Introduction:

Chamomile is one of the most ancient medicinal herbs known to mankind. It is known as ‘Babunah’ in Ayurvedic medicinal practices. Experts say, “Chamomile is an herbal medicine of the past with bright future.” It is a member of the daisy family i.e. Asteraceae/Compositae family and represented by two common varieties viz. German Chamomile (Chamomilla recutita) and Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum Nobile). The plants of Chamomile grow up to 50-60 cm having branched, smooth and erect stems. The long and narrow leaves are bipinnate or tripinnate. The flowers are borne in paniculate flower heads (capitula). The hollow, bright gold cones of the flowers are packed with discs or tubular florets and are ringed with about fifteen white ray or ligulae florets. The flowers bloom in early to mid summer and have a fragrant aroma. The fruit is a yellowish brown achene. The dried flowers of Chamomile contain many terpenoids and flavonoids contributing to its medicinal properties. Chamomile preparations are commonly used for many human ailments such as hay fever, inflammation, muscle spasms, menstrual disorders, insomnia, ulcers, wounds, gastro intestinal disorders, rheumatic pain, and hemorrhoids. The most popular preparation of Chamomile is herbal tea, consumed more than one million cups per day. Essential oils of Chamomile are used extensively in cosmetics and aromatherapy. Its curative and preventive properties made it a traditional medicine for thousands of years.

Chemical Constituents:

Different medicinal preparations and various cosmetic products prepared from the extracts of Chamomile contain different chemicals present as bioactive constituents in the herb. The plant contains many volatile oils which are being separated by fractional distillation at different temperature ranges. The oil ranges in color from brilliant blue to deep green when fresh but turn to dark yellow after storage. Approximately 120 secondary metabolites have been identified including 28 terpenoids and 36 flavonoids. Some of the chemical components of medicinal and cosmetic use are preserved in alcoholic tincture to prevent losing their potency.

Uses:

*Healthcare Preparations: Chamomile Tea is one of the world’s most popular herbal teas and more than a million cups are consumed every day. Tea bags of Chamomile containing powder of dry Chamomile flower, either pure or blended with other medicinal herbs, are being sold with some branded labels in the market. Dry powder of Chamomile flower is recommended and used by a big population for traditionally established health issues. Medicinal preparations are being prepared using dry flowers of Chamomile with water or alcohol or both. Chamomile tincture may also be prepared as one part dry flower powder in four parts of water having 12 % grain alcohol, used to treat summer diarrhea in children. Mostly preparations are made using flowers but whole plant of Chamomile is used for making herb beers, lotions for external applications, bath additives, skin care and hair care.

*Traditional Use: Chamomile preparations, oils, extracts and original plant/parts of plant are traditional medicines being used to treat wounds, ulcers, eczema, gout, skin infections, bruises, burns, canker sores, neuralgia, sciatica, rheumatic pain, hemorrhoids, mastitis, and some more. Chamomile is widely used to treat inflammations in the skin and muscles and bacterial infections in the skin. Aqueous and alcoholic preparations of Chamomile are used as mils sedative to calm nerves and reduce anxiety to treat the patients of depression, insomnia, hysteria and nightmares. Women use the preparations of Chamomile to treat the disorders of menstrual cycles, and urine problems.

*Medicinal Uses: Ayurveda, Yunani, Homeopath and Allopath, nearly all the streams of Medical Sciences have their studies on Chamomile and almost all the streams suggested some medicines containing Chamomile as main ingredient to meet different health issues. Ayurveda and Yunani medicinal practices have many studies on Chamomile and many suggestions for treating various health issues, some of them are as follows:

Health Promotion: Consuming Chamomile Tea is not only the routine consumption of tea but it is fact that it is also a good immunity booster. Daily or regular intake of Chamomile tea increases urinary levels of hippurate and glycine which increases antibacterial activities, and also decreases the systolic blood pressure significantly.

Common Cold: Common Cold is a mild viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory system called acute viral nasopharyngitis in medical science. It is not a life threatening health issue but it may cause complications like pneumonia which may be a big threat to life, so it should be taken seriously. Warm preparations of Chamomile and powder of dry flower with honey is suggested for treating common cold.

Inflammation: Anti-inflammatory and antiphlogistic properties of flavonoids and terpenoids present in the oils of Chamomile treats various issues of inflammations in skin and muscles due to external injury, internal infections, hemorrhoids, gastrointestinal disorders and also in vaginal inflammation in women.

Wound Healing: Antimicrobial properties present in the chemicals of Chamomile oils reduces the affected area of wounds, fastens the epithelialization to heal wounds faster. Fresh injury and blood flow can be treated by dry flower powder applying on the affected portion and wrapped with clean clothes for at least one hour. Ointment of Chamomile applying on injuries helps fast healing of wounds.

Anxiety and Seizure: Traditionally Chamomile Preparations, Chamomile Tea, and Aromatherapy of Chamomile oils have been used to treat the patients suffering from Depression, Insomnia, Sleeplessness and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Flavonoids present in Chamomile give a sedative effect in the patients by slowing down the receptors of the brain and works as a mild tranquilizer and sleep inducer.

Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease resulting from low bone mass due to excessive bone desorption. Sufferers are prone to bone fractures from relatively minor trauma. To prevent bone loss that occurs with increasing age, Chamomile extracts were evaluated for their ability to stimulate the differentiation and mineralization of osteoblastic cells.

Diabetes: The water preparations and herbal tea of Chamomile regulate the hyperglycemia and diabetic complications by suppressing blood sugar levels, increasing liver glycogen storage and inhibition of sorbitol in the human erythrocytes.

Cardiovascular Conditions: Regular use of Chamomile preparations, at least herbal tea may reduce the risk of cardiovascular risks. The intake of Chamomile tea regulates the mean brachial artery pressure reducing the risks of cardiac disorders.

Side Effects:

Using Chamomile may be allergic for some individuals, so be aware. If there is a condition where a person observes itching, redness, swelling and vomiting tendency after consuming Chamomile preparations, it means the person is allergic and should keep away. Infants, children, pregnant women and breast-feeding women should consult a medical practitioner before using any product of Chamomile.

Conclusion:

Chamomile has been used as an herbal medicine since ancient times, is still popular today and probably will continue to be used in the future. It contains many various bioactive phytochemicals that could provide therapeutic effects. Chamomile can help improving cardiovascular conditions, stimulate immune system and provide protection against many health conditions. Chamomile herbal tea is one of the most popular soft drinks being used these days. Many medicines and cosmetics are being prepared using this herb and consumed by a big population today.

FAQs:

Q: What is the Indian name of Chamomile?

A: ‘Babunah’ is the Indian name of Chamomile.

Q: What does Chamomile look like?      

A: Chamomile looks like the flower Daisy.

Q: What is difference between Chamomile and Daisy?

A: There are many plants in Daisy family, Chamomile is one of them.

Q: Which part of the Chamomile plant is useful?

A: Almost all parts of the plant are useful but flowers are most useful.

Q: Is it safe to have Chamomile herbal tea daily?

A: Yes, of course, if you are not a child or infant.

Q: Is Chamomile a mosquito repellent?

A: Yes, the vapor of Chamomile oil can repel mosquitoes.

Q: Does Chamomile tea contain caffeine?

A: No, Chamomile tea is caffeine free.