Bitter chamomile, also known as `German chamomile`, is an upright, perfumed, yearly herb with numerous branches growing upto 20 to 45 cm in height. It has thread-like leaves. Terminal flower-heads are almost 2.5 cm crossways, on lean branched stalks, bearing an outer ringlet of 10 to 20 white flowers with a yellow centre. The flowers of the plant make up the drug chamomile.

The herb contains an essential oil. This oil consists of chamazulene, farnesene and bisabolol. Other components of chamomile are flavonoids, coumarins, plant acids, fatty acids, cyanogenic glycosides salicylate derivatives, polysaccharides, choline, amino acids and tannin.

Methods of usage
Bitter chamomile possesses several remedying properties, like alleviating flatulence, regulating menstruation, rectifying digestive disorders, healing insomnia or curing children`s complaints.

Healing Power and Medicinal Properties of bitter chamomile
Bitter chamomile flowers contain many curative qualities. They relieve gas, hastens ample perspiration and regularises menstrual periods. They are also stimulant and useful in thawing or liquefying a tumour or any coagulated fluids in the body.

Digestive Disorders cured by bitter chamomile
Chamomile is an efficacious remedy for digestive disorders, especially of nervous origin. It can be used constructively in dyspepsia, flatulence and colic. A pulverisation of the flowers or 1 to 3 drops of oil distilled from flowers is consumed in 1 to 2 gram dosages in the treatment of such disorders. A cold concoction of the flowers is helpful in times of indigestion and summer diarrhoea in dosages of 30 to 60 grams.

Insomnia healed by bitter chamomile
Chamomile is beneficial in chronic insomnia. A concoction of its flowers brings about sound sleep.

Women`s Diseases healed by bitter chamomile
A warm concoction of the flowers is administered in the treatment of aching and complicated menstruation.

Children`s Problems cured by bitter chamomile
A concoction of the flowers has an unwinding effect and is of substantial value to hyperactive children. It acts as a nervine sedative and tonic on the gastro-intestinal canal. The flowers are helpful in ear-ache, neuralgic pains, stomach disorders, paroxysms and ailments caused by teething.

Skin Diseases cured by bitter chamomile
Two of the components - bisabolol and chamazulene contained in the essential oil of the herb are powerful antiseptics. Chamazulene alleviates pain, encourages healing of wounds and is anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic. Applied on the exterior, it aids recovery from burns and comforts eczema. Latest investigations testify that bisabolol quickens up healing of ulcers and forestalls recurrence.

Rheumatism healed by bitter chamomile
Chamomile is also useful in treating rheumatic sufferings, where its distilled oil, thinned in a vegetable oil is rubbed on the affected parts. It comforts the pain of rheumatism and gout. A compress of chamomile flowers is used to treat sciatica.