Benefits of Chamomile
Chamomile is a very popular herbal supplement that is used world wide and has been since antiquity. Some naturopaths and herbalists think it is one of the most beneficial herbs on the planet. There are two species of chamomile, German and Roman both of which are of the daisy family. In fact, the flowers of chamomile are actually daisy-like.
Chamomile is used both internally and externally and comes is one of the most flexible herbs as it can be used as a drinking tea, as a fluid extract with alcohol-based tinctures, as a capsule, and is used in many skin care lotion creams.
It's even sold as an aromatic bathing agent due to its therapeutic oils. The skincare benefits of chamomile have been known and used since ancient times and has been for a myriad of skin problems including, abrasions, burns, eczema, rashes, and even psoriasis due to its anti-bacterial properties.
Skincare Benefits of Chamomile
Chamomile is very safe and can be used long term without concern. While chamomile has many diversified capabilities treating everything from the common cold to ulcers to arthritis, one of the chief health benefits of chamomile is it even helps with irritable bowel syndrome by controlling and subduing muscle spasms in the stomach and intestinal tract.
Its anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, and anti-bacterial nature is attributed to a key compound called apigenin. Clearly, one of the most valued capacities of chamomile is its tranquilizing effect due to its muscle relaxing capability.
When taken orally, its value as a stress reliever cannot be discounted. Incidentally, in order for the skincare benefits of chamomile to be effective for internal issues, it must be taken internally and not applied externally. (Chamomile lotions or creams contain too little apigenin to be effective when taken externally.)
Precautions & Guidelines
There's a very small possibility that chamomile tea can cause an allergic reaction if you're already sensitive or allergic to asters, daisies, or ragweed. This type of reaction is rare, though. If you have any concerns, please consult your physician. As always, pregnant and nursing women should consult with their doctor if they have any concerns.
All in all, chamomile is a very safe herb and can be bought as a dried herb and then steeped as tea, made into a tincture, or in pill form. Chamomile has even been used as a gargling agent to help prevent tooth decay -- due no doubt to its anti-bacterial capabilities.
Tips on Choosing a Chamomile SupplementEnsure the chamomile has standardized extracts of apigenin of at least 1%. Standardized extracts are desirable as they contain the dense nutrient compounds of the herb. (Companies looking to cut costs don't do this as it's expensive.) The biggest problem in finding a good chamomile product is finding a source that contains enough of the active ingredients, specifically the necessary volatile oils and flavonoids (of which apinegin is one), as well as the other therapeutic compounds. So, be especially careful in this regard. Ask questions of the retail or online establishment for these details.
Chamomile as Nutritional Supplement
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