Relax With Chamomile

WHAT IS CHAMOMILE?
Chamomile is a soothing, gentle relaxant that may benefit a variety of complaints from stress to menstrual cramps, as some websites claim. The word chamomile is derived from the Greek chamos melos, meaning ground apple, referring to the plant's low growing habit and the fact that the herb has a satisfying, apple-like aroma and flavor. It's most often taken as a mild ?healthful beverage tea?. Chamomile extracts are also added to healing creams and lotions or packaged as pills and tinctures.

There are two species of chamomile- German chamomile and Roman chamomile. German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) is common in North America and central Europe, while the Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile or Anthemis nobilis) is more commonly sold in England. German chamomile is a sweet-scented, smooth, branched annual growing to 2 1/2 ft. in height, while, Roman chamomile is an aromatic, creeping perennial, growing to one foot in height. Though German chamomile and Roman chamomile are different, they have been used interchangeably. They may have benefits on various similar health conditions.

SIDE EFFECTS, TOXIC EFFECTS AND WARNINGS
Chamomile is generally considered safe and nontoxic. Side effects are extremely rare for health users. However, if you are on medical treatment or if you are taking high doses of chamomile, you should consult with your doctor before use this extract or related products. A study has shown that chamomile preparations contain constituents inhibiting the activities of major human drug metabolizing enzymes, especially the drugs with elimination route of cytochromes (especially CYP1A2). [1] Another study using rat as a model has shown that high doses of chamomile essential oil may cause a depressive effect [i.e. toxicity]. [4]

If you suffer from allergies to plants of the Compositae family (a large group including such flowers as daisies, ragweed, asters and chrysanthemums), you have to be cautious about using chamomile. The allergic reactions may include skin rashes and bronchial constriction. However, most people can use this herb with no problem.

CHAMOMILE BENEFITS
Chamomile extracts and tea are widely used herbal preparations for the treatment of minor illnesses (e.g. indigestion, inflammation). [1] For example, researchers reported that wild chamomile mouthwashes relieved methotrexate-induced oral mucositis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis. Oral mucositis is a known complication of methotrexate (MTX) therapy. [5]

GERM GROWTH INHIBITION
Helicobacter pylori infections have been associated with the pathogenesis of a number of stomach and gastroduodenal diseases. A studies has shown that chamomile oil inhibits the bacterial growth in extraordinarily low concentrations of 0.0075% (v/v) and about 65 microg/ml, respectively. The bactericidal concentrations were generally one to two dilution steps higher. Therefore, the herb may benefit those suffered from related stomach and gastroduodenal diseases. [2]

HYPNOTIC EFFECTS
A study of sleep-disturbed model rats has shown that chamomile extract has benzodiazepine-like hypnotic activity. A significant decrease in sleep latency was observed with chamomile extract at a dose of 300 mg/kg. Flumazenil, a benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, at a dose of 3 mg/kg showed a significant antagonistic effect on the shortening in sleep latency induced by chamomile extract. [3]

WOUND HEALING
A double-blind trial of 14 patients has demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of chamomile extract on weeping wound area after dermabrasion of tattoos. [8]

REFERENCE [1] Ganzera M et al, Inhibitory effects of the essential oil of chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) and its major constituents on human cytochrome P450 enzymes. Life Sci. 2005 Aug 30 2005. [2] Weseler A et al, A novel colorimetric broth microdilution method to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of antibiotics and essential oils against Helicobacter pylori. Pharmazie. 2005 Jul;60(7):498-502. [3] Shinomiya K et al, Hypnotic activities of chamomile and passiflora extracts in sleep-disturbed rats. Biol Pharm Bull. 2005 May;28(5):808-10. [4] Fundaro A et al, Action of essential oils of chamomile, cinnamon, absinthium, mace and origanum on operant conditioning behavior of the rat Boll Soc Ital Biol Sper. 1980 Nov 30;56(22):2375-80. [5] Mazokopakis EE et al, Wild chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) mouthwashes in methotrexate-induced oral mucositis. Phytomedicine. 2005 Jan;12(1-2):25-7. [8] Glowania HJ et al Effect of chamomile on wound healing--a clinical double-blind study Z Hautkr. 1987 Sep 1;62(17):1262, 1267-71.