MEDICINAL PLANTS

Chamomile is an annual herbaceous stems erect, branched, with few leaves much divided, on top of the stem appear isolated capitate, with a receptacle domed and hollow, tubular yellow flowers and white peripheral ligula. Its fruit is an achene. The stem and leaves of this plant taste like grass and are fragrant, flowers are a little bitter and give off a characteristic smell of camomile, this is perhaps the most popular of all herbs. The plant as such spontaneous and abundant vegetation throughout Spain, in fields, along roads and mountain paths, preferably in arid lands.

FLOWERING

It blooms from April and continues to flourish for much of spring, in some highlands, until summer. For your collection just the florets, ie floral chapters. In some areas the whole plant is sold, ensuring that all she has healing properties, which is totally untrue. Once harvested, the flower heads are dried in thin layers and shade in a well ventilated, or drying at a maximum temperature of 35 grados CelsiusC.

APPLICATIONS

Chapters floral essential oil is extracted rich in many active ingredients that give the plant anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, carminative, spasmolytic, anti-ulcer and slightly sedative. It is the first home remedy that is used with any digestive upset, so its use is widespread. Furthermore, it has a bitter active ingredient that gives the plant activity aperitif, digestive and choleretic. In external use is often used to treat sore eyes and tired from work, wind or sun vigils. It is ideally suited to: gastritis, peptic ulcer, gastrointestinal spasms, nausea, vomiting, slow digestion, bloating, nervousness and insomnia in children. One of the active ingredients of the plant, camazuleno, is now used in solutions of 2% to fight children's bronchial asthma, by intramuscular injection.

ADMINISTRATION

The most common form of chamomile is administered by infusion, which is prepared with half a dozen flower heads per cup and managing it as hot as possible, with or without sugar.
Elixir. In 700 g. Of water dissolve 800 g. Sugar by heating it without actually boiling. In 200 g. Of alcohol at 96 grados CelsiusC are macerated for 4 to 5 days following compounds: 100 g. Chamomile flowers, 5 g. Bitter orange peel and 2 g. Cinnamon alcohol macerate is filtered and added to the syrup. This elixir combats nervous excitement and insomnia.
Chamomile powder. Between half a gram and one gram per dose, 4 times a day.
Fluid extract: 40-50 drops, 3 times a day.
Infusion for compresses. Soak 2 cotton wool pads in a chamomile tea and apply over your eyes for fifteen minutes. Infusion
enema. In a liter of boiling water is poured a spoonful of dried flowers. Allow tuning the liquid is filtered and used for enema.

SUMMARY

FAMILY: Composite tubulifloras
HABITAT: Places uncultured
FLOWERING: April
PART USED: Chapters floral
CASTILIAN: Manzanilla común
CATALAN: Camarmulla de l´Urgell
BASQUE: Larrambillo
GALICIAN: Mancanilla das boticas

USES

Strong anti-inflammatory, Digestive Strong, Antiseptic Moderate.