Chamomile

Chamomile

Scientific Name: Matricaria recutita

Native to: Europe

Part Used: Flower head

In a word: Digestive Heal-All or Mother of the Gut

Uses: General Gastrointestinal Strengthener and All Purpose Tonic

European herbalists call chamomile "the mother of the gut." With the annual budget for stomach medications in the United States hitting the multibillion-dollar range, it appears that a mother is just what we need.

If you suffer from chronic stomach disorders, the chances are that you have a weak digestive tract. We need to counter weakness with power, and power is precisely what chamomile has to offer the person who finds himself in stomach pain on a regular basis. Herbalists discovered long ago that any problem from the mouth to the anus is made better with the regular use of chamomile tea.

Chamomile, also known as German chamomile, Matricaria recutita, is a member of the daisy family and is indigenous to Europe. Don’t confuse it with Roman chamomile, Anthemis nobilis. That’s an entirely different plant, with a different medical action; Anthemis nobilis could be called "the mother of the hair," as it is primarily used in shampoos and cosmetics. When in doubt, look to the Latin name. Though the point could be made that bad hair is the source of many a stomachache, we will take a more direct approach and stick to Matricaria for digestive woes.

A daily cup of chamomile tea might help to knock out any nasty little critter that has crept into the gut and to shore up the stomach so that it will be better able to fight off future intruders.

A quick perusal through the literature of herbal medicine will show that chamomile, which grows wild from North Africa to Germany and west into Russia, has stood the test of time. People have collected the herb from the wild or bought it from the herb seller for more than 2,000 years and used it to treat digestive ills ranging from ulcers, upset stomachs, nausea, gas, constipation, diarrhea, to hemorrhoids.

Chamomile is just one member of the daisy family sued in herbal medicine; others include elecampane, calendula, echinacea, aster, Jerusalem artichoke, milk thistle, and blessed thistle. All produce oils that are thought to be responsible for their medicinal actions. In clinical trials, the essential oils in chamomile have been proven to act as anti-inflammatories, antispasmodics, antimicrobials, and antiulceratives. Like other medicinal plants, it contains a complex series of chemicals that work individually and collectively on the body. Modern medical science is always trying to find the single chemical that makes a plant effective, but in reality it is the combined workings of all the chemicals that do the trick.

When your stomach hurts, the chances are that the tissue lining in your stomach is irritated. Chamomile works to soothe irritated stomach tissue on two levels. One chemical contained in the plant is A-bisobol, which acts as an antiulcerative by speeding the mending of the torn tissues. A second chemical, chamazulene, acts as an anti-inflammatory. The problem with stomach linings is that they are filled with nerve endings, and when irritated stomach linings swell, it causes pressure on these nerves, which you experience as pain. Chamazulene has the ability to shrink these tissues, relieving the pressure on the nerves. One chemical heals the tissue, thus ending the source of inflammation, and another treats the inflammation itself. And these are just two of the chemicals in chamomile!

More than one bout of nausea has been caused by bacteria in the digestive tract, and even in this case, chamomile proves useful. In fact, its antimicrobial action is remarkably strong: one ingredient, azulene, can kill both staphylococcus and streptococcus infections. A weakened GIT (gastrointestinal tract) is less likely to be able to fight off bacteria than a healthy one, and people with digestive problems are much more susceptible to food poisoning and intestinal flus than other individual. A daily cup of chamomile tea might help to knock out any nasty little critter that has crept into the gut and to shore up the stomach so that it will be better able to fight off future intruders.

In some cases, a delicate stomach can be caused by delicate capillaries. These small blood vessels line the entire digestive tract, and one ingredient contained in chamomile, quercimeritin, has the ability to reduce their fragility. Chamomile also contains tannins, which have been used in tanning leathers (hence the name) for centuries. Tannins do essentially the same thing to your stomach that they do to the backside of a cow: toughen up the skin. They do this by precipitating the proteins, or, in simpler terms, pulling the cells tighter together. The flavonoid quercimeritin and the tannins work together to toughen up what might be an overly sensitive gastrointestinal tract.

As we have already discovered, a number of GIT problems are related to the nervous system. Not only does chamomile improve the health of the tissue lining the gastrointestinal tract, but it also has the ability to soothe the overactive nerves that may be at the root of the problem. In herbalist circles, chamomile is called a relaxing nervine because it gently relaxes the nervous system. An overly active nervous system can cause the overproduction of stomach acids which leads to acid indigestion and tensing which leads to cramps. The mildly sedating effects of chamomile will settle the nerves, thereby settling the stomach.

Last but not least, chamomile contains bitter elements that stimulate the production of stomach juices needed to break down food particles. People who do not produce enough bile lack the chemicals needed to digest their food quickly. It sits in their stomachs too long, and the result, as any person missing a gall bladder will tell you, is a chronic stomachache. Once again, chamomile comes to the rescue by stimulating the production of digestive juices.

Not all of the chemicals found in chamomile are understood. There may be hundreds more that contribute to this plant’s stomach-healing properties. What practitioners around the globe do know is that if a person suffers from digestive problems, chamomile will make him better. Whenever there is stomach trouble in the house, you should always start your treatment with chamomile.

Practitioners’ Advice

Chamomile can be used in two situations. The first is when you have a sudden and acute case of gastro-intestinal upset. It can be used as emergency medicine to settle normal stomach having a hard time. It’s ideal for food poisoning, acid indigestion, nausea, and digestive "flu". It should be taken with each meal and one last dose before bed.

It can also be used in chronic digestive problems. Indeed, whether its ulcers, irritable bowel, constipation, or ulcerative colitis, Chamomile is the first herbal medicine to contemplate using. Being mother of the gut, the compounds found in chamomile work together to improve gastro-intestinal function. It is an unglamorous medicine, but one that is highly effective. The key to its effective use in chronic digestive problems is regular usage. It should be taken four times a day for months and months. Chances are your innards did not get into the twist they find themselves overnight. Much the same way, Chamomile will not turn around a poorly functioning digestive system in a matter of days. Keep with it for three or four months and a difference will be felt.

QUICK REVIEW

History: Long used in Europe to improve digestive function

Science: Made active by a complicated cocktail of compounds

Practitioners opinion: Works fabulously when used continuously

Directions: Tincture (1:5, 45% alcohol): 3ml 3 times daily