The most common and biggest misconception is to consider what is at the top of the daisy stem to be a single flower. Outwardly, of course, it seems that this is a typical flower: a yellow center with “stamens”, around it there is a halo of white “petals”, which fade and crumble as the seeds ripen. It’s hard not to make a mistake, but in reality it is not one flower, but a collection of several hundred small independent flowers, each of which has stamens and petals. And what is colloquially called a flower is actually an inflorescence.
Calling chamomile a wildflower is not entirely correct - it often grows along the outskirts of fields, but not in the fields themselves, since it cannot withstand competition with other plants here.
Look at the photo of the daisy in close proximity:
It can be seen that the middle of the entire inflorescence consists of a large number of yellow “tubes”, and at the edges this basket is surrounded, it seems, by petals.
So, these tubes are individual flowers. Just like the “petals”...
The structure of a chamomile inflorescence
What is colloquially called a daisy flower is called a flower basket in scientific terminology. Its basis is formed by the receptacle - the end of the stem, inside of which a hollow chamber is formed.
On the left is a cut inflorescence of chamomile, on the right is odorless chamomile.
This chamber is a characteristic distinguishing feature of plants of the genus Matricaria (typical chamomile), which also includes chamomile, from externally similar, but belonging to other genera of plants - pyrethrums, cornflowers, navels, including field chamomile (chamomile), with which pharmacy is often confused.
The flowers themselves develop on the top and sides of the receptacle. The bulk of them are yellow tubular, located at the top in the center. They are pollinated by insects, fertilized and fruits are formed in their place.
Bees, as well as some beetles and butterflies, are the main pollinators of chamomile.
Another type of flowers - marginal reed flowers, have a very original shape - all their petals have grown together into one large white blade, which bends away from the main axis of the flower and looks like one large petal. Such marginal flowers are located in the lower part of the inflorescence, forming its edge, and they are called “petals”. There are from 12 to 28 of them on each inflorescence.
Interestingly, the marginal flowers are sterile, but have anthers to attract pollinating insects.
On a note
In most plants of the Asteraceae family (including all typical daisies), it is the tubular inner flowers that are fertilized, and the marginal reed flowers are sterile. But there are also exceptions. For example, in osteospermum, called African chamomile, on the contrary, the fruits are set in the place of the marginal flowers, and the central ones are sterile and serve only to attract pollinating insects.
Chamomile and some other closely related plants, also called daisies, have yellow inner flowers and white outer flowers. Due to this contrast, the flowers are very noticeable against the green background of grass and bushes and attract pollinating insects. Additionally, their attractiveness is enhanced by the pronounced smell of the inflorescences.
This type of inflorescence, like that of chamomile, is called a basket, but in chamomile it is somewhat atypical due to the cone-shaped high receptacle. Therefore, in this case it is called a conical basket.
The picture below shows a diagram of a regular basket:
And here in the photo is a cut inflorescence of chamomile: 
Interestingly, in botany such a basket is considered an inflorescence of the first order. An inflorescence of the second order is all the inflorescences of one bush, forming some kind of irregular figure. Due to the specific arrangement of the peduncles, it is called corymbose.
Many other plants in the Asteraceae family have the same inflorescence structure, but with different color combinations. For example, it looks like this:
A species close to it is meat-red chamomile:
On the left is Persian chamomile, on the right is meat-red.
And here in the photo is Doronicum, or yellow chamomile:
Pay attention to the wide leaves - in most daisies they have a completely different appearance.
This is cosmos, also known as Chinese aster or Chinese chamomile:
Finally, a typical basket develops in a sunflower:
It has both internal and marginal flowers that are yellow, but the marginal ones are arranged in several rows and are more elongated than those of chamomile.
In general, most plants of the aster family have inflorescences very similar in shape to those of chamomile. Because of this, even despite the differences in color in the descriptions, they are often called daisies.
