While you are very likely familiar with it as a tea, you may not realize the herb chamomile is also useful as a bath, cream, essential oil, gargle, inhalation, poultice and tincture.
In addition to having a sedative effect, chamomile possesses antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antispasmodic, antiulcer and antiviral properties
Although most of the evidence is anecdotal, chamomile has been shown to ease gastrointestinal complaints, reduce menstrual cramps, relieve cold symptoms, soothe skin irritations and treat eye and mouth inflammation
Daily consumption of chamomile tea has been associated with a decreased risk of benign thyroid diseases and thyroid cancer.
Herbal teas can be a rich source of beneficial compounds like polyphenols and flavonoids, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. One of the most soothing of all herbal teas — with a long history of beneficial use dating back to ancient Egypt — is chamomile. Chamomile is the common name for several daisy-like plants belonging to the Asteraceae family, namely German chamomile (Matricaria retutica) and Roman or English chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile).
While you are very likely familiar with the tea, you may not realize chamomile is also useful as a bath, cream, essential oil, gargle, inhalation, poultice and tincture. In addition to having a sedative effect, as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds, chamomile also possesses antibacterial, antifungal, antispasmodic, antiulcer and antiviral properties.
Consumption of chamomile tea has even been shown to protect you from benign thyroid diseases and thyroid cancer. Without a doubt, chamomile is one herb you shouldn’t overlook.
History of Chamomile
Chamomile history begins in ancient Egypt, where it was first mentioned as a cure for fever. The Egyptians also used chamomile as a cosmetic, as well as an embalming oil for preserving dead pharaohs. The Romans used chamomile in incense, as a medicinal herb and as a flavoring for drinks.
In Spain, chamomile flowers are known as “manzanilla,” meaning “little apple,” and the herb has long been used to flavor a light sherry of the same name. During medieval times, chamomile petals were strewn about on the ground during gatherings to create pleasant odors.
Seven Health Benefits of Chamomile
In addition to its pleasant taste as a tea and ready accessibility, chamomile has been praised for millennia for its many health benefits. The presence of numerous antioxidants contributes to chamomile many positive effects on your body. Among its many health benefits, chamomile:
Acts as a mild sedative and sleep inducer — Chamomile has long been used to treat insomnia and is highly regarded for its ability to induce daytime calmness and relaxation. Its sedative effects are likely due to the flavonoid apigenin, which binds to benzodiazepine receptors in your brain.
While there is an absence of clinical trials to validate the effects of chamomile on sleep, 10 cardiac patients who drank chamomile tea were reported to have quickly fallen into a deep sleep lasting 90 minutes. Authors of a study involving the effects of chamomile extracts on sleep-disturbed rats concluded chamomile extracts exhibit “benzodiazepine-like hypnotic activity.”
Addresses cold symptoms and sinus pain and pressure — Anecdotal studies suggest chamomile can be effective as a natural cold remedy, especially for cold symptoms such as sinus congestion, pain and pressure. Check out the video above for a demonstration on how to use dried chamomile flowers as an herbal steam to clear your sinuses and lungs.
Calms gum inflammation, mouth sores and tooth abscesses — Chamomile has been shown to be effective in the treatment of gum inflammation, mouth sores and ulcers and tooth abscesses. Some suggest placing a wet chamomile tea bag alongside an inflamed tooth may provide pain relief until you are able to be seen by your dentist.
Reduces menstrual cramps and pain — Multiple studies have validated chamomile tea to help reduce the severity of menstrual cramps. A 2010 study published in the Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility indicated that consuming chamomile tea for a month appears to reduce menstrual pain and cramps, as well as the anxiety and distress that often accompanies it.
The study authors said: “[C]hamomile tea [is] an effective therapy in relieving the pain originated from primary dysmenorrhea and its consequent psycho-social problems.”
Relieves gastrointestinal complaints and bowel problems — Though most of the evidence is anecdotal, chamomile is believed to help reduce smooth muscle spasms associated with gastrointestinal inflammatory disorders such as Crohn’s disease, diverticular disease, gastritis, irritable bowel problems and ulcerative colitis.
Chamomile is particularly helpful in dispelling gas, soothing heartburn and relaxing muscles that move food through your intestines. It also inhibits Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium linked to stomach ulcers.
Soothes burns and other skin irritations — Although somewhat less effective than hydrocortisone cream, chamomile has been shown to be effective in relieving minor burns and sunburn, as well as soothing skin conditions such as chickenpox, diaper rash, eczema and psoriasis.
