Chamomile or camomile: why does it help you sleep?
By Baldmichael Theresoluteprotector’sson
I have been using it for three days and I think I can say it is helping me. I have been waking up in the night to urinate in recent weeks but I have felt rather more settled for having had chamomile tea. This article gives the supposed benefits of chamomile.
Does Chamomile Tea Make You Sleep? June 27, 2024
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-aids/does-chamomile-tea-make-you-sleep
As to the reason it helps you sleep the article suggests that it is
A flavonoid called apigenin is likely the component of chamomile that causes a sedative effect.
As to chamomile or camomile, this is
the common name for several daisy-like plants of the family Asteraceae. Two of the species, Matricaria chamomilla and Chamaemelum nobile, are commonly used to make herbal infusions for beverages.
from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamomile
It then says
There has been limited (though thus far insufficient) research as to whether consuming chamomile in foods or beverages is effective in treating medical conditions.
Of course chamomile has been used for centuries so there has never been the particularneed to research in depth. As to the derivation of the word Wikipedia says
The word chamomile is derived via French and Latin, from the Greek χαμαίμηλον, khamaimēlon, 'earth apple', from χαμαί, khamai, 'on the ground', and μῆλον, mēlon, 'apple'.
Earth apple is interesting as of course the French for potato is ‘pomme de terre’, literally also ‘apple of (the) earth’.
I will highlight some of the key parts of the Wikipedia article, text in italics from this unless otherwise stated.
Uses
Chamomile may be used as a flavouring agent in foods and beverages, mouthwash, soaps, and cosmetics. Chamomile tea is a herbal infusion made from dried flowers and hot water, and may improve sleep quality.
I have used loose dried flowers which I prefer to tea bags.
Two types of chamomile are used, namely German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) and Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile).
Chamomile has historically been used as one of the flavouring ingredients in beer, and is sometimes used by modern brewers. Usually the whole plant is used, adding a bitter flavour component.
Drug interactions
Wikipedia generally mentions the possibility of adverse interactions which of course is standard as even certain foods do not go well together.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Because chamomile has been known to cause uterine contractions that can invoke miscarriage, pregnant women are advised to not consume Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile).
All of which is interesting but is there more that can be gleaned from the word ‘chamomile’ itself to indicate its properties?
Chamomile anagrams
Here are some revealing phrases:
- I lam chemo – I saw the word ‘chemo’ and wondered if it has anti-cancer properties. It seems it does. There’s this.
Effect of Chamomile on the Complications of Cancer: A Systematic Review
13 Apr, 2023
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10108427/
Its conclusion is
Chamomile can reduce cancer complications including oral mucositis, anxiety and depression level, dermatitis, vomiting, and also can improve patients’ QoL. The use of chamomile as a non-pharmacologic and safe method can be helpful for mitigating cancer complications in cancer patients. Therefore, it is suggested to be incorporated into routine care along with other therapeutic measures. Further experimental studies are needed to identify the standardized form, dose, duration, concentration, and route of the administration of chamomile and investigate its effect on cancer complications.
And this.
Antioxidant and anticancer activities of chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.)
3 Jan, 2019
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6317209/
It concludes
Chamomile represents a potential in anti-cancer treatments.
- i.e. hcl ammo – I saw hcl (abbreviation for hydrochloric acid) and wondered if it was a remedy against acid. It seems it does.
17 Acid Reflux Remedies That Are Natural and Super Effective
December 29, 2023
https://www.lifehack.org/759858/acid-reflux-remedies-natural
It says these are good, including chamomile.
16. ENJOY THESE COOLING HERBS
Like aloe juice, there are other ways to soothe and cool the system from the acid burn. These include slippery elm, marshmallow root, chamomile and licorice root.
- Maim Chloe – Chloe ,meaning ‘blooming’ or ‘fertility’, so there is the sense of reducing fertility which ties in with Wikipedia’s comments on pregnancy.
- mm hi ale co – which reminds me of the beer brewers
- I Ohm camel – it will help you resist the camel or getting the hump, i.e. depressed!
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) May Have Antidepressant Activity in Anxious Depressed Humans - An Exploratory Study
2012 Sep-Oct
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3600408/
It concludes
Chamomile may have clinically meaningful antidepressant activity that occurs in addition to its previously observed anxiolytic activity.
- mm oil ache – I found this article.
Chamomile essential oil is best for body ache, says my mom
https://www.healthshots.com/mom-says/chamomile-for-body-ache/
More generally there are these two.
- Malice Ohm – ohm is a unit of resistance so there is the sense that malice or evil, that which might disturb sleep, is resisted.
- lo him acme – perhaps chamomile is the best
- Hi Mel coma – put Mel (whoever he or she is) into a coma or deep sleep maybe
Summary and final thoughts
There you have chamomile, a very useful herbal remedy it would seem. Anti-cancer properties, acid reduction, and easing pain.
Great in beer, so the best way to take it as a pint of good old English ale!
And last but not least, an aid to sleep. I have kept these anagrams until now.
- I calm home
- oh I calm me
Which I think says it all, the calming effect of chamomile to give you rest.
You might recall the reference to apigenin, a flavonoid. Well, fascinatingly the longest single word anagrams is are ‘neaping’ and ‘paining’. We can get the phrase ‘I neaping’ and as neap has to do with, among other things, a narrow tidal range there is the sense of flattening the excess of ones body’s energy, its waves as it were.
And whist it might be rather more contrived, if one remembers that ‘e’ can represent ‘out of’ from the Greek, ‘e paining’ is a possible phrase suggesting coming out of pain.
One last thought and anagram.
- Mac Elohim – ‘mac’ means ‘son of’ in Scottish, so it would mean ‘son of the angels’ or ‘son of God’.
And this reminds me of this verse from Psalm 127:2
“In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for bread to eat— for He gives sleep to His beloved.”
So, as I will say from time to time, the benefits of chamomile are all in the word ‘chamomile’.
And in the beginning was the Word…
P.S. I haven’t done much at all on herbs and remedies but there is this from last January for those who haven’t seen.
Or this
How curious and how brilliant! @Baldmichael I was inspired to inquire further…
The sensory input of this v bitter herb, as it coats the posterior third of your tongue, is mediated by cranial nerves IX (‘gloss o pharyngeal’) and X (vagus) - the DIRECT effect on the vagus nerve I found interesting!
A cornucopia pnemonic devices in the wordplay of @Baldmichael will ensure that no one forgets the virtues of Chamomile. (Then remember that weedom is cooler than wikipedia and find some of this herb for yourself! ) How about that apigenin!!?