Common Name: |
Pin Heads |
Other Names: |
Chamomilla, German Chamomile, Hungarian Chamomile, Scented Mayweed, True Chamomile |
Botanical Name: |
Matricaria recutita syn. M. chamomilla, Chamomilla recutita |
Genus: |
Matricaria |
Family: |
Asteraceae |
Native Location: |
Europe to W Asia |
Cultivation: |
Well-drained, moist to dry, neutral to slightly acid soil in sun. |
Propagation: |
By seed sown in autumn or spring. |
Harvest: |
Flowers are collected when first fully opened and used fresh, frozen, or dried in infusions, liquid extracts, and powders. For long-term storage, flowers are better used fresh or frozen, because they lose volatile oil rapidly when dried. |
Height: |
15-60cm (6-24in) |
Width: |
10-38cm (4-15in) |
Hardiness: |
Hardy |
Parts Used: |
Flowers, whole flowering herb. |
Properties: |
A bitter, aromatic, sedative herb that relaxes spasms, reduces inflammation, relieves pain, and promotes healing. It benefits the digestion and stimulates the immune system. |
Medicinal Uses: |
Internally for nervous digestive upsets, irritable bowel syndrome, insomnia, motions sickness, and children's complaints, such as teething, colic, and infantile convulsions. Externally for wounds, sunburn, burns, hemorrhoids, mastitis, and leg ulcers. Contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation, with anti-coagulant medication, and in known hypersensitivity to members of the Asteraceae (daisy) family. Some practitioners do not recommend chamomile for infants. To treat flatulence, diarrhea, inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and anogenital area, irritation of the upper respiratory tract, gingivitis, hemorrhoids, and acne. Germany's Commission E has approved the use of German chamomile to treat the common cold; fevers; coughts; bronchitis; inflammation of the skin, mouth and throat; burns and wounds; and to help ward off infections. |
Typical Dose: |
A typical dose of German chamonile is approximately 3 gm of the herb steeped in 150 ml boiling water for five to ten minutes, strained and taken as a tea. This dosage may be repeated three to four times daily. |
Possible Side Effects: |
German chamomile's side effects include allergic reactions. |
Drug Interactions: |
Taking German chamomile with these drugs may increase the risk of bleeding or bruising: |
Antithrombin III, (Thrombate III) |
Argatroban, (Argatroban) |
Aspirin, (Bufferin, Ecotrin) |
Bivalirudin, (Angiomax) |
Celecoxib, (Celebrex) |
Dalteparin, (Fragmin) |
Danaparoid, (Orgaran) |
Enoxaparin, (Lovenox) |
Etodolac, (Lodine, Utradol) |
Fondaparinux, (Arixtra) |
Heparin, (Hepalean, Hep-Lock) |
Ibuprofen, (Advil, Motrin) |
Indomethacin, (Indocin, Novo-Methacin) |
Ketoprofen, (Orudis, Rhodis) |
Ketorolac, (Acular, Toradol) |
Lepirudin, (Refludan) |
Tinzaparin, (Innohep) |
Warfarin, (Coumadin, Jantoven) |
Taking German chamomile with these drugs may increase the action of the drug: |
Alprazolam, (Apo-Alpraz, Xanax) |
Amobarbital, (Amytal) |
Bromazepam, (Apo-Bromazepam, Gen-Bromazepam) |
Brotizolam, (Lendorm, Sintonal) |
Butabarbital, (Butisol Sodium) |
Chloral Hydrate, (Aquachloral Suprettes, Somnote) |
Chlordiazepoxide, (Apo-Chlordiazepoxide, Librium) |
Clobazam, (Alti-Clobazan, Frisium) |
Clonazepam, (Klonopin, Rivotril) |
Clorazepate, (Tranxene, T-Tab) |
Dexmedetomidine, (Precedex) |
Diazepam, (Apo-Diazepam, Valium) |
Diphenhydramine, (Benadryl Allergy, Nytol) |
Estazolam, (ProSom) |
Flurazepam, (Apo-Flurazepam, Dalmane) |
Haloperidol, (Haldol, Novo-Peridol) |
Hydroxyzine, (Atarax, Vistaril) |
Loprazolam, (Dormonoct, Havlane) |
Lorazepam, (Ativan, Nu-Loraz) |
Mephobarbital, (Mebaral) |
Midazolam, (Apo-Midazolam, Versed) |
Oxazepam, (Novoxapam, Serax) |
Pentazocine, (Talwin) |
Phenobarbital, (Luminal Sodium, PMS-Phenobarbital) |
Prazepam, (Prazepam) |
Promethazine, (Phenergen) |
Propofol, (Diprivan) |
Quazepam, (Doral) |
S-Zopiclone, (Lunesta) |
Secobarbital, (Seconal) |
Temazepam, (Novo-Temazepam, Restoril) |
Tetrazepam, (Mobiforton, Musapam) |
Thiopental, (Pentothal) |
Triazolam, (Apo-Triazo, Halcion) |
Zolpidem, (Ambien) |
Taking German chamomile with these drugs may interfere with absorption of the drug: |
Ferrous Sulfate, (Feratab, Fer-Iron) |
Iron-Dextran Complex, (Dexferrum, INFeD) |
|
Disease Effects: |
May worsen cases of asthma. |
Supplement Interactions: |
May enhance therapeutic and adverse effects of herbs and supplements that have sedative properties, such as 5-HTP, Kava Kava, St. John's Wort, and Valerian. |
Economic Uses: |
Added to cosmetics as an anti-allergenic agent and to hair preparations as a conditioner and lightener. Extracts used to flavor liqueurs, and to enhance fruit flavors in ice cream and candy. |
Bibliography: |
Encyclopedia of Herbs by Deni Brown Copyright © 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited Pg 272 The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide by Geo. T. Grossberg,MD and Barry Fox,PhD Copyright©2007 Barry Fox,PhD. Pp. 234-236. |