For example, various chrysanthemums are often called large daisies, especially in flower shops. The photo shows one of these chrysanthemums:
Sometimes chrysanthemums, as well as cornflowers and pyrethrums, are called large-flowered daisies because of the inflorescences, which are many times larger in size than the inflorescences of pharmaceutical chamomile. Neither they nor their various decorative forms (double, multi-colored) have anything to do with daisies. At the same time, these plants are perennials, and they often replace annual daisies in flower beds, since they combine well with other flowers, but do not require constant sowing.
At the same time, some typical chamomiles have inflorescences that are very different in appearance from those of chamomile.
Do all daisies have inflorescences of this shape?
Among typical daisies, there are several species (sometimes considered as subspecies), the inflorescence of which is devoid of marginal flowers. In fact, such inflorescences simply look like a cone, seated with small tubular flowers.
For example, the photo below shows, or tongueless:
Its Latin name is Matricaria discoidea (in Latin it means “round”). The inflorescences of this species are similar to the inflorescences of chamomile, the “petals” of which seem to have been torn off. Moreover, such a plant is systematically closer to chamomile than, for example, field chamomile or Roman chamomile, the flower baskets of which at first glance are no different from the classic ones. For example, the green chamomile also has a cavity in the receptacle. This feature is more important than the presence or absence of reed flowers.
Interesting fact: precisely because the inflorescences of green chamomile are less noticeable and attractive, it “has to” smell much stronger in order to attract pollinating insects. That’s why, in fact, it got its self-explanatory name - fragrant or fragrant chamomile.
Briefly about the flowers themselves
The inner tubular flowers of chamomile are quite tall, elongated, white at the base, yellow above, and have 5 petals. When ripe, the petals open and move apart, revealing the style and stamens. There are also five stamens in each flower, but their anthers grow together to form a tube around the style.
As a result, tubular flowers resemble stamens in appearance.
The formula of the inner flowers is CH0-∞L(3)T0P(2).
The outer reed flowers are about 1 cm long, the edge farthest from the receptacle is serrated and bears 5 teeth. Their formula is *Х0-∞Л(5)Т5 П(2).
Interestingly, the appearance of the reed flowers varies among different daisies.
For example, this is what the flowers of alpine chamomile growing in alpine meadows look like:
And this is Roman chamomile, often grown in gardens:
If there are few reed flowers in the inflorescence - a maximum of 30 pieces, then there are several hundred tubular flowers. Not all internal flowers will set into fruits, but their number is still sufficient for one plant to produce 3,000-4,000 thousand seeds per season.
All flowers bloom unevenly and at different times. Initially, the marginal flowers of the inflorescence are directed upward and completely cover the flat yellow center. Gradually, as they bloom, the reed flowers descend and tilt to the sides, and the receptacle rises and protrudes, acquiring a hemispherical shape. At this time, the lowest tubular flowers, closest to the white “tongues,” begin to bloom. Gradually, the marginal flowers descend lower and higher, the tubular flowers located higher and higher bloom, and the receptacle itself rises, acquiring a conical shape.
The photo below shows an inflorescence with flowers at different stages of maturity:
By the time the lower tubular flowers begin to bear fruit, the outer ones begin to wither and crumble. At this time, the uppermost tubular flowers may not yet bloom; the lower ones are already beginning to bear fruit. When the entire inflorescence is seeded, the marginal flowers fall off completely and a brown cone with seeds remains in place of the basket.
Composition, benefits and use of chamomile inflorescences in medicine
Chamomile flowers are of great importance in folk and official medicine. Once dried, they are used to treat symptoms characteristic of a large number of diseases, and therefore their scope is very wide. It is believed that dried inflorescences are the most sought after medicinal plant material throughout the world.
