Chamomile - for soothing you - just about everywhere
Chamomile’s most popular modern use is for the nervous system - to soothe the nerves, but as it turns out, it’s been used for over 5,000 years for much more than this. Let’s see if this is your go-to herb for the year.
as a digestive aid, chamomile has bitter qualities that can aid appropriate stomach acid production, along with anti-spasmodic action for those with stomachs that are prone to cramping. As the nervous system and digestive system share much neural (nerve) tissue, often taking chamomile can soothe the gut and nervous system simultaneously. Those with IBS without a diagnosed cause yet may benefit from the soothing effect of chamomile
as a gentle relaxant, it may aid a sense of calm (without sedation) and help with sleep inception (for those of you who struggle to get to sleep at night). It contains a natural chemical called “Apigenin” that this feature is attributed to. Especially good for children, due to its safety profile
as an anti-fungal: I use it in my topical anti-fungal cream blend and also internally for those with symptoms of fungal infection (candida, fungal nails, itchy fungal skin or scalp etc)
for allergies: particularly environmental, as it seems to help tone down the histamine response
upper respiratory infections - e.g. sinus issues, colds etc that produce a lot of mucous or hayfever
difficulty digesting fatty foods - chamomile is what is known in the herbal world as a “cholagogue” (aids bile production in the gallbladder). As the purpose of the gallbaldder is to help emulsify (or break down) fats, this can be very useful. Some people with reflux may benefit from adding chamomile to their repertoire.
as an aid to balancing blood sugar - recently trialed for this, the results are positive, at three cups of chamomile tea per day - interesting, but a full assessment and individual plan is recommended here, as blood sugars out of control need to be taken seriously
topically for irritated skin conditions e.g. eczema, psoriasis, dry skin etc. If considering this, I also ensure that we are addressing the underlying cause of this condition/s for you.
Is this your go-to herb? I hope that learning more about its actions leads you to want to know more about this stalwart plant in the herbalists dispensary. I always have more to share, and would love to discuss this and other herbal medicines with you.
Notes: when writing about herbs, I always take care to express that this is not a prescription recommendation, and to please get in touch with me, or your favourite naturopath or herbalist for individual advice. I prescribe herbs in liquid form, produced by quality manufacturers with high standards and good testing protocols. Honestly, when taking herbs, you really don’t want to muck about with anything that’s not well tested and safe, and prescribed with your safety in mind.
