home Drugs Chamomile traditional medicine. Medicinal plant chamomile: medicinal properties and contraindications, rules of use for kidney and bladder diseases. Infusion of chamomile eye lotions

Chamomile traditional medicine. Medicinal plant chamomile: medicinal properties and contraindications, rules of use for kidney and bladder diseases. Infusion of chamomile eye lotions

Chamomile is a pretty wild flower, familiar to everyone from childhood. Well, who among us hasn’t used a daisy to guess “loves or doesn’t love”! However, not only lovers know the benefits of chamomile; its beneficial properties in medicine, both folk and traditional, are widely appreciated. Dried chamomile flowers are one of the most common medicines included in home first aid kit, they are used to make tea, decoction, infusion, and are used both internally and externally.

Composition of chamomile

Beneficial features daisies are truly amazing, her chemical composition literally gives this plant miraculous power. Chamomile flowers contain valuable essential oil consisting of sexviterpenoids: chamazulene, farnesene, bisabolol, bisabolol oxides. Chamomile oil also contains monoterpenes: cadinene, myrcine, isovaleric and nonylic acids.

Chamomile flowers also contain a lot of flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin, quercetin), they give the plant powerful antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, chamomile contains coumarins, choline, phytosterol, glycerides fatty acids, polysaccharides.

The effect of chamomile on the body

The substances that make up chamomile have a whole range of useful action, they disinfect, relieve spasms, and reduce gas formation in the intestines. Chamomile has a beneficial effect on functioning digestive tract: increases secretion gastric juice, bile, stimulates appetite, while having a softening effect on the mucous membrane of the digestive organs. Thanks to the mucus that is part of the flowers, chamomile has adsorbent properties and absorbs toxins and waste. At the same time, it has an enveloping effect on the intestines, reduces its sensitivity and irritation, while relieving spasms and reducing pain.

Chamomile is widely used to treat and relieve symptoms of flatulence, diarrhea, gastritis, colitis, intestinal spasms and other digestive disorders, as well as to stimulate the gallbladder and ducts.

The beneficial properties of chamomile allow it to be used in the treatment of many viral, infectious and bacterial diseases. The benefits of chamomile infusion as a diaphoretic and antipyretic have been known for a long time; it is drunk for colds, sore throats, flu, and ARVI.

Chamomile excellent depressant, useful for healthy sleep and rest. A cup of chamomile tea at night will calm your nerves, relieve tension, and speed up falling asleep.

Chamomile is the most popular phytocomponent of any home medicine cabinet. With its help you can solve a large number of health problems. This is not only a preventive remedy, but also a therapeutic one. At home, decoctions, infusions and tinctures are prepared from chamomile, using them for lotions, compresses, gargling and bathing, and steam baths. It is often taken orally in the form aromatic tea, delivering taste pleasure and benefiting the body.

Apigenin. A substance that can suppress allergies and inflammation of different nature, fight with free radicals, oppress some species cancer cells. Of all the herbs that are used to make teas, chamomile contains greatest number apigenin.
Chrysin, which has strong sedative properties. This substance can reduce anxiety, causeless fear, unconditional panic attacks, hysterical state, get rid of nightmares.
Coumarin. The substance that gives chamomile its characteristic aroma. Known as an antiallergic agent that relieves swelling, especially associated with impaired lymph circulation, postoperative.
Ascorbic acid. The most important substance For normal operation connective and bone tissue. Promotes the conversion of cholesterol into bile acids, which stimulates digestion and prevents the formation of stones in the gallbladder. Is a powerful antioxidant.
Tannins, which give the plant a bitter taste, help improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, normalize the microflora in the intestines, and get rid of microbes and rotting products. Effective for preventing salt deposits heavy metals causing significant harm to the entire body.
Pectin. Called "orderly" by doctors human body thanks to the ability to cleanse it from harmful substances without disturbing the natural microflora. Removes radioactive elements, toxic substances and pesticides from the body.
Carotene. Actively participates in metabolic processes, important for the formation of bones, nails, teeth, fat deposits, stimulates the growth of new cells, slows down aging, fights viruses and bacteria.
Essential oils with antimicrobial, antispasmodic and regenerating properties. Vitamins, macro- and microelements: potassium, calcium, zinc, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese.