The main component responsible for the healing properties of chamomile flowers is chamazulene, a representative of the azulenes class. It has anti-inflammatory, local anesthetic, antibacterial, anti-allergenic and wound healing effects. In the inflorescences of cultivated chamomile varieties, its content in flowers can reach up to 10%, in wild plants - up to 3-4%. This is enough for inflorescence-based preparations to be used in the treatment of:
- Inflammation of the digestive tract;
- Inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes;
- Open wounds, ulcers, scratches;
- Hemorrhoids, prostatitis, proctitis, colitis;
- ARVI, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, rhinitis, including chronic...
...and other diseases accompanied by inflammation and pain. Moreover, in pharmacopoeias, chamomile flowers are standardized according to chamazulene content and divided into several varieties.
This is interesting
Where chamomile cannot be grown to obtain medicinal raw materials, they try to cultivate common yarrow, whose flowers contain even more chamazulene than chamomile flowers.
In addition, chamomile flowers contain a large amount of essential oil (it has an interesting blue color), various glycosides and acids. It has been proven that when taken internally, its preparations have a calming effect, calm and relaxation occurs, and sleep is normalized.
It is chamazulene that causes the blue color of chamomile essential oil.
Pharmacognosy also describes the choleretic, diaphoretic, immunostimulating, carminative, and heart-stimulating properties of chamomile, but all of them have not been proven by relevant studies.
It is definitely known that chamomile flowers contain vitamins A, C and E, as well as a large number of flavonoids, due to which preparations based on them are used as a means of protection against free radicals and to stimulate the immune system.
Chamomile remedies can tone the muscles of the uterus, which helps normalize menstruation, but can be dangerous during pregnancy. Because of this, any products with chamomile are contraindicated for pregnant women.
Finally, chamomile has proven antibacterial properties. Due to this, leaf-based products are used to disinfect wounds and assist in the treatment of inflammatory diseases caused by bacterial infections.
However, despite its benefits, chamomile can cause harm to your health. We talked about this in more detail in the article about the side effects of taking chamomile...
When do daisies bloom and when are their inflorescences collected?
Wild daisies bloom throughout the warm period of the year. The earliest to bloom in the spring are winter bushes that formed in the fall and overwintered under the snow - their first flowering baskets appear already in April-May, when constant warm weather sets in. Chamomile is not a primrose because it blooms much later than the snow has completely melted.
In the mountains, chamomile blooms in mid-summer.
Bushes that sprouted in spring bloom in June-July and can bloom until the end of September. If the bush grows in suitable conditions, new inflorescences constantly appear on it when the old ones have already been seeded. In winter there are no flowers on the chamomile bushes. In this case, only bushes that sprouted in the fall and managed to form a rosette of leaves overwinter. Bushes that bear fruit once die in the winter.
In the wild, the inflorescences are harvested for the preparation of medicinal raw materials in June-July, when the baskets are completely dry during the day. In this case, only those inflorescences are selected on which seeds have not yet appeared, since only they are suitable for the preparation of medicines and meet the requirements of most pharmacopoeias.
Inflorescences without white marginal flowers are no longer suitable for collecting and preparing medicines.
The chamomile herb itself, as well as its leaves, are not considered medicinal raw materials and are not used either in folk or official medicine. Moreover, pharmacopoeias limit the content of chamomile stems, leaves and peduncles in raw materials to 3% of the total mass.
When growing chamomile on special plantations, its inflorescences are collected two or three times a season during periods of the most abundant flowering, while the marginal flowers have not yet descended. Moreover, after the third harvesting, the plants have time to bloom and bear fruit again.
Mechanized harvesting of chamomile inflorescences on plantations.
On plantations, inflorescences are collected using special tractor-harvesters, and when manually collected in the wild, this is done either with bare hands or using special scoops with combs.
After cleaning, the baskets are laid out in a well-ventilated room, protected from sunlight, on racks, covered with gauze and dried for several days.
Sometimes chamomile inflorescences are dried in special dryers at a temperature of 45-55°C, which speeds up the whole process several times.
When dried, the inflorescences lose approximately 85% of their mass.
