Chamomile for Pain
Chamomile is much more than just an herbal tea found in your local coffee shop. It is actually a treasured herb—capable of relieving pain, soothing infants, improving digestion, and calming the mind. The difference between enjoying chamomile as a casual beverage and using it medicinally is in the dosage.
In order to get a therapeutic dose of chamomile, try infusing 2, 3, or even 4 tea bags per cup of water to calm your nerves, soothe your mind, and improve your digestion. When it comes to pain—especially acute pain involving the nervous system—28 grams of chamomile (about 14 average sized tea bags) steeped in 2 cups of water provides a full strength medicinal dose of chamomile. Unless you have a known allergy to chamomile or the asteraceae plant family, this dosage is safe and can be used to alleviate all kinds of pain. Think of it first for relieving acute back pains and sciatica. Since it has a deeply relaxing and sedating effect on the body, it is best to avoid driving immediately after ingesting this higher dosage.
Chamomile is also effective for relieving menstrual cramps, insomnia, and even in treating colds and flus. Add a little fresh ginger for even greater effectiveness. Chamomile holds anti-inflammatory properties and is high in calcium.
It is best to use loose bulk herbs to make a strong chamomile infusion because it is less expensive and usually better quality than most boxed tea. If you are using tea bags, open the bags and put the chamomile in a large mug. Boil 2 cups of water and pour it over the herb. Stir, cover, and let it stand for 15 – 20 minutes. Strain the herbs and squeeze out as much fluid as you can. Drink the entire amount.
If needed, you can reuse the herbs by infusing them in another 2 cups of water and repeating the above steps. You can use the same herbs up to 3 times, although the strength of the infusion will decrease each time.
If your symptoms do not improve, consult your health care professional.