Treats eye infections and inflammation — Due to its calming and soothing properties, chamomile has been shown to reduce eye irritation and redness. Add two chamomile tea bags to 3 cups of boiling water. Allow to steep until the tea has cooled, then discard the teabags. Dip a clean washcloth into the cooled tea and apply to your eye as a compress for 15 minutes, three to four times a day.
Increases NAD+ — Chamomile is relatively high in a flavone called apigenin which just happens to inhibit CD38 that is one of the largest consumers of NAD+. If you inhibit CD38 and reduce NAD+ consumption you will increase NAD+ levels. Because of this benefit i drink a cup of chamomile tea every night.
Volatile Oils Are the Basis for Chamomile Many Health Benefits
The many health benefits of chamomile are linked to the volatile oils found in its flowers, which include bisabolol, bisabolol oxides A an B and matricin, as well as other bioactive ingredients, such as:
Chamazulene or azulenesse
Coumarins like herniarin and umbelliferone
Farnese and spiro-ether sesquiterpene lactones
Flavonoids such as apigenin, luteolin, patuletin and quercetin
Glycosides
Hydroxycoumarins
Mucilage
Terpenoids
About the extensive medicinal benefits of chamomile, authors of a 2010 study published in Molecular Medicine Reports said:
“Chamomile preparations are commonly used for many human ailments such as hay fever, inflammation, muscle spasms, menstrual disorders, insomnia, ulcers, wounds, gastrointestinal disorders, rheumatic pain and hemorrhoids. Essential oils of chamomile are used extensively in cosmetics and aromatherapy. Many different preparations of chamomile have been developed, the most popular of which is in the form of herbal tea consumed more than 1 million cups per day.
Chamomile has been used as an herbal medication since ancient times, is still popular today and probably will continue to be used in the future because it contains various bioactive phytochemicals that could provide therapeutic effects. Chamomile can help in improving cardiovascular conditions, stimulate [the] immune system and provide some protection against cancer.”
Chamomile Shown to Reduce Your Risk of Thyroid Cancer
A 2015 study published in the European Journal of Public Health linked the consumption of chamomile tea to a lower risk of benign thyroid diseases and thyroid cancer. In fact, the more tea consumed, the lower the cancer risk. Specifically, those who drank chamomile tea two to six times a week had a 70-percent lower risk of developing thyroid abnormalities, while those who drank the tea regularly for 30 years achieved an 80 percent lower risk. According to the study authors:
“Although in the last decade several studies have addressed the protective role of black and green tea on several diseases, including cancer, there are only few, and controversial, studies on the effect of tea on benign and malignant thyroid diseases … Our findings suggest, for the first time, that drinking herbal teas, especially chamomile, protects from thyroid cancer, as well as other benign thyroid diseases.”
Chamomile anticancer effects very likely result from naturally occurring flavonoids such as apigenin. Found not only in chamomile, but also in celery and parsley, as well as other vegetables, fruits and herbs, apigenin has been shown to slow cancer growth and shrink cancerous tumors in animal studies. A 2012 study in which mice implanted with the cells of a fast-growing human breast cancer were treated with apigenin, cancer growth slowed and tumors shrank.
While more research is needed, authors of a 2017 study published in Cell & Bioscience indicated: “All evidence gathered thus far clearly indicates that apigenin has strong anticancer activities against various human cancers alone, and in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents.”
The Best Ways to Use Chamomile
If you’ve long known about chamomile tea but never considered using this versatile herb for anything else, you may be interested to know of its other uses for adults, which include:
Bath — Add 1/4 pound of dried flowers or 5 to 10 drops of essential oil to bathwater to soothe cuts, eczema, hemorrhoids or insect bites
Capsules — Consume 300 to 400 milligrams three times per day, as directed by your physician
Cream — Apply cream containing 3 to 10 percent chamomile to treat dry, flaky skin, as well as eczema and psoriasis
Gargle or mouthwash — Gargle with cooled chamomile tea as often as desired or make a mouthwash by adding 10 to 15 drops of German chamomile liquid extract to about 3 ounces of warm water, and use up to three times a day
Inhalation — Calm a cough by adding a few drops of chamomile essential oil to a pot of hot water and breathe in the steam
Poultice — Mix powdered chamomile with water to make a paste and then apply it to inflamed skin
Tea — Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 2 to 3 heaping teaspoons of dried chamomile, steep as long as desired and drink between meals
Tincture — Take 1 teaspoon up to three times daily to calm frayed nerves, ease menstrual cramps, improve sleep and relieve headaches.