Unlike black and green tea, chamomile tea does not contain caffeine at all.

Monks from Tibet appreciated all the benefits and harms of chamomile tea, its ability to restore cells and stimulate their regeneration. Therefore, this plant is an essential ingredient in the famous Tibetan elixir of youth.

Video: Chamomile tea. Healing drink

What diseases is chamomile tea good for?

At frequent colds chamomile tea must be taken not only as a means of accelerating recovery due to the content of vitamin C, but also in for preventive purposes to avoid colds and other diseases. Tea has diaphoretic, antipyretic properties, soothes sore throats, and helps remove phlegm.

During the period of autumn-winter depression, 4-5 mugs of aromatic tea per week will significantly improve your mood and performance, and relieve depression. To improve the effect, you can add a teaspoon of honey or a couple of lemon slices to the drink.

The antispasmodic effects of apigenin will help relieve pain and colic in the intestines and get rid of flatulence. Chamomile tea is useful for gastritis, enterocolitis, peptic ulcer, will help normalize and restore stool, improve appetite and digestion.

Chamomile tea is irreplaceable after heavy feasts and long holidays, accompanied by overeating, excessive fatty foods, alcohol. For headaches caused by sudden changes in weather, changes in blood pressure A glass of chamomile tea will quickly relieve muscle spasms, which will alleviate the condition.

Thanks to the vitamin PP contained in the herb, chamomile tea is also beneficial for people suffering from vascular spasms, rapid leg fatigue, and a tendency to varicose veins. Tea will cope with muscle spasms caused by pain in the stomach or critical days. For heavy and very painful menstruation, it is recommended to take tea daily a few days before it starts.

How sedative Chamomile tea should be taken 2-3 cups per day. It helps you relax, fall asleep faster, relieves depression, and speeds up adaptation after stress.

At diabetes mellitus regular use Chamomile drink significantly reduces blood sugar levels, keeps it in one position, which improves the patient’s condition.

Daily consumption of chamomile tea also affects your appearance. The skin becomes healthier, acne goes away, purulent formations. Later and in smaller quantities, age-related pigmentation appears on it. To improve your appearance It is enough to drink a glass of warm tea in the morning on an empty stomach and wash your face with it.

To strengthen the immune system after long illness or during seasonal exacerbation colds A cup of tea a day for two weeks is enough. The plant phenols contained in chamomile will make the body resistant to any virus and bacteria of any nature.

How to brew chamomile tea

Pour a teaspoon of chamomile or a bag of herbs into a glass hot water, but not with boiling water. After boiling, the water should stand for 10 minutes to cool to 90-95 degrees, most suitable for brewing any tea. Infuse under the lid, as regular tea, 5-10 minutes. Strain thoroughly through a strainer or gauze folded in several layers. Take warm, adding a teaspoon of honey or sugar to taste.

The specific taste of chamomile can be varied with a couple of mint leaves, grated with the zest of 1/4 lemon. Adding any component according to your desire and taste will not affect the medicinal properties herbs.

Preparing chamomile tea is so simple and does not require much time that it is better to avoid brewing it for future use. After standing for a while, the drink becomes richer and more bitter. This option is only suitable for external use of the herb.

It is better to take the drink after a meal, but not earlier than an hour later. At this time, it normalizes the digestion process and prevents gas formation in the intestines.

How to use chamomile tea leaves

Chamomile brewed in tea still contains a large amount useful substances. It can be used for lotions and compresses, or simply chewed. In the form of a compress, the herb will relieve fatigue, gray skin, swelling and black circles under the eyes, skin inflammation, and accelerate the healing of wounds and abrasions.

While chewing, it perfectly disinfects the oral cavity, freshens breath, and soothes pain from inflammation of the lips and mucous membranes. The herb can be brewed a second time to be used for baths, washing, hair washing and douching.

Chamomile tea for children

For infants up to four months old, chamomile infusion is added to water and given to drink in small portions to relieve colic. Children under one year old are given 1-2 teaspoons of warm tea for a sore throat, to normalize digestion, before bed, if the baby is restless.

