College of Natural Diet & Digestion

College of Natural Diet & Digestion

 

AYURVEDIC HERB SUPPLEMENTS

Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)

Used to calm nerves, as a sleep aid, and to ease cramping and colic.

How Does This Ayurvedic Herb Supplement Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Chamomile infuses your tea with a delicious floral aroma that is warm, light & airy. Its smell is reminiscent of apples, first noted by the Greeks, who named it 'ground-apple' (kamai=ground & melon=apple).

Improve Sluggish Digestion

Chamomile's bitter and aromatic tastes are perfectly combined to penetrate and dry up mucus in the GI tract, to stimulate digestion, and to expel gas. To this effect it may be combined with other digestive stimulants like ginger to reduce all forms of sluggish digestion, from acid reflux to loss of appetite.

Muscle Tonic for Early Spring Stiffness

The stimulating combination of chamomile, honey, & lemon warm up your metabolism in early spring. You can experience the warmth of honey as a mild pungency that stimulates your tongue, raises your heart rate, and warms entire body after consumption. Lemon and chamomile liquefy stagnant lymph, reducing not only swelling in lymph nodes, but flush heaviness and stiffness out of the muscles. Your limbs will begin to feel light and agile as Chamomile's mild analgesic properties provide further muscle relief. It ability to dry up excess spring moisture from mucus membranes is all the more magnified by its diuretic nature.

Relaxing for the Mind

Chamomile is known for its ability to soothe an anxious Kapha mind, as the aromatic qualities relax and refresh your nervous system, coaxing your body to sleep. As an antispasmodic, Its muscle relaxing properties are useful in headaches due to colicky blood vessels. But be careful! These soothing qualities of chamomile are easily outdone by the dryness it provokes in Vata constitutions. It's diuretic qualities may wake you up in the middle of the night. needing to visit the bathroom.

Health Virtues of Chamomile

Personalized medicine systems use biocharacteristics to classify the metabolic nature of food, hebs, lifestyle choices, indivdual constitutions, and disease.

METABOLIC NATURE / BIOCHARACTERISTICS

Metabolic Nature / Biocharacteristics

Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (vital qualtiies). Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick. Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.

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CLEAR

ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CLEAR

HOT

ABOUT HOT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot is identified by increased body temperature, metabolism, or inflammation.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HOT

LIGHT

ABOUT LIGHT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Lightness is identified by reduced weight.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIGHT

TASTES

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

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BITTER

ABOUT BITTER BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Bitter taste has cholagogue action - it is cold, clear, light, and stimulating. It increases digestive enzymes and is laxative, and drying.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BITTER

PUNGENT

ABOUT PUNGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Pungency is characterized by irritation, or sharp, spicy foods that irritate the mouth such as black pepper.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PUNGENT

AYURVEDA BODY TYPES (DOSHAS)

The Three Doshas / Body Types

Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.

Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.

Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.

Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.

The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).

Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.

Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.

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PACIFIES
Kapha pacifying Pitta pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Vata aggravating

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.

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PACIFIES
PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

A Phlegmatic has a cold and wet metabolic nature. The coldness implies a slow metabolism, the moisture that you are well-nourished. Phlegmatics tend towards sluggishness and thickened fluids, including mucus.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

A hot and oily nature with a moderate metabolism and a well nourished body makes Sanguine individuals vigorous, vivacious, outgoing and generous, and prone to impulsivity and self indulgence. Bullish and intense when out of balance.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

AGGRAVATES
CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHOLERIC

MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MELANCHOLIC

Other Health Virtues

Aromatic

AROMATIC

Herbs or spices with volatile essential oils that present strong aromas. Aromatic oils shock, refresh and numb tissue, with the end result of relaxing, opening and clearing stagnant fluids in tissues.

SEE ALL 'AROMATIC' FOODS / HERBS

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Chamomile
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

(see all)
Carminative

STRONG CARMINATIVE

Stimulates the release of gas. Helpful for bloating or cramping abdominal pain. Propels food downward. Carminatives typically expel gas by relaxing the muscles of the intestines.

SEE ALL 'CARMINATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

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Digestive

DIGESTIVE

Herbs that encourage healthy digestion.

SEE ALL 'DIGESTIVE' FOODS / HERBS

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Spleen Tonic

SPLEEN-TONIC

An herb that strengthens spleen function by improving strength of the blood. Spleen tonics Builds agni, brighten the person's appearances & firms up tissues.

SEE ALL 'SPLEEN-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Stomachic

STOMACHIC

An herb that increases appetite or settles a nauseas or nervous stomach. These generally increase the digestive fire, therefore relieving symptoms of sluggish or difficult digestion.

SEE ALL 'STOMACHIC' FOODS / HERBS

Makes You Tired

MAKES-YOU-TIRED

Induces drowsiness and promotes sound sleep.

SEE ALL 'MAKES-YOU-TIRED' FOODS / HERBS

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Nerve Relaxant Grounding

NERVE-RELAXANT-GROUNDING

Encourages feelings of stability and heaviness. Makes you feel settled, mentally relaxed. Mildly sedates the nervous system to ease stress. Can bring a spacey or anxious person back to earth. Reduces agitation, irritation, stress and racing thoughts.