Chamomile Tincture Recipe
The video above, posted by Homesteadonomics, explains how to make a chamomile tincture at home, as well as some popular uses for it. Making a tincture is a great way to preserve chamomile because the potency of its volatile oils is more effectively retained through preservation.
Ingredients:
1 cup of dried chamomile flowers
Approximately 1 cup of boiling water
Approximately 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 cups of 80-proof vodka
Quart-sized glass jar with airtight lid
Procedure:
Place dried chamomile flowers in a clean quart-sized glass jar
Pour boiling water over the flowers until they are covered; stir as needed to ensure flowers are saturated
Add vodka to fill the jar, then cover tightly with lid and shake well
Store in a cool, dark place and shake daily for four to six weeks
After four to six weeks, pour liquid through a strainer and discard flowers
Store tincture in a clean glass jar
In terms of the vodka used, choosing a USDA certified, organic alcohol is best to ensure it is free of GMOs and pesticides. The recommended dosing for chamomile tincture is as follows:
Adults — 1 teaspoon three times a day, as needed, to induce relaxation and promote restful sleep
Infants — Rub a small drop on gums during teething or on the stomach to relieve colic pain and calm a restless child
Toddlers and older children — 1/2 teaspoon up to three times a day, when needed, to induce sleep
Giving babies and young children who are having trouble sleeping a dose of chamomile tincture immediately prior to bedtime may help relax and prepare them for a restful night’s sleep.
Cautions About Chamomile
While chamomile is generally well tolerated, you should avoid it if you have an allergy to ragweed or any other member of the daisy family of plants such as chrysanthemum or marigold. Avoid chamomile if you are pregnant, or if you are taking anticoagulants or sedative medications. Prior to using chamomile essential oil, do a skin test on your arm before applying it to your whole body. As with most other essential oils, it is best to use chamomile with a carrier oil such as coconut oil or olive oil.
Have you ever heard of the Bosnian Pyramids and all the new knowledge they open us to? On January 12, 2018 in Deerfield Beach, an enthralled group of attendees were privileged to hear firsthand from the man who discovered these 30,000 year-old European Pyramids just over a decade ago, Professor Sam Osmanagich. His two-hour presentation took us on a historic journey to pyramids all over the world, from Mexico to Egypt, Illinois (U.S.) to China, the mysterious underwater treasure of Japan and beyond.
Dr Sam Osmanagich
There are thousands of pyramids on our planet and, to be truly classified as pyramids, they must meet ten unique characteristics of pyramids: four sides, precise orientation to the astronomical directions (north, south, east and west), distinct corners and more.
Professor Osmanagich has been a leading voice for qualifying pyramids systematically using these important criteria. His dedication to scientific exploration is unwavering.
What is most fascinating to me is the recognition of their true purpose which has evolved out of the important research being done in the Bosnian Pyramids.
Despite commonly dictated theories, pyramids are not tombs, nor treasure-filled chambers of gold and silver. They are generators of healing energies with re-balancing capacities that are so welcomed and embraced by our human bodies. Pyramids are healing machines.
Can you believe that a young woman’s failing lungs with over 80% loss of function reverted to almost normal by her third visit to the pyramids? Documented cases of dramatic healing results are growing as more people from around the globe come to experience the unique internal environment of the pyramid.
Have you ever witnessed or seen orbs, those ethereal round energy balls of white, blue or violet in your photographs? Well, the Ravne (Pyramid of the Sun, Bosnia) tunnel photos and videos are richly filled with them. They seem to love hanging out where people are happy and engaged.
I have experienced it personally a couple times and can hardly wait to go again to recharge my body/mind/spirit. I am also eager to see the ongoing progress made by the dedicated team of professionals and volunteers in opening new paths and unveiling secrets as they advance to the core of the great Sun Pyramid of Bosnia.
If you are interested and want to experience it for yourself, join me on my next Pilgrimage to Croatia and the Bosnian Pyramids September 2018. Details and registration at http://bitly.com/pyramids2018. Are you ready to expand your horizons? We are experiencing new revelations of history and evolving knowledge – ever exposing new truths. Through our visits, we support the advancement of the rigorous excavation work, the opening of more tunnels and chambers and, ultimately, uncovering the truths still hidden from our view.
