Chamomile is an annual medicinal herb that blooms from May to August, belonging to the family Asteraceae. For medicinal purposes, chamomile inflorescences collected at the very beginning of flowering are used, containing from 0.15 to 0.85% of essential oil. The composition of the oil includes flavonoids, nicotinic, isovalerianic, ascorbic, salicylic acids, carotene, coumarins, choline, as well as gum, bitterness, mucus, protein substances. In addition, essential oil of chamomile flowers contains a glycoside that has an antispasmodic effect, relaxing smooth muscles and anesthetizing intestinal cramps.
The main useful properties of chamomile include: disinfectant and diaphoretic effect , reducing gas formation, relieving pain, easing inflammatory processes, normalizing the functions of the stomach and intestines. Inside, chamomile is prescribed for chronic gastritis, colitis, enteritis, gastric ulcer, flatulence, biliary and intestinal colic, diarrhea. Local application of this medicinal plant is in the treatment of infectious and inflammatory processes of ENT organs, diseases of the oral cavity, such as gingivitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, stomatitis. In addition, chamomile is used topically during pregnancy, purulent-inflammatory skin lesions and increased sweating of the feet.
Like any other traditional medicine, chamomile should be used competently, especially during pregnancy, in order to avoid unwanted side effects. Local use of this medicinal plant is to use infusion of chamomile flowers for therapeutic compresses, lotions and baths, douching and inhalation.
Very often, in the first trimester of pregnancy, women are “harassed” by some kind of inflammatory disease of the genital mucosa; getting rid of chamomile during pregnancy will help to get rid of it, since during this period of pregnancy other drugs are strictly contraindicated. However, chamomile during pregnancy can be used not only to combat inflammatory diseases, it is an excellent remedy for excessive gas formation, constipation and bloating. In addition, chamomile during pregnancy is an excellent relaxing remedy that will help relieve nervous tension. Use tea from chamomile flowers is necessary no more than twice a day.
All women want to be attractive, pregnant women are no exception. Many women in this period are faced with such unpleasant phenomena as dry skin or, on the contrary, excessive secretion of sebum, and as a result, the appearance of acne and acne, brittleness, dullness and hair loss, excessive sweating. Cope with all these troubles will help chamomile during pregnancy. So, to give the hair shine and softness, as well as to strengthen them, it is necessary to rinse the hair and scalp with a decoction of chamomile flowers. Washing with the same broth will relieve acne and make the skin velvet. If the skin is very dry and irritated, masks based on milk or butter infusion of chamomile can be used . This infusion also helps with increased sweating of the legs, it is used in the form of a bath at the rate of 1 tbsp. l at art. boiling water.
However, even chamomile pharmacy has its contraindications, even an “overdose” is possible, the signs of which are irritability, aggression and causeless outbursts of anger. Also, with prolonged use of this medicinal plant, headaches, weakness and depression of the central nervous system occur. It is not recommended to take chamomile with acute diarrhea and individual intolerance to the drug.
Using any herbs, remember that this is also a medicine whose action extends not only to your body, but also to the body of the unborn child. Herbs can be no less dangerous than medicines, so chamomile during pregnancy can only be used after consulting a doctor who will help you choose the right dosage of the drug.