Chamomile Pharmacy( Matricaria cbamomilla)
There is hardly any other plant that would be so widely distributed and enjoyed such popularity among peoples of different countries like chamomile. It is the official medicinal raw material in more than 25 countries of the world. Camomile was known in most states of the ancient world, for example in the Roman Empire. The etymology of the word "daisy" goes back to ancient Rome. Translated from the Latin romanus - "Roman".The scientific name of the genus Matricaria, to which the chamomile belongs, also indicates its popularity. The popularity of chamomile in the people is also spoken by its folk names: maternal, uterine grass, morgan, bathing-house, Romanova grass, blush. The chamomile is widespread everywhere, except for the Far North, where, if it occurs, it develops poorly, forming dwarf specimens. It grows along roads, on wastelands, meadows, in sowings of rye, on sunny forest glades.
Description
Chamomile pharmacy is a herbaceous annual plant up to 40 cm tall. The stem is sulcate, branched, densely olive. Leaves oblong, pinnately or twice-pinnately divided into narrow linear lobes. Inflorescence - baskets with an elongated chromosome, sit on long pedicels, forming a scute. Flowers in the baskets are of two types: marginal - reed, white, female;internal - tubular, yellow, bisexual. Fruits are achenes. Blossoms in May-July, fruits ripen in June-September.
Composition of
Flower baskets contain up to 0.8% essential oil, which includes chamazulene, various terpenes and sesquiterpenes. In addition to the essential oil in the baskets, apion, apigenin, prohamazulene, matricin, lactone matricarin, umbelliferone, organic acids, resins, bitterness and carotene have been found in the baskets.
In growing
Solar plots, prefer clay, humus soils. Sowing in the spring in rows at a distance of 20 cm. In droughty periods requires additional watering. It is possible to grow in flowerpots.
Collection
For medicinal purposes use flower baskets of chamomile without stems, with the remains of pedicels not longer than 3 cm, collect baskets at the beginning of flowering when their peduncle has not yet become conical in May-June, tearing manually with a part of the peduncle not longer than 3 cmAt the time of collection, white reed flowers should be placed horizontally. Dry in the shade or in dryers at a temperature of no higher than 40-50 ° C.Do not overdry the raw materials, as this leads to the crushing of the baskets. Well-dried raw materials have a pleasant aroma and a bitter-spicy taste.
Medicinal properties of
Infusion of floral chamomile baskets has an emollient, anti-inflammatory, soothing, analgesic, choleretic and diaphoretic effect. Essential oil and its components have a disinfectant, diaphoretic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect, azulene has an antiallergic effect and accelerates the processes of tissue regeneration and healing, apigenin and apion remove the spasms of the smooth muscles of the internal organs.
Application of
Infusion of flowers is taken internally with inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract( gastritis, enterocolitis, colitis), flatulence( as carminative), stomach spasms and regulating menstrual cycle( with menstruation delays).With eczema, abscesses, burns infusion of chamomile make lavage, lotions, baths. Infusion of colors used for rinsing with inflammation of the gums, oral mucosa and sore throats. Chamomile pharmacy is perfectly suitable for the care of blond hair, and as a means to strengthen hair( 4 tablespoons of color boil in 1 1/2 liters of water for 5 minutes, strain and decoction rinse your head after washing).Chamomile is suitable for any skin type, has a beneficial effect on sensitive, dry and thin skin, is used for steam baths for the face, and is also part of cleansing masks and creams. Chamomile tea, prepared at the rate of 15 grams per liter of water and insisted for 15 minutes recommended to drink when overfatigue, over-saturation of the body with caffeine, nicotine and alcohol, and also as a body-strengthening remedy.