Today’s Top 40 herb is a prolific and common garden ground cover herb, friendly for children and adults alike.
The apple to honey-like flavor of Chamomile flowers makes them easy and enjoyable to ingest, usually as a tea. While this herb can be a decent source for vitamin A, it is particularly rich in Calcium, Magnesium, Manganese, Potassium, and Zinc. Most of those minerals are known for helping to calm the nervous system. More importantly however are this plant’s volatile oils and bitter constituents.
When people think of Chamomile, they usually think of relaxation. The nutrients and constituents of Chamomiles can help to promote physical and emotional calming of the nervous system. They can help to nourish and promote the reparative processes of nerve tissue, support inflammatory response within nerves, and help to calm cramps and spasms of soft and structural muscles. It is recognized as one of the best herbs to help calm moments of agitation, emotional overexcitement or anxiousness, and promote a more restful night’s sleep. It may also help to calm anxious sensations and discomfort associated with certain substance withdrawals.
Less known, but no less effective, Chamomiles can help to support the digestive system in many ways. They can help to stimulate appetite, digestive secretions, and blood flow to the digestive organs. This can help to calm and discourage upset stomach, excessive gas, and bloating while also helping to promote nutrient absorption and transit throughout the body. Also, chamomile can also help to promote a healthy response to heat in the body and encourage perspiration during times of seasonal immune compromise because it helps to promote blood flow and circulation. Chamomile is often recommended as an alternative to Yarrow if its bitterness cannot be tolerated for this reason.
Note: Chamomiles are recognized as GRAS by the FDA, but a mild caution is issued for those who are allergic to members of the ragweed and chrysanthemum families. There is also some debate as to whether or not Chamomiles are considered safe through pregnancy, though moderate amounts seem to be relatively safe.