Professor Sam Osmanagich is an excellent presenter, teacher and guide for all willing to join him on this journey of discovery. Are you ready for your adventurous journey?
Zagreb, the Capital of Croatia, was starting point for Nada’s Pilgrimage 2018. It known as the “City with a Heart.”
Zagreb main square and cathedral aerial view, Croatia
Zagreb is distinguished by its 18th- and 19th-century Austro-Hungarian architecture. At its center, Upper Town is the site of the Gothic, twin-spired Zagreb Cathedral and 13th-century St. Mark’s Church, with a colorfully tiled roof. Nearby is pedestrian-friendly Tkalčićeva Street, lined with outdoor cafes. Lower Town has the Main Square, Ban Jelačić, plus shops, museums and parks.
Our group explored Zagreb with our local guide Dario. From the rich and colorful Saturday open market to afternoon traditional gas lamp lighting in the old city, lighting candles at the Shrine, and riding the blue cable cars to the Upper Town, the tastes, cultural treasures and welcoming people filled the group with joy.
Dario was our shopping director at the busyDolac Market with locals buying flowers, fruits and vegetables, jams, honey and more. Heguided us to the BEST stands for nuts, grapes, seeds, honey and more. The blueberry honey alone is worth a return visit!
Saturday’s market is also a time for Zagreb to parade its history with a Croat horse brigade and children performing folk dancing to live music. We visited the “Golden Threads” Museum detailing the technical restoration work on ancient books, tapestries, and garments. Outside on the plaza two spires side-by-side show the corruption of acid rain and centuries of exposure to the elements compared to the newly created replacement copied in the finest historical detail.
No day in Zagreb would be complete without a visit to the incomparable pastry shop Vincek. While half of our group ordered at the visually mouthwatering main shop, preparing heavenly desserts for over 40 years, the other half of the group ran around the corner to their newer “gluten-free” pastry shop, picked up their hearts’ desires and returned to join us for a sweets and cappuccinos feast. Nada’s special introduction to their famous chestnut puree was greeted with many spoons and sheer gustatory delight!
One very special treat in Zagreb was the newly opened interactive historical exhibition, “Croatia is Hrvatska” in TunelGrič; a 350-meter tunnel built in 1943 under the streets of Zagreb as a bomb shelter for the people of the city. The exhibition creates a “tunnel of time” covering 133 years of history in Zagreb including a special section dedicated to great scientist and inventor Nikola Tesla.
Incredible Desserts!
We spent 2 days in Zagreb to take in as much of the city as possible in our limited time and concluded our explorations with dinner at the elegant Gallo Restaurant where we dined on fresh seafood, delivered daily from the coast, homemade pastas and perfectly matched wines from the region. And, yes, again we ate incredible desserts!
Pyramids in Europe? We have all been taught in school – even graduate level anthropology – that pyramids are an Egyptian and Mezo-American phenomena. A doggedly determined archeologist, Dr Semir Osmanagich, fought the academic and political communities around the world who sought to block his uncovering of multiple magnificent pyramids in Bosnia in Southern Europe.
After years of quiet, dedicated work, it is no longer possible to deny their existence, both academics and the public are flocking to see these incredible wonders that are scientifically dated at 20,000 – 30,000 years old.
The largest, the Pyramid of the Sun, is so large that two Giza Pyramids could fit inside. Perhaps even more remarkable is the network of underground tunnels connecting the numerous pyramids (the Ravne Labyrinth) and the energy that can be measured inside.
Several European Yoga/Spiritual communities have visited the Bosnian Pyramids and vowed to return with groups each year to bathe them in the energies during their Yoga/Meditation practice.
The Bosnian Pyramids have become a world attraction that is being thought after by many visitors, volunteers, explorers and mediums from around the world. Archeology, science, energy, spirituality, healing, harmony with nature…. are the reasons and attractions of the largest and the oldest pyramids found in Visoko.
In May 2017 two Indian spiritual teachers have come with many of their followers and devotees. Grand Master Bahmadshi Patricia came with a group of 128 followers from India, Singapore, Taiwan, China, Malaysia, Europe and USA. Patricia is known as the creator of a new way of meditation (meditating in a very simple way) and he is a promoter of vegetarian ways of eating.
At the same time another spiritual leader and philanthropist Mohnadi resided in Visoko, whose message is; “Unconditional Love is our True Nature”. with him came a group of 113 visitors from Serbia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Croatia, Latvia, India and several other countries.