After a year, a child can drink chamomile tea as usual, but in small quantities (no more than one child’s cup).

Contraindications

Chamomile is one of the most versatile herbs, the use of which does not have side effects and even small children are allowed. However, it is not for nothing that it is called medicinal. This means that you should treat it accordingly. Otherwise, a harmless glass of herbal drink can harm the body or lead to exacerbation of chronic diseases.

A chamomile drink is not recommended for people with individual intolerance to this herb. More harm An excessive concentration of chamomile in tea will do more than good. This drink may cause headache, low blood pressure, stool upset, weakened muscle tone. Constantly drinking too strong tea will cause harm emotional state, will lead to a prolonged depressed or irritable mood, loss of attention.

It is advisable to avoid chamomile tea when taking medications with a sedative and diuretic effect. Chamomile has similar properties, and such a mixture will cause an overdose with the corresponding consequences.

You should not drink chamomile tea if you have diarrhea. Take it with caution if you have low blood pressure.

Pregnant women should avoid chamomile tea completely or take it in a weaker concentration, no more than one glass per day. The plant stimulates the formation of estrogen, which can cause miscarriage.

You can buy many medicines at the pharmacy, which are based on natural ingredients. After all, medicinal plants have long been used by our ancestors for therapeutic purposes, and over time their healing properties have been proven by scientists. Medicines based on medicinal herbs are often prescribed by doctors, and patients use them with pleasure. After all, such drugs have excellent therapeutic effect, cause minimal side effects and have virtually no contraindications. One of the most popular medicinal plants that can be purchased at a pharmacy or collected on your own is chamomile. Let's talk about what chamomile can help with, and how chamomile is beneficial for the body?

Chamomile is a very common medicinal plant. Everyone knows it, but few people know the full range of medicinal properties of this culture.

What can chamomile help with?

Chamomile is an excellent medicinal plant for the treatment of colds. viral diseases represented by sore throat, ARVI, acute respiratory infections and influenza.
It is also recommended to use it for correction excessive gas formation in the gastrointestinal tract and to eliminate spasms of various locations. Chamomile perfectly improves the functioning of the digestive tract; it has a gentle effect on the functioning of the stomach and intestines. This herb somewhat activates the production of digestive juice and improves appetite.

Among other things, chamomile can be used as an adsorbent for various poisonings. It helps eliminate even very severe pain in the intestines, as it reduces sensitivity and quickly eliminates inflammatory processes.

Specialists modern medicine Chamomile is commonly used to treat gastritis (low acidity), diarrhea, flatulence, constipation, colitis and intestinal spasms. Also, drugs based on it help cope with acute and chronic inflammation mucous membranes of the stomach. The use of such a medicinal herb helps to reduce swelling of the gastric mucosa and speed up their healing.

Medicinal plant chamomile remarkably stimulates the activity of the gallbladder and its ducts. In addition, it has a positive effect on the functioning of the kidneys and liver.

Many medicines for the treatment of seizures or to stop bleeding, it is prepared on the basis of chamomile color.

But chamomile is not only a medicine for sick patients. This herb will also be beneficial and completely healthy people. It can play the role of an excellent sedative, helping you fall asleep quickly, have a good night's sleep and not wake up in the middle of the night.
Chamomile is an excellent medicinal plant for people who are stressed and experiencing nervous tension. There is evidence that its use helps patients with neuralgic pain and increased excitability. This herb also treats headaches.

Chamomile also helps people suffering from various skin problems: rashes and irritations. They even recommend bathing in it infants.

Chamomile flowers are often used for therapy gynecological diseases and diseases genitourinary system. So this herb will help patients with thrush, cervical erosion and cystitis. Sometimes it is used for correction painful menstruation, uterine bleeding etc.

The use of chamomile-based medicines helps people suffering from various diseases oral cavity: gum diseases, stomatitis, glossitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, etc. They even help eliminate toothache.

External use of chamomile is also indicated for patients with inflammatory lesions of the mucous membranes of the eyes. This medicine will also help cope with hemorrhoids. External use of this herb will also help treat burns, boils, painful wounds that become weeping and difficult to heal. skin rashes. Chamomile is recommended to be used to treat sweaty feet, as well as to maintain fresh skin.

