| 13 Ottobre 2011

Matricaria recutita



















Vernacular names
Chamomile (Eng.)

Description and habitat
Chamomile is an herbaceous plant with an height of 15–60cm. The long and narrow leaves are bipinnate or tripinnate. Flowers are in paniculate capitula. The white ray florets are furnished with a ligule, while the disc florets are yellow. 
Habitat in Europe; it is not an original plant of Ethiopia.

Medicinal usages
Capitula of chamomile are used as anti-inflammatory agent. This activity could be attributed to chamazulene and α-bisabolol that have shown this activity in vivo. Capitula present also an antispasmodic activity, and this is why the plant is employed to treat digestion problems, irritable bowel syndromes and to stimulate appetite. It can also be used as a gentle sleep aid. Applied locally, the essential oil shown antibacterial and anti-fungal activities in vivo. In dermatology, this plant is employed against itching, eczema and skin irritation.

Caution
Cases of allergy towards chamomile are frequently reported. As generally for pure essential oils, the chamomile one shouldn't be employed non diluted, either for local or oral usage. As this plant also contains coumarins, it should be avoided while using other blood thinners.

At the Health Center in Ankober
A cream made of chamomile extract is employed to treat dermatological diseases such as eczema, skin irritation and insect bites.