When dried, both yellow and white colors become cloudy and all raw materials acquire an inconspicuous brown color. During this time, the mass of inflorescences decreases several times. It is the dry baskets that are then packaged, sometimes crushed and packed into filter bags, and then either stored or sold.
The raw materials themselves can be bought in the markets by weight or “by the glass”, or can be purchased at the pharmacy in packaged form, including in filter bags. The most widely available products are from the manufacturers Pharmatsvet, Evalar, Krasnogorskleksredstva, and Fitofarm.
Rules for preparing preparations from chamomile flowers
Several different medicinal preparations are prepared from chamomile flowers. The most common of them are:
- - when preparing it, the raw material is boiled in water for several minutes. We talked about this in more detail
Of all the chamomile-based drugs, the tincture is perhaps the richest in side effects.
Also used in medicine, but mostly in cosmetology, it is used from chamomile flowers. It has a pronounced anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effect, but is rarely used due to its high cost.
Water-based drugs are almost identical to one another in their pharmacological action. Of these, tea is recommended to be taken orally, the decoction is used both for drinking and for external use, the infusion and alcohol tincture are used only externally. Such preparations can be taken by children over three years of age, patients who are not allergic to chamomile and who do not have a tendency to diarrhea.
At the same time, it is not recommended to drink chamomile preparations constantly instead of tea. This can cause muscle weakness, digestive disorders and some other undesirable effects. Such drugs are used specifically as medicines.
Interesting video: how to prepare an infusion of fresh chamomile flowers
Several species of plants of the genus Chamomile, as well as several species of their other genera of the Asteraceae family, are very similar in appearance to chamomile. Moreover, the similarities between them are sometimes so strong that even a specialist is not always able to distinguish pharmaceutical chamomile from similar plants the first time.
However, you can always distinguish chamomile from other species if you clearly know the characteristic features of each species. At a minimum, to do this, it is enough to clearly understand the main characteristics of the pharmaceutical chamomile itself, so as not to confuse clearly different species with it.
Previously, we gave a very detailed description of pharmaceutical chamomile with visual photographs, from which we found out the following features of its appearance:
- In chamomile, the middle of the inflorescence is always golden yellow, the outer flowers (sometimes called petals) are only white. There are no decorative forms of this plant, and therefore there is no chamomile with yellow marginal leaves, or a lilac center, or any other combinations. It's only yellow and white. Any other colors indicate that this is another plant;
- Chamomile always has both inner yellow flowers and outer white flowers. If there are no white ones, it is not a pharmacy chamomile.
- The size of a chamomile inflorescence is 1.5-2.5 cm. The usual inflorescence is placed on the thumbnail along with white flowers. Again, if in front of us, it seems, is a flower with a yellow center and white edges, but the size of half a palm, this is not a pharmacy chamomile.
For example, in the photo below there are chamomile inflorescences:
Here are the inflorescences of doronicum, or yellow chamomile:
It seems that the inflorescences are similar in appearance, but it is the yellow marginal flowers that make it possible to reliably distinguish doronicum from chamomile.
Likewise, Caucasian chamomile has red marginal flowers:
And the Moroccan one has white marginal flowers with a small yellow spot at the base:
Here in the photo is odorous or tongueless chamomile:
Its peculiarity is the absence of marginal flower-reeds, for which it received its name.
Finally, here is a photo of pyrethrum cinerarifolia:
It seems that the center of the inflorescence is yellow, and the marginal leaves are white, and one could mistake this plant for a chamomile, but we immediately see that its basket is too large and has a diameter of about 5-6 cm. The inflorescences of a pharmaceutical chamomile do not reach this size.
At this stage, species of the genus Pyrethrum (their inflorescences are large and usually have different colors of marginal leaves), various chrysanthemums with single-colored inflorescences, and asters with large inflorescences are cut off.