This medicinal plant is widely used for cosmetic purposes: for skin and hair care.

What are the health benefits of chamomile?

Medicinal chamomile saturates the body with a huge amount of beneficial substances. Its most valuable component is considered to be essential oil, as well as glycosides, chamazulene, flavonoids and organic acids.

Consumption of chamomile has excellent anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral effects. It is also capable of eliminating spasms of various localizations. This herb has good disinfectant, diaphoretic and analgesic properties. Chamomile is also a good carminative and sedative.

Additional Information

Medicinal properties pharmaceutical chamomile are very extensive and its raw materials have virtually no contraindications. However, it should not be used in case of individual intolerance, anacid gastritis and a tendency to diarrhea. An overdose of chamomile is fraught with depression of the central nervous system, headache and weakness.

Based medicinal chamomile You can prepare a wide variety of medicines: and ordinary tea, and decoctions, and infusions. In addition, it can be combined with other medicinal plants- as an integral part herbal infusions. Chamomile can be purchased at any pharmacy in the form of dried medicinal raw materials.

Before using chamomile for therapeutic purposes, it is advisable to consult your doctor. Self-medication may cause serious harm health.

pharmaceutical camomile (medicinal) is a very well-known and widespread plant in our latitudes. This is an annual plant belonging to the genus Matricaria, the Asteraceae family, and is found in different regions of North America, Eurasia, and other extratropical regions. Translated from Latin language the name of the plant means " mother herb" The fact is that it was previously used mainly for the treatment of female diseases.

Previously, chamomile grew mainly in wild environment, but now this medicinal herb actively cultivated. After all, chamomile flowers are a valuable medicinal raw material, in demand and used to treat many diseases. It is included in many drugs as an active ingredient, and is also widely used in cosmetology, as an ingredient in creams, soaps, shampoos, etc.

On average it grows to 20-40 cm. If the stem herbaceous plant very long, then this is evidence of a deficiency sunlight during the period when it was actively growing. The stem is erect, quite thin, hollow inside.

The leaves are 2-5 cm long, they are located alternately on the stem. The narrow-linear leaf has dissections with sharp segments. The root is thin, taprooted, with virtually no branches. The flower baskets are small, with white petals around the edges and yellow flowers.

How does medicinal chamomile differ from its other varieties?

On the flower basket of the medicinal variety, the petals are either arranged horizontally or lowered to the bottom. The shape of the receptacle is conical, convex. The flower has a hollow head.

Chemical composition

The flowers contain the following chemicals:

bioflavonoids derivatives apigenin , quercetin And luteolin ;
coumarins (umbelliferon, herniorin);
unrelated organic acids –salicylic , isovaleric , anthemisovaya , caprylic ;
polysaccharides ;
phytosterols ;
vitamins ( , );
tannins;
protein substances;
carotene ;
mucus, gum, bitterness.

Dry baskets contain from 0.1 to 0.8% essential oil, it is called chamomile. This oil is bluish in color and contains many components. The most valuable of them is azulene chamazulene (in oil it is approximately 1-9%). Chamazulene is synthesized by steam distillation of the raw material from the lactones matrixin and matricarine. Produces a pronounced anti-inflammatory, anti-allergenic, bacteriostatic effect.

About half of the oil's composition is a number of other sesquiterpenoids: bisabolol , farnesene and etc.

Medicinal properties of chamomile

The fact that this plant has pronounced medicinal properties was known back in ancient times. Hippocrates and Dioscorides also used it to remove seizures and pain relief. Avicenna believed that this plant was an excellent tonic. But Pliny the Elder used chamomile as an antidote if a person was bitten by a snake, and its decoction is used as a diuretic.

Currently, both dried flowers (for preparing decoctions and infusions) and essential oil are very widely used in medicine.

Chamomile flowers - medicinal properties

Healing properties of essential oil

disinfects;
provides a diaphoretic effect;
reduces gas formation;
activates the digestion process, improves gastrointestinal functions;
reduces the severity of pain, including migraine ;
reduces the intensity of inflammatory processes;
stimulates the central nervous system, while reducing tension, reduces symptoms;
has an antibacterial effect;
dilates the vessels through which blood enters the brain;
eliminates spasm of smooth muscles.

