Chamomile to soothe and relax

Sipping chamomile tea as a calming drink before bed is as commonplace in Western countries nowadays as having hot milk. And when life gets stressful during the day, many people know the value of chamomile - perhaps with a teaspoon of honey - to calm racing brains and tense nerves. But few of us realise just how many conditions an infusion of this sweetly aromatic herb can help with.

The tiny white flowers and feathery green leaves of German chamomile (Chamomilla recutita), or its close relative Roman chamomile (Chamaeumelum nobile) that probably travelled to Rome in the 16th century from England, is also excellent for many digestive disorders and, when used topically, for sore skin and eczema.

Since the 1st century AD, German chamomile has been used to soothe indigestion and related symptoms such as gastritis, wind, bloating, colic and acidity. It is even claimed to help hiccups. Its gentle action has also proved beneficial in more severe conditions such as hiatus hernia, peptic ulcer, Crohn's disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

How does it work?
Chamomile works by stimulating digestive juices and relaxing the muscles of the gut so that the digestion can function better. German and Roman chamomile are often used interchangeably but a tea made with Roman chamomile is stronger. German chamomile contains a strong antispasmodic called spiroether that makes it good for period pain and muscle tension. As a poultice it helps ease tender breasts.