> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://betonica-school-of-herbal-medicine.ghost.io/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # German chamomile: a calming indigestion remedy - URL: https://betonica-school-of-herbal-medicine.ghost.io/german-chamomile-a-calming-indigestion-remedy/ - Published: 2026-11-02T15:46:22.000Z - Updated: 2026-11-02T15:46:22.000Z - Author: 441666 By Student 441666 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/38/c73825ce-926e-4074-bdb7-340dec180829/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-e5f476fe-27ba-4f93-b295-45070726d344.png) ****Figure 1** **Chamomile and buttercup* (Zasiadko, 2016) Chamomile tea is a widely available and incredibly common herbal tea. So much so that it is one of the most popular herbal teas in the world, with over a million cups being consumed daily (Srivastava et al., 2010). But *Matricaria chamomilla* L. (syn. *Matricaria recutita* L.), commonly known as German chamomile, is much more than just a warm drink. Join me as we dive into the hidden health benefits of chamomile and how it can treat digestive upset, in particular indigestion (Peters, 2005; POWO, n.d). ### **What is indigestion?** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/38/c73825ce-926e-4074-bdb7-340dec180829/content/images/2026/10/sasun-bughdaryan-bNdiJ1FEbV4-unsplash.jpg) ****Figure 2** **Woman with pain in her back.* (Bughdaryan, 2026) Indigestion (also dyspepsia) is an inflammation of the digestive tract, usually due to irritation, that can be caused by an array of things such as wearing tight belts, eating too fast or irregularly, food that is too rich or spicy, or nervous tension (Hoffman, 1990; Peters, 2005). Symptoms of indigestion include pain in the lower chest, nausea, and heartburn (Ody, 2002). Acute, non-recurring indigestion is nothing of concern however, if indigestion becomes chronic or is paired with gastroesophageal reflux (GOR), it should be taken to a doctor as the digestive acids can cause damage to the lining of the oesophagus (Peters, 2005). Generally, the orthodox treatment for indigestion is medicines such as antacids, alginates and proton pump inhibitors (NHS, 2023). ### **How does chamomile help?** German chamomile, part of the asteraceae family, contains active constituents such as volatile oils and flavonoids which are responsible for many of its soothing actions - anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, carminative and many more (Singh et al., 2011). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/38/c73825ce-926e-4074-bdb7-340dec180829/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-a7cabc11-7e98-489b-b0e3-f72392047fa7.png) ****Figure 3** **Matricaria recutita.* (Hille, 2007) Chamomile is said to be one of the oldest medicinal herbs known to us, mentioned by ancient Greek physicians such as Hippocrates, Dioskurides and Galen, who recommended the tea for ‘inflammation of the mouth’. It was also used in ancient Rome and Egypt as a herb for digestion and inflammation, as well as minor infections and for its calming properties (Nemecz, 1999). It has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for over 5000 years, as early as the Eastern Han Dynasty and is most commonly seen in Chinese literature as a herb for digestive issues (Dai et al., 2022) Now, chamomile is specifically used for digestive disorders associated with nervous tension as it is anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic, while also being a mild sedative. This means it helps to soothe the nervous system as well as the digestive system (Behrens et al,. 2020). Indigestion is an inflammatory condition which, as previously mentioned, can be caused by nervous tension - lining chamomile up to be a great remedy for it (Ody, 2002). Chamomile is a common plant that grows native and introduced in over 100 countries. It is not under any threat of extinction (Bachman et al., 2024). ### **Cautions** If you are experiencing chronic indigestion, please visit a GP to ensure it’s nothing harmful (Peters, 2005). Chamomile can cause a reaction in people with an asteraceae allergy, or if used topically can sometimes cause contact dermatitis, though it is rare (Batram, 1998). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/38/c73825ce-926e-4074-bdb7-340dec180829/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-e68cd110-1b0d-4905-86b4-6a64becb18b1.png) ****Figure 4** **A close up of a flower - Matracaria chamomilla*.(Ulinski, 2022) So next time you see chamomile tea on the shelf in your local supermarket, you know just how much medicine is actually contained in one of those tiny teabags. If you want to know more about how herbs can help you, book in for a herbal consultation and a qualified practitioner can see what difference herbs could make to your life. --- ### My Social Media Post (Instagram) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/38/c73825ce-926e-4074-bdb7-340dec180829/content/images/2026/10/Chamomile-insta-post.jpg) My recent blog post explores the history and health benefits of German chamomile and how it can help with relieving indigestion, head to the blog to learn more! To learn more about gut health, search my favourite podcast: @herdiscussionspod For more on herbal remedies head to: @betonicaschoolofherbalmedicine --- **References**: Bachman, S. P., Brown, M. J.M., Leão, T. C.C., Nic-Lughadha, E., & Walker, B. E. (2024). Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation. *New Phytol*, *242*, 797-808\. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.19592 Bartram, T. (1998). *Bartram's Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine*. Robinson. Behrens, J., Curtis, S., Green, L., Ody, P., & Vilinac, D. (2020). *Neal's Yard Remedies healing herbs: treat yourself naturally with homemade herbal remedies*. Dorling Kindersley Limited. Dai, Y. L., Li, Y., Wang, Q., Niu, F. J., Li, K. W., Wang, Y. Y., Wang, J., Zhou, C. Z., & Gao, L. N. (2022). Chamomile: a review of its traditional uses, chemical constituents, pharmacological activities and quality control studies. *Molecules*, *28*(1), 133\. https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/1/133 Fisher, C. (2018). *Materia Medica of Western Herbs*. Aeon Books Limited. Hoffmann, D. (1990). *The new holistic herbal: a herbal celebrating the wholeness of life*. Element. Nemecz, G. (1999). Chamomile. *Journal of Modern Pharmacy*, *6*(8), 32\. https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA16836707\_1088 NHS. (2023). *Indigestion*. NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/indigestion/ Ody, P. (2002). *Essential Guide to Natural Home Remedies*. Kyle Cathie. Peters, D. (2005). *Complete family health guide: new medicine: how to integrate complementary & conventional medicine for the safest and most effective treatment*. Dorling Kindersley. POWO. (n.d.). *Matricaria chamomilla L. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science*. POWO. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:154715-2 Singh, O., Khanam, Z., Misra, N., & Srivastava, M. (2011). Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.): an overview. *Pharmacognosy Reviews*, *5*(9), 82\. https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-7847.79103 Srivastava, J. K., Shankar, E., & Gupta, S. (2010). Chamomile: a herbal medicine of the past with a bright future. *Molecular medicine reports*, *3*(6), 895-901\. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2010.377 **Figures**: Bughdaryan, S. (2026). Woman with pain in her back. \[photograph\]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/woman-holding-her-sore-lower-back-bNdiJ1FEbV4 Hille, R. (2007). *Matricaria recutita.* \[Photograph\]. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Matricaria\_recutita\_0.1\_R.jpg Ulinski, J. (2022). *A close up of a flower - Matracaria chamomilla*. \[photograph\]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/a-close-up-of-a-flower-QjOJ88RYbTA Zasiadko, K. (2016). *Chamomile and buttercup.* \[Photograph\]. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chamomile\_and\_buttercup\_(Unsplash).jpg