The beneficial properties of medicinal chamomile have been proven by scientists from different countries during the research process. A special study was carried out, during which scientists from the UK determined that chamomile is able to relax blood vessels, as well as smooth muscles. And American researchers have confirmed that the product from the plant produces an anti-anxiety and antidepressant effect. In addition, scientists have proven that the stem, leaves and flowers of the plant have radioprotective properties.

Other studies were also conducted, during which scientists obtained evidence healing properties this plant. About the benefits of chamomile and for what diseases it is used, we'll talk below.

Indications for use

In medicine, they are determined the following readings for the use of chamomile:

inflammatory skin diseases, including burns , purulent wounds;
gallbladder disease;
stomach diseases, chronic and acute, in which inflammatory processes of the mucous membrane develop ( gastropathy );
diseases of the respiratory system, in which there is concern, spasm of the bronchi, swelling of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract;
inflammatory processes of the mucous membranes;
inflammation internal organs, in particular the genitourinary system;
allergic gastritis, and other diseases that develop as a result hypersensitivity body;
connective tissue damage;
pain, including toothache And migraine .

Treatment with chamomile can last up to three months, addiction to chamomile preparations and allergic manifestations when using them, as a rule, it is not observed.

Since the medicinal properties of chamomile are very diverse, it is used for various diseases and conditions. Chamomile flowers, the medicinal properties of which are described above, are used in the form of infusions, decoctions, etc.

Their use internally is indicated in the following cases:

for illnesses digestive system – , , enteritis, as well as biliary tract;
for stomach cramps, liver diseases;
high body temperature;
inflammatory processes respiratory system, ENT organs;
uterine bleeding, metrorrhagia after childbirth;
period pain;
respiratory infections;
severe fatigue;
high excitability;
loss of appetite.

The use of chamomile infusion externally is practiced:

as a rinse for diseases of the oral cavity (, gingivitis , inflammation of the gums), toothache, ;
as a lotion or compress for abscesses, ulcers, rashes, frostbite, burns, wounds that are difficult to heal;
as microenemas for;
for wiping when heavy sweating legs and arms;
for washing during inflammatory processes of the eye mucosa;
as a means for wiping and washing for pimples and acne;
as a poultice for bruises, , .

If you purchase chamomile flowers at a pharmacy, the instructions for use will contain recommendations on exactly how to prepare the herb in the form of a decoction or infusion.

Decoction

For the decoction you need to take 4 tbsp. l. flowers and pour 300 ml of boiling water over them. Keep in a water bath for half an hour, then cool and strain, squeezing. Drink 3 times a day after meals. You should add honey to the chamomile decoction.

Infusion

You need to take 4 tbsp. l. flowers, pour them into a thermos and pour 200 ml. boiling water Leave for 3 hours. You need to drink 4 times a day in equal portions.

The decoction and infusion are stored in the refrigerator for no more than 2 days.

Soothing tea

To prepare a tea that has a calming and carminative effect, use the following ingredients: chamomile (3 parts), caraway seeds (5 parts), valerian root (2 parts). After mixing the ingredients, take two tablespoons of the mixture and pour two tbsp. boiling water After 20 minutes of infusion, strain. Drink 100 ml in the evening and in the morning.

Tea for weight loss

1 tsp. flowers need to be filled with 200 ml of water and left for 10 minutes. Throughout the day you need to drink 4-5 glasses of tea. The course should not last more than two weeks.

Baths

To prepare baths, take the entire above-ground part of the plant. For one bath you need 500 g of such raw material, pour 2 liters of water and boil for 10 minutes. Strain the broth and pour into the bath. Such baths are taken for two weeks, every other day. The procedure lasts 30 minutes. They are recommended for the following diseases and conditions:

Cream

To prepare such a product, you need to melt 50 g of not too fatty oil in a water bath. butter and 3 tbsp. l. vegetable oil. Add 1 tsp. , 2 yolks, 30 ml camphor alcohol, 50 ml chamomile infusion, 2 tbsp. l. honey After thorough mixing, everything needs to be poured into a glass container. This self-prepared product can be stored for up to six months in the refrigerator.

