Name: Chamomile chamomile
Popular names: tongueless chamomile, green, fragrant, odorous.
Chamomile [Matricaria matricarioides (Less.) Porter.]An annual herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family (Compositae), with a strong pleasant smell. Stem one (rarely several), up to 60 cm in height, rather thick, branched from the base. Leaves alternate, bipinnate. The whole plant has more leaves than chamomile. Flower baskets are medium-sized, sitting on short, thickened peduncles at the top. There are no marginal white reed flowers in baskets, all flowers are tubular, greenish-yellow. In the period of full flowering, the baskets are hemispherical, then they gradually lengthen to ovoid or conical. The fruit is an achene with two resinous stripes and mucous cells in the lower part. Blossoms in July – September, fruits ripen in August – September. Grows in yards, streets, vacant lots, along dirt roads and their roadsides, forest clearings, clearings on fresh sandy loamy soils, as well as a weed in crops. It does not withstand competition with other species, therefore, it almost never occurs as part of natural phytocenoses. The homeland of chamomile is North America. Until the middle of the last century, there was not a single plant of this species in Eurasia. Its first copies were found in St. Petersburg and Moscow. Later, thanks to the stickiness of its seeds, it quickly spread throughout Europe and, stepping over the Ural Range, penetrated into Siberia. This type of chamomile was brought to the Far East by sea. Until the middle of the last century, there was not a single plant of this species in Eurasia. Its first copies were found in St. Petersburg and Moscow. Later, thanks to the stickiness of its seeds, it quickly spread throughout Europe and, stepping over the Ural Range, penetrated into Siberia. This type of chamomile was brought to the Far East by sea. Until the middle of the last century, there was not a single plant of this species in Eurasia. Its first copies were found in St. Petersburg and Moscow. Later, thanks to the stickiness of its seeds, it quickly spread throughout Europe and, stepping over the Ural Range, penetrated into Siberia. This type of chamomile was brought to the Far East by sea.
COLLECTION AND DRYING OF RAW MATERIALS
For medicinal purposes, flowers and herbs of chamomile are used. Flower baskets are harvested at the beginning of flowering, when they are not yet scattered when squeezed and twisted between the fingers. Baskets are torn off or cut off at the very base with the rest of the peduncle no more than 1 cm long, discarding accidentally fallen leaves. Collection is carried out in good, sunny weather, as raw materials moistened with dew or rain change their color when dried. Dry quickly in well-ventilated rooms or in dryers at a temperature of 30-40°C. Drying is considered complete if the flowers are easily separated from the receptacle, and the bed itself becomes hard. The shelf life of raw materials is 1 year. The raw material has a pleasant aroma and a bitter-spicy taste. To preserve the thickets , 2-3 plants are left for every 1 m 2 .
PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
The plant has anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, diaphoretic and carminative properties.
APPLICATIONS IN MEDICINE
Chamomile chamomile is used instead of chamomile, but mainly as an external remedy. It is used as a weak astringent, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic, for rinses, lotions, baths and enemas. In folk medicine, it is used for violations of the function of the gastrointestinal tract, intestinal spasms.
DOSAGE FORMS, METHOD OF APPLICATION AND DOSES
♦ Infusion of chamomile herb: 3 tablespoons of raw materials are poured into 500 ml of cold water, left in a sealed container overnight, then filtered in the morning. Take 1/2 cup 3-4 times every day.
APPLICATIONS IN OTHER FIELDS
Insecticide used against earth fleas, medium-sized caterpillars and larvae.