Flora Palaestina Ethnobotany

florapal.org

Matricaria chamomilla L.

Family

Asteraceae (Compositae)

Synonym(s)

Matricaria recutita L.

English name(s)

Scented Mayweed
Wild Chamomile

Arabic Name(s)

babunej بابونج

Hebrew Name(s)

babonag du-goni

בַּבּוֹנָג דּוּ-גּוֹנִי

Life Form

Annual

Habitat

Nutrient-rich soils
ruderal

Click Flora of Israel Online to view distribution
and other botanical details.

For distribution and other botanical details for this plant

Click to view:

Medicinal Complaints / Uses

Matricaria chamomilla L.

System/State	Traditional Complaint/Use	Activity / Interpretation	Traditional Preparation/ Administration	Parts Used	Source
Cancer (unclear if tumors maligant or benign)	Internal tumors	Anti-tumor	Mix flowers + "maryameyeh" (Salvia fruticosa) + "ezuv" (Majorana sp., synonym Origanum syriacum) + "besamim" (Rosmarinus sp.). See NOTES 1) (Admin. not specified.)	Flower	Z
Child Health	Abdominal spasms in babies	Carminative	Decoct flowers +" kamnon" (Pimpinella anisum) & drink.	Flower	Z
Child Health	Diarrhea (in babies) & constipation	Anti-Infective, Anti-diarrheal, Laxative	Decoct flowers + "kamnon" (Pimpinella anisum) & drink.	Flower	Z
Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT)	Earache	Analgesic	Cook flowers in water + "marzanajush" (Stachys lavandulifolia) (See NOTES 2) & drink.	Flower	Z
Gastrointestinal	Abdominal pain	Carminative	Cook plant in water + "bu'ithran" (Teucrium polium) (See NOTES 3) + "na'na" (Mentha sp.) & drink.	Aerial parts	Z
Gastrointestinal	Constipation	Laxative	Decoct flowers in water, cool, filter & drink x2 cups evenings.	Flower	Z
Gastrointestinal	Intestinal inflammation	Anti-inflammatory, Demulcent	Decoct flowers + "kamnon" (Pimpinella anisum) & drink.	Flower	Z
Gastrointestinal	Regulate digestive tract/ improve appetite/ digestion/relieve flatulence/ abdominal pain	Carminative, Digestive, Stomachic	1. Decoct flowers + "kamnon" (Pimpinella anisum) & drink. 2. Decoct flowers & drink after meals. 3. Prepare infusion of flowers & drink. 4. Cook flowers in water + fennel & drink x1 cup morning & evening for 4 days.	Flower	Z
General	Chronic diseases	Panacea	Prepare flowers as tea & drink.	Flower	Z
General	Inflammation & swelling	Anti-hydropic, Anti-inflammatory	1. Decoct flowers & apply externally as compress. 2. Prepare tea from flowers & drink.	Flower	Z
General	Internal inflammation	Anti-inflammatory	Decoct flowers in water, cool, filter & drink 1 cup x3/day.	Flower	Z
General	Reduce fever & induce sweating	Anti-pyretic, Diaphoretic	Decoct flowers & drink hot x1 cup as necessary.	Flower	Z
General	Thirst quencher	Refrigerant	Prepare flowers as tea & drink.	Flower	Z
Infectious Diseases	Cholera; fever	Anti-Infective, Anti-pyretic	Decoct flowers, sweeten with "kamnon" (Pimpinella anisum) & drink.	Flower	Z
Kidney & Urinary Tract	Diuretic	Diuretic	Decoct flowers in water, cool, filter & drink all day instead of water.	Flower	Z
Kidney & Urinary Tract	Kidney inflammation	Anti-inflammatory	Prepare flowers as tea & drink.	Flower	Z
Kidney & Urinary Tract	Kidney stones: expels	Anti-lithic	Prepare flowers as tea & drink.	Flower	Z
Kidney & Urinary Tract	Urinary obstruction/ retention	Deobstruent	Cook plant in water + "farfahina" (Portulaca oleracea) & drink.	Aerial parts	Z
Kidney & Urinary Tract	Urinary tract inflammation	Anti-inflammatory, Demulcent	Decoct flowers + "kamnon" (Pimpinella anisum) & drink.	Flower	Z
Mental Health	Depression/ insanity	Anti-depressant, Anti-psychotic	Mix flowers + "kanjabeen" (unknown, but possibly means "sakanjubeen" , a mixture of honey & vinegar). (Admin. not specified.)	Flower	Z
Mental Health	Soothe nerves	Anxiolytic	Prepare flowers as tea & drink.	Flower
Nervous System	Headache & dizziness	Analgesic	Prepare flowers as tea & drink.	Flower	Z
Nervous system	Strengthen brain	Nervine	Prepare flowers as tea & drink.	Flower
Opthalmic	Conjunctivitis	Anti-Infective	Decoct flowers + tea leaves & apply as compress.	Flower	Z
Opthalmic	Eye pain & inflammation	Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory	Massage eyes with fig leaves, apply almond oil & then a compress of Matricaria chamomilla flowers.	Flower	Z
Oral Health	Mouth rinse	Mouth wash	Prepare flowers as tea & use as mouth rinse.	Flower	Z
Oral Health	Toothache	Analgesic	Cook plant in water & gargle.	Aerial parts	Z
Pain Relief	Pain in head/ teeth/ intestines	Analgesic	Decoct flowers & drink x1 cup + sugar as necessary.	Flower	Z
Respiratory	Colds/ runny nose/ cough/ rhinitis	Anti-Infective, Anti-catarrhal, Anti-tussive	1. Decoct fowers in water, cool, filter & drink 1 cup x3 -4/day. 2. Decoct ground dried flowers & drink after fasting for 12 hr. 3. Cook plant in water alone or + "khatmiyeh" (Alcea acaulis) or + "ward el-hasad" (Alcea setosa), + "bizr kittan" (Linum sp.) + sugar & drink.	Aerial parts, Flower	Z
Respiratory	Cough & asthma	Anti-asthmatic, Anti-tussive	Decoct flowers in water, cool, filter & drink 1 cup x3/day.	Flower	Z
Womens Health	Menstrual disturbances & pain	Analgesic, Emmenagogue	Decoct flowers + "kamnon" (Pimpinella anisum) & drink.	Flower	Z
Womens Health	Strength after childbirth	Tonic	Prepare infusion of flowers & drink.	Flower	Z
Womens Health	Uterine rinse for inflammation	Anti-inflammatory	Mix flowers +"fuwwa" (Rubia tinctorium) + "tya" (Ferula asa-foetida) (See NOTES 4) & apply as uterine rinse.	Flower	Z
Womens health/ Reproductive Health	Become pregnant	Fertility	Boil flowers + "mahniza" (Ferula asa-foetida) (See NOTES 4 ) in tub & sit over steam.	Flower	Z

