Chamomile ( Matricaria Chamomila )
Chamomile is an annual from the compitea family. The flowers have a delightful scent that resembles honey. Chamomile flowers are used as a nervine, anodyne, calmative, and a mild sedative. It has been used for nervousness, headaches, anxiety, and spasms. American Indians used tea fever and as a spring tonic.
The MedlinePlus database maintained by the U.S. National Library of Medicine lists over 100 separate ailments and conditions which chamomile has been traditionally used.
The flora labelled "chamomile", all of the family Asteraceae, include:
Matricaria recutita (syn. M. chamomilla), German or blue chamomile, commonly used in tea
Anthemis nobilis (syn. Chamaemelum nobile), Roman chamomile, the "lawn" chamomile
And to some extent other Anthemis species, such as:
Anthemis arvensis, corn or scentless chamomile
Anthemis cotula, stinking chamomile or dog fennel
Anthemis tinctoria, yellow chamomile or golden marguerite
Ormenis multicaulis, Moroccan chamomile
Eriocephalus punctulatus, Cape chamomile
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