On a note
In common parlance, there is often confusion in the fact that pharmaceutical chamomile is sometimes called ordinary, or ordinary (sometimes even “simple”), and in other cases, on the contrary, ordinary chamomile is called fragrant chamomile, and pharmaceutical chamomile is considered “extraordinary.” Be that as it may, it is very easy to distinguish pharmaceutical chamomile from fragrant chamomile by the fact that fragrant chamomile does not have white marginal flowers, and the inflorescence consists only of a yellow “center”.
This means that when we see a flower, we first evaluate:
- A color scheme. If the center is yellow and the edges are white, move on to the next step. If the color combination is different, it is not a pharmacy chamomile;
- Presence of white marginal flowers. If they exist, move on to the next step. If they are absent, it is not pharmaceutical chamomile;
- Dimensions. If the inflorescence is small and its diameter does not exceed 2.5 cm, move on to the next step. If the inflorescence is large, it is not a pharmacy chamomile.
So, in our hands we are left with a plant with small inflorescences, with a yellow center and white marginal flowers. It may already be chamomile, but it may also belong to several other species. Further identification will require an assessment of more specific identifying characteristics and an understanding of which plant species are very similar to chamomile.
Most often, the following types of plants from the Asteraceae family are confused with chamomile:
- Tripleurospermum inodorum; in Latin, Tripleurospermum inodorum;
- Roman chamomile, also known as English chamomile, also known as chamomile, Chamaemelum nobile;
- Dog's navel, or dog's chamomile, or stinking chamomile, in Latin Anthemis cotula;
- Field navel, also known as field chamomile, Anthemis arvensis;
- Russian navel, also known as Russian chamomile, Anthemis ruthenica;
- Common cornflower, Leucanthemum vulgare;
- Pyrethrum corymbosum.
Pyrethrum corymbose inflorescences
All these species have specific features that allow them to be distinguished from chamomile. Let's look at them in more detail...
Differences between chamomile and chamomile
Its main difference from chamomile is the absence of the characteristic tart herbal smell of chamomile. Three-rib flowers do not smell at all, which is why the species got its name.
Flowers of three-ribed inodorous
Also, the three-ribed flower definitely differs from the chamomile in that it does not have an empty cavity inside the receptacle. If you cut vertically the inflorescence of pharmaceutical chamomile and odorless chamomile, then the chamomile inside the inflorescence can see a clear cavity, which the chamomile will not have.
The photo shows this difference:
On the left is an inflorescence of chamomile, on the right is odorless chamomile.
By the way, partly due to the absence of such a cavity, the receptacle of chamomile is hemispherical, not as tall as that of chamomile.
Finally, if you examine the stem of the odorless chamomile very carefully, you will find that there are no hairs on it. The stem of chamomile has, albeit weakly, pubescence.
Roman chamomile
The easiest way to distinguish Roman chamomile from chamomile is by the leaves of the bush. If the pharmaceutical chamomile has very thin leaves and looks like dill leaves, then the Roman chamomile has wide, thick, abundantly dissected leaves. Its bush seems “shaggy”.
This difference is visible in the photo below. Here is a Roman chamomile bush:
And here is a chamomile bush:
It is interesting that when collecting and preparing medicinal raw materials for home use, Roman chamomile can easily be “confused” with pharmaceutical chamomile, since their medicinal properties are similar. Such mixing is unacceptable only during industrial collection, after which the raw materials can be used to obtain essential oil.
Differences between dog chamomile and chamomile
The main difference between this plant and chamomile is the strong unpleasant odor of its inflorescences. It is for this reason that the dog’s belly button received its unpleasant name “stinking daisy”.
Canine daisy flowers.
Interestingly, this plant is considered poisonous to animals and humans, although it is occasionally purposefully used in folk medicine.
Also, upon careful examination of the inflorescence of the dog's navel, you can see that its receptacle is somewhat raised above the level of the marginal flowers, due to which it resembles a ball. This can be seen in the photo:
The marginal flowers themselves are longer than those of chamomile, and their ends are directed upward, not downward.
