country walls, in cereal fields as a pest, especially in dry areas.
The drug: the flower heads used in the evening on dry days of July and August are used. The flower heads should be collected with the fingers, preferring the more fragrant ones and avoiding those in a more advanced and mature stage. The active ingredients are extracted from the dried flower immediately after harvest.
Active principles: blue camazulene that turns brown in the light, flavonoids, coumarin, fatty acids, glucosides, potassium, vitamin C.
Essential oil: its essential oil, obtained by distillation from the flower heads, has a typical bluish color thanks to the high concentration of azulene, which distinguishes it from false or non-pure oils with less properties! It is a very expensive oil and can be used externally for baths, irrigations, compresses and skin massages, but also in the form of touches on the gums or in the ear in case of pain. For internal use to relieve menstrual pain, and spasms and to regain inner calm and balance.
Property: anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, calming, sedative, nervine, immunostimulant.
How to use it?
Internal use: It is an excellent natural calming agent that facilitates sleep as well as alleviating heartburn and pain. It is used to reduce intestinal spasms, kidney and biliary colic pains, calm vomiting and nausea, reduce fever and headache.
External use: excellent local anti-inflammatory for burns, ulcers and infections, but it is also useful for relieving sore throat. Its decoction, added to the bath water, promotes relaxation and helps decongest the skin. It has a natural lightening action on the hair. Its essential oil dosed in a neutral cream, can be rubbed in case of joint pain and neuralgia.
Warnings
It should not be taken in case of diarrhea.
Curiosity
Its dried flowers were used instead of tobacco in the pipe!
Its name seems to derive from the Greek Khamaimelon formed by partyi "Small, dwarf" and da melon "Apple" or "small apple" to remember the scent of some varieties of apples and probably from Latin mater "Mother" or gives matrix "Uterus" because in the past it was given to women giving birth for its alleged beneficial action on the muscles.
It can be used to accelerate the formation of fertilizer compost, in fact its infusion is capable of accelerating the fermentation of organic substances.
Language of plants
In the flowers of the ancient Egyptians saw the image of the sun and for this reason it was used to calm the fever.
La Matricaria chamomilla has always inspired the symbol of strength in adversity but also calm and patience.
This is proved by the discovery of traces of chamomile pollen in the stuffing of the mummy of Ramset II, probably used to give the pharaoh the strength and calm necessary to face the journey towards the other life.
Some chamomile preparations
Infusion against aerophagia
15 gr of chamomile
10 gr of coriander
10 gr anise green
10 gr of mint
Mix the ingredients and add a teaspoon in 250 ml of boiling water. Leave to infuse for 10 minutes, strain and drink before main meals.
Chamomile wine
50 gr of chamomile
1 liter of white wine
Let the chamomile soak in white wine for 10 days, then filter and squeeze the flower heads. Store the preparation in a bottle and consume a small glass before going to bed to fight insomnia.
And for our 4-legged friends?
Union BIO, engaged for years in the study of plants and its properties, uses plant extracts to create unique products, the result of scientific research, safe, natural and effective, for the care and well-being of our animal friends!
Among these extracts also that of Chamomile together with that ofeuphrasia is used, creating a synergistic formula for the well-being of the eyes: Clear drops!
Photo: Frederique Voisin-Demery, Ben Hosking, Curse, [MarcoB]
