Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Chamomile: A healing herb

As a healing herb, chamomile is invaluable. I drink chamomile tea every night to help me sleep and, in the past, I've used chamomile oil as an antiseptic to prevent infection on a burn. Those are just two things on a very long list of health benefits of chamomile.

Since the time of ancient Egyptions, chamomile has been a very effective treatment for many ailments. Right now chamomile is listed as a treatment for over 100 different health conditions. Of course very few studies have been done on chamomile, so the only proof we have to rely on is the fact that it's been used for thousands of years.

Recent studies have shown that chamomile could be useful in preventing and treating cancer. One study showed that women who increased their intake of the flavones and flavonols found in chamomile could lower their risk of getting breast cancer. Another study showed that chamomile extracts slowed the growth of cancer cells and promoted cancer cell death while leaving healthy cells untouched. The same study showed that our body's natural digestive process converts the active ingredient in chamomile into a powerful cancer fighter.

Chamomile can also help with normal everyday health conditions like acne, dandruff, menstrual cramps and headaches. It's safe to use at home and has very few side effects. The only precaution I've heard of is not to use it if you're pregnant or nursing.

If you would like to learn more about the many uses of chamomile, please read Natural Remedies using Chamomile. It explains the difference between chamomile German and chamomile Roman and details what each is used for. Plus there are some great herbal recipes!

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