Chamomile cream should be used in the following cases:

at severe dryness skin;
when peeling skin or cracks appear;
in case of laxity of the skin and turgor;
with redness and irritation.

Douching

To prepare the solution, 1 tsp. flowers need to be poured with 200 ml of boiling water and left for half an hour. The strained solution is taken into a syringe and vaginal douching is done at night. They need to be done every day for a week. Douching is done slowly. This procedure is indicated in the following cases:

inflammatory processes, however, not during exacerbations;
, nonspecific and specific.

Such procedures are contraindicated in the following cases:

after the age of 40, since at this age the moisture of the mucous membranes decreases, and douching can aggravate the situation;
during ;
during acute inflammatory processes;
in the first month after gynecological interventions.

Tampons

In the process of treating cervical erosion, tampons with chamomile are used. To prepare an infusion for soaking a tampon, you need to take 20 g of flowers and add 1 liter of water, then leave in a thermos for a day. Next, you need to take aloe leaves that have been in the refrigerator for 2 days, grind them into a paste and squeeze them out. Mix these ingredients in equal proportions. Dip a hygienic tampon into the prepared solution and place it in the vagina overnight.

Contraindications for use are similar to contraindications for douching.

Use for cosmetic purposes

For freckles

Chamomile can help get rid of freckles and whiten your facial skin. To do this, you need to take 20 g of flowers and pour 500 ml of boiling water over them. After a while, strain, add the juice of 2 lemons and half a liter of yogurt to the liquid. All this needs to be mixed well. Soak gauze pads with the resulting solution and place them on those areas of the skin where there are a lot of freckles and keep them there for one hour. Then you need to wash off the product cool water and apply rich cream to your face. These masks are made three times a week.

When the face is red

To reduce the severity of redness and irritation of the skin, prepare the following remedy. One tbsp. l. chamomile flowers need to be poured with a glass of boiling water. After steeping for an hour, strain and add 1 tbsp. l honey. Soak gauze pads in the solution and apply to the skin. Keep for half an hour. When the napkin dries out, replace it with a damp one.

For acne

To reduce the severity of the rash, take 2 tbsp. l. chamomile flowers and 1 tbsp. l. dry celandine and pour 1 liter of boiling water into this mixture. After the product has been infused for half a day, it is filtered and used to wipe those areas where acne constantly appears. This must be done at least 5 times a day.

For brittle and dry hair

You need to pour 4 tbsp. l. chamomile 0.5 liters of boiling water. After half an hour, strain. Add egg yolk and apply the solution to your hair, spreading it carefully over the entire length. After half an hour, you need to rinse your hair thoroughly. This procedure is carried out 2-3 times a week. for a month. Interestingly, if blondes use this solution, their hair will become lighter and gain shine.

This remedy is also used for various purposes.

For aromatherapy

Since this oil does not have a very pungent and intolerable odor, it is well received by both children and the elderly. This oil effectively disinfects the air and has a positive effect on the body as a whole. However, some people note that this oil has a bitter taste. To provide positive action, a few drops of oil are added to the aroma lamp and such a session is carried out for about 20 minutes in the evenings.

Oral use

The oil is used internally along with honey - one tsp. honey - 2 drops. Drink morning and evening, course - one week. This remedy has a positive effect on the body in case of problems with, poor appetite, gastritis, ulcers (except for periods of exacerbation). It is also indicated to be taken for menstrual irregularities, during. The product helps reduce irritability and restore normal emotional background. Its use has a positive effect on mental activity. However, you should know that expectant mothers, women during lactation, and children under six years of age should not take the oil orally.

External use

If necessary, the oil can be applied to the skin without first diluting it. But it should be applied pointwise: apply a cotton pad with oil to the problem area for several minutes. This use of oil is practiced for the following conditions and diseases:

diseases associated with allergic reaction – , ;
inflammatory processes due to sun or thermal burns– during the healing period;
after insect bites;
ulcers, poorly healing wounds;
, acne;
small wrinkles;
ingrown toenail – after surgery;
, – rub into hair roots;
rosacea

For these problems, use chamomile oil for up to 10 days. Essential oil can also be added to any cosmetic product used - lotion, cream, etc. To correctly calculate the proportion, you need to add 3 drops of oil per 5 ml of cream or lotion.