Two world renown spiritual leaders met at the entrance to the prehistoric underground labyrinth Ravne. A wholehearted greeting resulted in the commentary as to the fact that the valley of Bosnian Pyramids have become the meeting point between two cultures, East and West joining the best that the two worlds have to offer.
This is the third year in a row that Mohandi has paid a visit with numerous followers and his family from Serbia, and he is planing to come many more times, as this is for him “a place with exceptional energy and the perfect place for meditation”.
Impressed by the hospitality and the exceptional organization of the entire team of the Foundation, Patridi and his guests from India have decided that they shall return every year in May to hold a conference for guests from all over the world.
At his departure Patridi said:
“Up until now, every year we visited the Egyptian Pyramids. Yet we found that those are energetically dead. The Bosnian Pyramids are untouched and therefore energetically alive. All people coming here are open and with a smile on their faces. From now on, Visoko is our new seat in Europe.”
From the official newsletter of the Bosnian Pyramids
Advanced equipment to map the inside structure from above and measure the energy levels inside, around and above have made the Bosnian Pyramids an attraction for scientists interested in energy healing. The announcement in April 2017 of the discovery of the Tesla’s Torsion Fields or scalar waves on top of the Bosnian Pyramid of the Sun, described as the connection to the cosmic internet, supports Kirlian photography evidence of beneficial changes in the biofield (aura) of individuals exploring the accessible tunnels and pyramid entrances. Could this be healing energy?
Many of our Foundation’s Ambassadors are practitioners in energy therapies from Light (Infrared), Healing Touch, Reiki, Scalar, Essential Oils and Raw Food (plant frequencies), Toning, Guided Imagery, Yoga, Meditation and more. These therapies are all guided by one of the foundational principals of medicine, “First Do No Harm.” From the depiction of halos in Christian iconography to our current day science of EMFs, there is little doubt among true scientists that “Energy is the Medicine of the Future.” Whether the source is Dr. Richard Gerber’s Vibrational Medicine, James Oschman’s Energy Medicine, Gregg Braden s The Divine Matrix, or Bruce Lipton’s The Biology of Belief, there is little doubt that medicine is far more than a body-part’ s repair and replacement task. Physical, emotional, mental and spiritual fields are recognized in holistic nursing as the biofield and energy therapies are recommended for addressing disturbances.
As the Joseph P Cory Foundation’s mission commits to educating individuals and communities in wellness and well being, we are envisioning that our Croatia and Bosnia Pilgrimage will provide an opportunity for a personal experience of this scalar energy – to feel this site not just see it. Scalar energy opens a new world of healing in mind, body and spirit.
Join us in September, 17-30, 2018, the Foundation’s Croatia and Bosnia Pilgrimage, and indulge in the deep healing of ‘old world’ food, the open arms of family communities, nature’s pristine treasures – thermal spas, mineral baths and more, spiritual sites and, of course, the Bosnian Pyramids.
To Your Health, in Love and Light, Nada Maria Cory
Nada’s Pilgrimage to Croatia and the Bosnian Pyramids
Have you ever traveled to a foreign country and seen spectacular sites? Have you really met with the locals and interacted with them, learned about their essence of being and ways of living?
How did you feel when you somehow happened upon something beautiful, a hidden treasure, that no travel agent ever mentioned? Have you dared to taste a local homemade meal straight from the garden or the local forest on your plate, and felt safe in doing so?
Well, I have traveled to many foreign countries, seen some spectacular sights, tasted some local food in a nice restaurant (controlled environment) and occasionally met a local, as a tour guide or restaurateur. The only way I would be able to meet and interact with some local people was in a situation where I stayed and lived with them for a while. These are the hidden treasures that reveal themselves…the spirit and soul of the people, the heart of the land.
What my Pilgrimage has to offer to you is very different from any organized tour; it is exactly what I described before. Being a native-born Croatian gives me the privilege to invite you into my country home and have you experience the embrace of my local family, to taste their homemade meals that derive from their garden, local forest, river and lake, or the Adriatic Sea. Listen to the local songs and music and be invited to dance with them if you like. Have the opportunity to support a local handicapped person or contribute to a child’s school lunch for the year. Share your knowledge and expertise with young people whose horizons have not been broadened yet. See and experience the beauty of virgin land and its potential. See and experience ancient treasures first hand. Have your spirit be filled with awe and allow a miracle or transformation into your life.
This is my promise to you as you are welcomed with an open heart into the core of my forefather’s land and the hearts of my people.
