Asteraceae (Compositae)
Annual
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. |
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. |
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. |
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.
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 - https://florapal.org/disclaimer/
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.
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.