The authors of FLORAPALE, (Flora Palaestina Ethnobotanical) web site do not take responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of the plants described here. Always seek advice from a health professional before using a plant medicinally or for other purposes. See DISCLAIMER.

Notes

1. In the recipe for internal tumors Z refers to the ingredient "besamim " as a Rosmarinus sp. However this is not the Arabic name for this plant (Rosemarinus officinale is "lklil al jabal"). It may instead refer to a Hebrew word for fragrance used by Yemenite Jews for Rosemary sp.
2.In the recipe for earache Z identifies the ingredient "marzanajush" as Stachys lavandulifolia. This is possibly incorrect as "marzanajush" in Arabic is Origanum majoricum.
3. In the recipe for abdominal pain Z translates the ingredient "bu'ithran" as Teucrium polium (a synonym of Teucrium capitatum). However the Arabic name for this plant is "jada". Instead "bu'ithran" may refer to Artemesia judaica.
4. In the 2 recipes for Womens Health, the Arabic names give in parenthesis for Ferusla asa foetida & Rubia tinctorium could not be found for these species.

Cautions

Matricaria chamomilla contains sesquiterpene lactones that can cause allergic reactions including tongue thickening, tightness in throat, swelling of lips, throat, eyes, itching in mouth & over the body. Cross-sensitivities with other Asteraceae/Compositae family (e.g. echinacea, feverfew, milk thistle, ragweed (ragwort) & celery may occur. Uterine stimulant therefore avoid in pregency & lactation. Avoid in teething babies. May interfere with anticoagulants because of coumarin content.