You can also use it during a massage, mixing it with a base oil - for example, olive oil. For 10 ml of base, take 5 drops. essential oil.

To scent a bath, just add 10 drops. oils

Chamomile oil can also be combined with other oils, as chamomile enhances their effectiveness. These are oils of orange, lavender, geranium, sage, bergamot, marjoram, etc.

Chamomile for children

When using chamomile flowers for children, their medicinal properties and contraindications must be taken into account.

Pharmacy chamomile is used as tea for children after 1 year. For small children, you need to dilute the tea with water or buy special children's tea.

But externally, the herb and chamomile flowers are used even earlier, even before the baby turns one year old. However, the concentration of the decoction should be low.

Parents of small children should consult with their pediatrician on how to properly use chamomile flowers. The beneficial properties and contraindications for its use should be especially carefully considered by parents of infants.

Contraindications

Despite the fact that many consider this plant to be absolutely harmless, contraindications for chamomile still exist. First of all, it is important to take into account the contraindications for women - chamomile is contraindicated for pregnant women, and nursing mothers should drink it with caution. To people suffering chronic diseases, as well as those who take vital important medications, you need to consult a doctor before using decoctions, infusions or oils. It is also not used in case of individual intolerance.

Side effects

When taken orally, the following negative effects may occur:

increased blood pressure;
risk of bleeding;
vomit;
bronchospasm - in people with intolerance.

For external use:

allergic rash;

How to prepare and store

Flowers are collected in summer, doing this in dry weather. The highest concentration of essential oil in chamomile is observed from June to August. For external use, the entire plant is used; therefore, for this purpose, the raw materials are prepared in this way.

You need to dry the grass in the shade, while ventilating the room well.

When using a dryer, the temperature should not be higher than 40 degrees. During the drying process, the plant is not turned over to prevent the petals from falling off.

Store dried raw materials in paper or fabric bags in a dry and dark place. Used throughout the year. Since chamomile has strong odor, it should not be stored near products that can absorb this aroma.

Chamomile is produced in the following forms:

Chamomile extract is also included in many cosmetical tools, ointments, dietary supplements.

The chemical composition of chamomile includes: essential oils, coumarin compounds, choline, organic acids, polysaccharides, vitamins, mineral salts. But the most valuable biologically active substance is chamazulene, which has anti-inflammatory, emollient and antiallergic properties.

In the form of an infusion, chamomile is used to treat the digestive tract, spastic colitis, gastritis, diseases of the liver, respiratory system and mucous membranes. It is rational to use water infusions of chamomile in the composition complex therapy at cholelithiasis, flatulence, diarrhea, accompanied by colic, pain, cramps. In addition, chamomile is used for inflammatory diseases genitals and urinary tract, in pregnant women on the recommendation of a doctor.

For diseases of the throat, mouth, gums, chamomile decoction and water infusion are used for rinsing. The pulp from the inflorescences is used for compresses for skin diseases accompanied by a violation of the integrity skin.

Rheumatism, arthrosis, arthritis, gout are treated with chamomile baths. Baths can be used for a long period without interruption.

At acute gastritis peppermint, valerian rhizomes, calamus and fennel are added to chamomile. The complex collection quickly relieves inflammation, normalizes acidity, improves digestion and has an antispasmodic effect.

Stomach ulcer and duodenum Treated with a decoction of chamomile, St. John's wort, marsh cudweed, centaury, and peppermint. All ingredients are taken in equal parts, mixed thoroughly and brewed two tablespoons per half liter of boiling water, infused in a thermos for an hour, used half a glass 6 times a day 30 minutes before meals.

Contraindications to the use of chamomile

Chamomile is contraindicated for mental disorders, as it can provoke an exacerbation of the symptoms of the disease. You should avoid taking chamomile decoctions and infusions if you have headaches with unknown pathogenesis. During pregnancy and lactation, you should consult your doctor before using medicinal plants.

It is not recommended to use chamomile to treat babies in their first year of life. When using decoctions and infusions with chamomile, you should follow the exact dosage. Exceeding doses leads to irritability, provokes headaches and insomnia.