Finally, an unambiguous difference between the inflorescences of the canine navel is the absence of a cavity in the receptacle. If you cut the basket of it and chamomile, you can clearly differentiate these plants.
Chamomile inflorescence with a cavity inside.
Field chamomile
This species is perhaps the most difficult to distinguish from chamomile, since the appearance of the bush and inflorescences of these plants are almost completely identical to each other. And yet, there is an unambiguous difference: the receptacle of the field chamomile does not have an internal cavity, and therefore, when cutting the inflorescence, the species can be accurately identified.
Field chamomile flowers.
This does not mean that when collecting chamomile, each flower needs to be cut so as not to make a mistake. It is enough to do this for a few random flowers in dense thickets to be sure that most of the plants in this area belong to the same species.
If in a large overgrown area several flowers in a row turn out to have a cavity, it means that the entire array here mainly consists of chamomile. If randomly selected flowers do not have a cavity, these are thickets of field chamomile. If the flowers grow mixed up (which rarely happens), you need to move to another area.
Differences from Russian chamomile
This species is quite easy to recognize by its flat receptacle: the middle of the inflorescence with yellow flowers is not convex, like that of the chamomile. This can be clearly seen in the photo:
For comparison, here is a photo of a chamomile inflorescence:
Russian chamomile also has thicker and wider leaves, which is also a good distinguishing feature.
And, finally, it also does not have an empty cavity in the receptacle.
Daisy
This species is most easily distinguished from chamomile. It has several clear signs:
- Whole leaves;
- Large inflorescences from 35 to 60 mm in diameter. However, the smallest of them may resemble the largest chamomile inflorescences, so errors in identification by this criterion may occur;
- Flat receptacle;
- Absence of a cavity inside the receptacle.
The photo shows cornflower bushes mixed with chamomile bushes:
Both by the appearance of the “middle” of the inflorescences and by the leaves it is very easy to distinguish these plants.
Differences between pyrethrum corymboses and chamomile
In the genus Pyrethrum, this species is characterized by relatively small flowers, which is why it can be confused with chamomile. Most other pyrethrum species have large flowers.
But here, too, the differences with chamomile are clear: the pyrethrum corymbose bush has wide, thick, squat leaves, and there is no cavity in its flat inflorescence.
This is what a pyrethrum corymbose bush looks like:
And this is a chamomile bush:
It's hard to confuse them with each other.
Step-by-step instructions for distinguishing between chamomile and other plant species
As a result, holding a chamomile in your hands, or bending over a bush of a plant, you need to find out whether it is chamomile or not in the following order:
- We evaluate the colors of the inflorescence. If the inside of it is yellow and the outer part is white, it could be a daisy, and we move on. If the color combination is different, it is not chamomile;
- We evaluate the presence of marginal flowers. If they are not there, it is not chamomile. If they exist, we move on;
- We estimate the sizes. If the inflorescence is larger than 2.5 cm in diameter (more than half a matchstick), it is not a chamomile. If it’s less, we move on;
- We look at the middle of the inflorescence. If it is flat, it is not a pharmaceutical chamomile. If it is convex, we move on;
- We evaluate the type of leaves. If they are thick, wide, dense, especially if they are not dissected, this is not a pharmaceutical chamomile. If they are narrow, thin, small - we move on;
- We smell the plant. If the smell is unpleasant, pungent, or absent at all, we conclude that it is not pharmaceutical chamomile. If the smell is spicy, tart, and pronounced, you are likely to have chamomile in your hands.
Finally, to be completely sure, we cut with a blade or simply cut the receptacle with a fingernail. If it is solid inside, it is not pharmaceutical chamomile.
There is no cavity, the entire base of the receptacle is filled with tissue - this is not a pharmaceutical chamomile.
Chamomile is a beautiful wildflower, known in most regions of the country. Who in childhood did not collect chamomile flowers and try to solve matters of the heart with the help of its petals? There are none. After all, even the most avid city dwellers once came to the village to visit their grandmother, who, at the slightest sign of a cold, offered to drink chamomile decoction. And for good reason, the benefits of chamomile in the fight against respiratory infections can hardly be overestimated.
