Bencao Gangmu Reference Library
洋甘菊 / 德国洋甘菊 / 母菊 / 蓝甘菊 — Matricaria chamomilla L. (syn. Matricaria recutita)
Pinyin: Yánggānjú / Déguó Yánggānjú / Mǔjú · Malay: Bunga Chamomile / Kamomil Jerman / Bunga Kasih Ibu · Family: Asteraceae (菊科)
Energetics
Cool (微寒 / 凉)
Flavor
Sweet, slightly bitter, intensely aromatic with honey-apple floral perfume (甘、微苦、大香、苹果蜜香)
Meridians
Liver (肝), Heart (心), Stomach (胃), Lung (肺)
Traditional Edict
German Chamomile (Bunga Chamomile / Yang Gan Ju / Mu Ju). Honey-apple scent and inky-blue chamazulene oil. Soothes constrained Liver-Qi, calms anxiety, promotes deep sleep, relieves stomach spasms, heals peptic ulcers, extinguishes eczema.
Cautions & Contraindications
- Cover teapot during steeping to prevent volatilization of active chamazulene and bisabolol. Caution in patients with severe known allergy to Asteraceae. Safe in pregnancy and lactation in dietary tea amounts.
Clinical Applications
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), primary insomnia, peptic ulcer disease and gastritis (H. pylori suppression), functional IBS, infantile colic, atopic dermatitis/eczema, and radiation oral mucositis.
Quality Markers
Mechanism & Phytochemistry
1. Apigenin binds benzodiazepine sites on GABA-A receptors, enhancing inhibitory GABAergic currents to reduce anxiety and induce sleep without motor ataxia. 2. a-Bisabolol/chamazulene dual COX-2/5-LOX inhibition and gastric PGE2 cytoprotection. 3. Mast cell stabilization.
Preparation & Dosage
THE SOVEREIGN GOLDEN CHAMOMILE GASTRO-CALMING TISANE: 5-8 g whole dried floral heads steeped covered in 250 mL hot water (90C) for 8-10 min; taken 30 min before bed or after meals. Pediatric colic tea: 3 g in 100 mL. Blue Chamomile Salve (2% in shea butter).
Appended Prescriptions
- 1. The Sovereign Neuro-Anxiety & Deep Sleep Synergy with Jasminum sambac (Bunga Melati) and Ziziphus spinosa (Suan Zao Ren). 2. Gastro-Peptic Ulcer & Acid Reflux Tea with Glycyrrhiza uralensis.
Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only