Chamomile
Encyclopedia
Chamomile or camomile (ˈkæmɵmiːl or ˈkæmɵmaɪl ) is a common name
for several daisy-like plants of the family Asteraceae
. These plants are best known for their ability to be made into an infusion which is commonly used to help with sleep and is often served with either honey
or lemon
. Because chamomile can cause uterine contractions which can lead to miscarriage, the U.S. National Institutes for Health says that pregnant and nursing mothers should not consume chamomile. Chrysin
, a flavonoid
found in chamomile, has been shown to be anxiolytic
in rodents, and is believed to be at least partially responsible for chamomile's reputation as a sleep aid. Chamomile is the national flower of Russia
. It is known to reduce stress
.
, and include:
, from Greek χαμαίμηλον (chamaimilon) ("earth apple"). The more common British spelling "camomile", corresponding to the immediate French source, is the older in English, while the spelling "chamomile" more accurately corresponds to the ultimate Latin and Greek source.
.
In Russia, chamomile tea is used for stomach troubles, colds, and muscle aches as well as the usual anxiety and insomnia
.
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine caution of rare allergic reactions (Asteraceae
allergy) and/or atopic dermatitis
(skin rash).
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Common name
A common name of a taxon or organism is a name in general use within a community; it is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism...
for several daisy-like plants of the family Asteraceae
Asteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
. These plants are best known for their ability to be made into an infusion which is commonly used to help with sleep and is often served with either honey
Honey
Honey is a sweet food made by bees using nectar from flowers. The variety produced by honey bees is the one most commonly referred to and is the type of honey collected by beekeepers and consumed by humans...
or lemon
Lemon
The lemon is both a small evergreen tree native to Asia, and the tree's ellipsoidal yellow fruit. The fruit is used for culinary and non-culinary purposes throughout the world – primarily for its juice, though the pulp and rind are also used, mainly in cooking and baking...
. Because chamomile can cause uterine contractions which can lead to miscarriage, the U.S. National Institutes for Health says that pregnant and nursing mothers should not consume chamomile. Chrysin
Chrysin
Chrysin is a naturally occurring flavone chemically extracted from the blue passion flower . Honeycomb also contains small amounts. It is also reported in Oroxylum indicum or Indian trumpetflower.-Aromatase inhibition:...
, a flavonoid
Flavonoid
Flavonoids , are a class of plant secondary metabolites....
found in chamomile, has been shown to be anxiolytic
Anxiolytic
An anxiolytic is a drug used for the treatment of anxiety, and its related psychological and physical symptoms...
in rodents, and is believed to be at least partially responsible for chamomile's reputation as a sleep aid. Chamomile is the national flower of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. It is known to reduce stress
Stress (biology)
Stress is a term in psychology and biology, borrowed from physics and engineering and first used in the biological context in the 1930s, which has in more recent decades become commonly used in popular parlance...
.
Species
There are a number of species whose common name includes the word chamomile. This does not mean they can be used in the same manner as the as the herbal tea known as "chamomile." Plants including the common name "chamomile", are of the family AsteraceaeAsteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
, and include:
- Matricaria recutita (syn. M. chamomilla), German or blue chamomile, commonly used in tea
- Anthemis nobilisAnthemis nobilisAnthemis nobilis [synonym: chamaemelum nobile], commonly known as Roman camomile, chamomile, garden camomile, ground apple, low chamomile, English chamomile, or whig plant, is a low perennial plant found in dry fields and around gardens and cultivated grounds...
(syn. Chamaemelum nobile), Roman chamomile, the "lawn" chamomile
- And to some extent other AnthemisAnthemisAnthemis is a genus of about 100 species of aromatic herbs in the Asteraceae, closely related to Chamaemelum, and like that genus, known by the common name chamomile; some species are also called dog-fennel or mayweed. However, Mayweed is improperly used for this genus since Mayweed refers to the...
species, such as:- Anthemis arvensisAnthemis arvensisAnthemis arvensis, which is also known as corn chamomile or mayweed, scentless chamomile, and # field chamomile, anthémis des champs, fausse camomille, Ackerkamille, camomila-do-campo , manzanilla silvestre is a species of the genus Anthemis and in the Asteraceae family...
, corn or scentless chamomile - Anthemis cotulaAnthemis cotulaAnthemis cotula, also known as stinking chamomile, is a flowering annual plant with a noticeable and strong odor. The odor is often considered unpleasant, and it is from this that it gains the common epithet "stinking". It is initially native to Europe and North Africa...
, stinking chamomile or dog fennel - Anthemis tinctoriaAnthemis tinctoriaCota tinctoria, or Golden Marguerite and Yellow Chamomile, is a species in the genus Anthemis of the Sunflower family ....
, dyer's chamomile, also called yellow chamomile or golden marguerite - Ormenis multicaulis, syn. Cladanthus mixtus Moroccan chamomile
- Eriocephalus punctulatus, Cape chamomile
- Matricaria discoidea, wild chamomile or pineapple weed
- Anthemis arvensis
Etymology
The word derives, via French and LatinLatin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, from Greek χαμαίμηλον (chamaimilon) ("earth apple"). The more common British spelling "camomile", corresponding to the immediate French source, is the older in English, while the spelling "chamomile" more accurately corresponds to the ultimate Latin and Greek source.
Medicinal use
Preliminary research suggests chamomile is an effective therapy for anxietyAnxiety
Anxiety is a psychological and physiological state characterized by somatic, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components. The root meaning of the word anxiety is 'to vex or trouble'; in either presence or absence of psychological stress, anxiety can create feelings of fear, worry, uneasiness,...
.
In Russia, chamomile tea is used for stomach troubles, colds, and muscle aches as well as the usual anxiety and insomnia
Insomnia
Insomnia is most often defined by an individual's report of sleeping difficulties. While the term is sometimes used in sleep literature to describe a disorder demonstrated by polysomnographic evidence of disturbed sleep, insomnia is often defined as a positive response to either of two questions:...
.
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine caution of rare allergic reactions (Asteraceae
Asteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
allergy) and/or atopic dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory, chronically relapsing, non-contagious and pruritic skin disorder...
(skin rash).
External links
- Chamomile (Matricaria recutita, Chamaemelum nobile) medical and therapeutic information on MedlinePlus
- Chamomile fact sheet, NIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- Roman chamomile, the National Cancer Institute
- PLANTS Profile: Anthemis tinctoria L. (golden chamomile), USDA
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