General information about field chamomile
Chamomile, as an antiseptic, is used in the treatment of many gynecological problems. You can easily get rid of it using the healing power of this flower. Using a decoction or tincture, it is good to wash or douche. But in order to enhance the effect, it is advisable to use a whole herbal mixture.
But the sophisticated flower fights not only colds. Are you bothered by insomnia? Chamomile comes to the rescue; after treating colds, chamomile is most often used to relieve stress and calm frayed nerves. Chamomile tea does this job perfectly. Largely due to the fact that it contains the flavonoid chrysin. To combat stress, doctors recommend drinking four cups of chamomile tea a day. For each glass, add 2-3 teaspoons of dry herb and anxiety and unreasonable fears will subside.
For women who have pronounced premenstrual syndrome, chamomile can become a panacea. In this case, the benefit of chamomile is manifested in the fact that its use increases the level of glycine - this is an amino acid that can reduce uterine cramps and relieve nervous tension.
Treatment of inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary area:
- chamomile -30g.
- oak bark - 10 g.
- knotweed grass -50g.
- nettle -30g.
The douching procedure is simple and, with some skill, will not cause any difficulties. To prepare a healing potion for 1 liter. Take 2 tbsp of hot water. spoons of the mixture, boil for 5 minutes in a water bath, strain and cool to room temperature before douching.
Chamomile is successfully used to treat skin diseases. In Germany, the government has officially recognized chamomile as one of the effective remedies used in the treatment of dermatological diseases. In particular: eczema, dermatitis and diaper rash.
Treatment with field chamomile
Chamomile has:
- Choleretic, diuretic and diaphoretic effects
- When used correctly, it can treat liver and kidney diseases.
- Sedative effect on the nervous system
- And a whole range of cosmetic features
Can chamomile be used as a medicine by a pregnant woman? It’s difficult to say for sure. One of the contraindications of chamomile decoction is individual intolerance. But even if everything is fine with this, you should consult your gynecologist before using chamomile decoction.
In general, many believe that chamomile infusion is a panacea for many misfortunes that can happen to a pregnant woman. You can drink it to boost your immunity during a flu epidemic, or as a preventive measure if a relative is sick nearby. Chamomile helps cope with symptoms such as bloating, colic and flatulence. And considering that, being in an interesting position, a woman cannot use many medications, chamomile remains the only remedy in the fight against colds.
Chamomile contains many substances that have a beneficial effect on the skin and hair, which makes it possible to use it in cosmetology. For example, chamomile is successfully used for hair care, as it contains natural substances that prevent hair loss. The method of using chamomile for hair care depends on the goals you are pursuing.
After washing your hair, it is good to rinse with chamomile infusion or decoction. All you need to do is first pour a few tablespoons of chamomile with boiling water and cool the broth to room temperature. After rinsing with chamomile, your hair will look healthy, soft and silky, and gain a healthy shine. By adding components such as lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide, or nettle to the decoction, you can use it as a dye. Your hair will acquire an irresistible shade.
A chamomile mask will help strengthen hair during hair loss and prevent dandruff. To do this, you can take one part of the flowers of chamomile, nettle, plantain, sage and pour boiling water over the collection. Leave for 30 minutes. Then strain, add rye bread pulp and apply the mixture to your hair, wrap your hair in a warm towel and wait for at least 60–80 minutes. Rinse off the mask with warm water without using conditioners and shampoos.
Harm of field chamomile
Unfortunately, chamomile has not only beneficial properties. This flower has a number of contraindications. It is strictly forbidden to use it for anacid gastritis and gastric ulcer. The presence of mental disorders is a reason to refuse to use the decoction even for the purpose of treating a cold. Painful menstruation and a tendency to diarrhea are another contraindication. Chamomile can be used to treat bladder diseases under the supervision of a physician.
