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Family of composite flowers- Compositae, or Asteraceae. It is annual, odorous, herbaceous plant with branchy stem. Leafs are double pinnately divided with narrow lined parts. Florets are medium sized, composed of white semiflosculous on edges and yellow tubular in middle blossoms. Chamomile that is used in pharmacy differs from its scentless kind or mayweed, by a strong fragrance and oblong tapered hollow floral disc. Height is about-20-40 cm. (see image)
Blossom time is from May till September. It usually grows in the lands of central and southern parts of Europe and Asia. Chamomile grows in gardens, fields, weeded areas, near roads and housing, as well as cultivated in medicinal plantations. Chemical composition: florets contain bitter, mucilage, gum agents, carbohydrates, essential oils and other substances. Essential oils constitute of chamazulene, cardinene, caprylic, nonylic and valerian acids. This plant is widely employed in folk medicine. Chamomile tea is used as mild laxative, sudorific, choleretic, astringent and pain reliever at infant gastrointestinal disease, menstrual cramps and feminine ailments , has soothing, anti inflammatory, softening, gas relieving effects. It is also used for bathing during rheumatic and podagric injuries, as face wash in cosmetology. Chamomile tea is good as mouth wash, rinsing festering wounds, sores and empyema. It gives gorgeous gold color to blond hair.
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