German Chamomile
Matricaria chamomilla
German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) has a long tradition of being used as an herbal remedy.
Although not many studies exist that prove the herb's effectiveness in humans, animal studies have shown that it has an anti-inflammatory effect and supports wound-healing. German chamomile also has antibiotic and antimycotic properties.
Taken internally as an herbal infusion, or chamomile essential oil rubbed into the skin, German chamomile's has a calming effect on patients with mild to moderate anxiety disorder, and taken in higher doses it can induce sleep.
Links
German Chamomile in Modern Herbal Medicine:
- The US National Library of Medicine contains an overview over German chamomile's different aspects and applications in modern medicine.
- The German Kooperation Phytopharmaka lists the herb as a recognized medicinal plant.
- In a study at Department of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran, it was shown that chamomile applied topically can reduce the amount of pain medication required in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
Chamomile in Fiction:
- In her novel Owlsight, author Mercedes Lackey has her character, healer Keisha, use chamomile in a potion to soothe a young patient's pain away.
Blog Posts
Chamomile, Marshmallow and Mint for an Upset Stomach
Let's pay another visit to Healer Keisha from Mercedes Lackey's novel Owlsight, whom we already met once before when discussing the healing qualities of wormwood. Keisha, as the village healer with a neat kitchen garden, has many healing herbs at hand. In the following snippet, she's treating a little boy who'd been in a fight with the village bully and is now sporting a bleeding nose and a black eye:
Her bit of advice had certainly silenced the child anyway; he seemed to be pondering it as they waited for his nose to stop bleeding. When Keisha judged that it had been long enough, she had him sit up and cautiously took the rag away from his nose. There was no further leakage, so she got up and mixed him a quick potion; chamomile for the ache in his eye and nose, mash-mallow and mint to counter any tummy upset from swallowing blood, and honey and allspice to make it into a treat.
So will this potion work as Keisha intends?
As for soothing an upset stomach - be it from swallowing too much blood or from the tension caused by the fight the boy has been through - the potion will certainly do that. Not only marshmallow and mint, but also chamomile, are all effective remedy for treating stomach upsets and other intestinal problems. Whether chamomile will also help with the boy's aching nose is doubtful, though it does have a calming effect on the psyche, so it might soothe away his upset - and with it, the pain.
*** Please note: This blog is not intended as medical advice. ***
Do not try this at home.
(Or at least, don't use any of the remedies described here this without consulting your physician first.)