As you can see, the benefits of chamomile for the human body are really great and do not end with a banal decoction for colds. But do not forget that despite the mild effect of chamomile, it still remains a medicinal plant that should be used wisely and, in some cases, after consulting with your doctor.
Calming chamomile tea
Ingredients:
- 1 part chamomile
- 1 part rose petals
- 1 part basil
- 1 part lemon balm
- ½ part passionflower
- ½ part mint (optional)
- ¼ part orange peel
Cooking method:
The collection should be stored in a dry, cool place. To prepare the drink, use 1 tbsp. spoon of herbal mixture per glass of water. Place the mixture in a cup, pour boiling water over it and cover with a tight lid. After 10-20 minutes, strain and drink as regular tea before bed. The drink prepared according to this recipe is not recommended for people working with machinery or before driving a car. It is best to use it exclusively before bed. The recipe deliberately omitted one item: licorice root. It should not be used by people with high blood pressure. Be healthy!
Yellow chamomile (painting button, field marigold)- a perennial herbaceous grayish-green plant. The leaves are twice pinnately dissected. Flower baskets are large and yellow. Grows along roads, clearings, ravines.
The healing properties of yellow chamomile are known in folk medicine. The stems, leaves and flowers are used for treatment. The plant has diaphoretic, diuretic, anthelmintic, antimalarial and hemostatic effects.
An infusion of this plant promotes recovery, activates their work, relieves spasm of the bile ducts, thereby removing toxins from the body.
The herb is used in ground form. The infusion is prepared in the same way as tea. The water should not boil during brewing, otherwise valuable essential oils will evaporate. For 1 glass of boiling water, take 2 teaspoons of herbs with flower baskets. Leave for 4 hours, filter. Take 1 tbsp. spoon 3-4 times a day for colds, jaundice, scrofula, liver diseases and to stop uterine bleeding.
The treatment is long-term, you need to carry out 2-3 courses of 2-3 weeks with breaks of 7 days.
Meadow chamomile has been used since ancient times by representatives of both folk and traditional medicine, as well as in cosmetology. Its name comes from the word “romana”, which means Roman, and it has long been known as Romanova grass, also in common people this flower is called popovnik, tyagun, maryasha. However, she is also awarded more tender and affectionate names for her exquisite beauty; people call her the queen of meadows and fields, a dear friend, the sun of the earth.
Chamomile itself belongs to perennial plants, the Asteraceae family. The height of the plant reaches up to 60 centimeters with a highly branched stem. Its baskets have marginal ligulate white flowers and tubular middle ones, which are yellow. Each branch of the bush is crowned with a sunny head.
It is possible to see it blooming from May to August; collecting chamomile flowers for the winter is usually in June-July. And this should be done in clear and dry weather, since the material that was collected with droplets of moisture subsequently changes its color and loses its healing properties. It should be dried in a well-ventilated area or in a dryer at a recommended temperature of 30-40 degrees. The raw material can be stored for 1 year, after which it loses its medicinal properties.
Meadow chamomile in medicine and cosmetology
The most common uses of chamomile are in decoctions, infusions, and lotions.
In the form of an infusion, it is very good for colds, as an antipyretic, for migraines and toothaches, gastritis, liver inflammation, and also as a sedative to improve sleep. Effective as a lotion for joint pain and bruises, and in the fight against wrinkles. Baths with chamomile are recommended for rheumatism, gout, scrofula in children and eczema, as well as for infants. Meadow chamomile extract is actively used in cosmetology and many people make masks and rubs with it for cleansing and general toning of the skin of the face and hands.
However, even with such a universal remedy, one should be careful if chamomile is used in the form of tea; it is recommended to alternate it with another herb, for example, sage, which also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, due to the possible negative effect on the body, expressed by increased irritability, attacks of anger, headaches. Also familiarize yourself with a number of contraindications, including personal intolerance to any of its components and a tendency to diarrhea.