SEE ALL 'NERVE-RELAXANT-GROUNDING' FOODS / HERBS

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Analgesic

ANALGESIC

Pain reliever, reduces pain without eliminating sensation. Also known as anodyne.

SEE ALL 'ANALGESIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Anxiolytic

ANXIOLYTIC

Herbs that help people suffering from anxiety or panic. They promote a state of calm and often improve sleep. Most anxiolytic herbs are also nervines.

SEE ALL 'ANXIOLYTIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Boosts Gaba

BOOSTS-GABA

GABA, or gamma-aminobutyric acid, reduces nerve excitability. It is the body's primary inhibitory neurotransmitter. Thus, it promotes relaxation, calm, and sleep.

SEE ALL 'BOOSTS-GABA' FOODS / HERBS

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Nervine

NERVINE

Balances the nervous system. They can help with stress, memory, early alzheimer's, and even chronic pain. Often they are aromatic in nature.

SEE ALL 'NERVINE' FOODS / HERBS

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Sedative

SEDATIVE

Sedative herbs create a sense of calm in the mind and body by specifically calming or quieting the nervous system. Excellent for anxiety, stress and chronic pain.

SEE ALL 'SEDATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Diaphoretic

DIAPHORETIC

An herb that induces sweating, often by dilating blood vessels close to the skin.

SEE ALL 'DIAPHORETIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Skin Tonic

SKIN-TONIC

An herb that strengthens and nourishes skin, improving tone, color, moisture and complexion.

SEE ALL 'SKIN-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Vulnerary

VULNERARY

An herb used for the treatment of wounds (antiulcer, connective tissue tonic).

SEE ALL 'VULNERARY' FOODS / HERBS

Anti Inflammatory

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.

SEE ALL 'ANTI-INFLAMMATORY' FOODS / HERBS

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Immune Calming

IMMUNE-CALMING

Herbs that interrupt an allergic reaction or calm the immune system, useful in allergies and autoimmune conditions.

SEE ALL 'IMMUNE-CALMING' FOODS / HERBS

Blood Thinner

BLOOD-THINNER

Herbs that thin the blood. Helpful for people with heart disease or clogged circulation.

SEE ALL 'BLOOD-THINNER' FOODS / HERBS

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Vasodilator

VASODILATOR

A vasodilator is an herb that widens the blood vessels by the relaxation of smooth muscle cells within the vessel walls, thereby increasing circulation systemically or to a local area.

SEE ALL 'VASODILATOR' FOODS / HERBS

Emmenagogue

EMMENAGOGUE

Herbs which stimulate menstruation. Emmenagogues are used for scanty menstruation, to relieve menstrual pain, and improve blood flow in the pelvic area and uterus.

SEE ALL 'EMMENAGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS

Antispasmodic

ANTISPASMODIC

Herbs that reduce or inhibit muscle spasms or cramping, such as in asthma, menstruation, heart palpitations, migraine, or IBS.

SEE ALL 'ANTISPASMODIC' FOODS / HERBS

Other:
Constituents:
Rosmarinic Acid

ROSMARINIC-ACID

Inhibits autoantibodies from binding to TSH receptors in the thyroid.

SEE ALL 'ROSMARINIC-ACID' FOODS / HERBS

Foods with a Similar Nature to Chamomile

  • Chamomile

    Chamomile has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Boosts-gaba, Digestive, Makes-you-tired, Sedative, Stomachic, Analgesic, Anxiolytic, Carminative, Emmenagogue, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Skin-tonic, Vasodilator, Anti-inflammatory, Blood-thinner, Diaphoretic, Immune-calming, Nervine, Spleen-tonic, Vulnerary

    LEARN MORE

  • Turmeric

    Turmeric has these Actions in Common

    Analgesic, Blood-thinner, Emmenagogue, Spleen-tonic, Anti-inflammatory, Carminative, Immune-calming, Vasodilator, Antispasmodic, Digestive, Skin-tonic, Vulnerary

    LEARN MORE

  • Nutmeg

    Nutmeg has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Digestive, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Spleen-tonic, Anxiolytic, Emmenagogue, Nervine, Analgesic, Carminative, Makes-you-tired, Sedative

    LEARN MORE

  • Mint

    Mint has these Actions in Common

    Anxiolytic, Digestive, Spleen-tonic, Analgesic, Carminative, Immune-calming, Stomachic, Antispasmodic, Diaphoretic, Nervine, Vasodilator

    LEARN MORE

  • Saffron

    Saffron has these Actions in Common

    Carminative, Emmenagogue, Skin-tonic, Anxiolytic, Diaphoretic, Nervine, Spleen-tonic, Blood-thinner, Digestive, Sedative, Stomachic

    LEARN MORE

  • Cloves

    Cloves has these Actions in Common

    Analgesic, Carminative, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Vasodilator, Antispasmodic, Diaphoretic, Nervine, Anxiolytic, Digestive, Spleen-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Basil

    Basil has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Diaphoretic, Nervine, Anxiolytic, Digestive, Spleen-tonic, Anti-inflammatory, Carminative, Immune-calming, Vasodilator

    LEARN MORE

  • Ginger (Fresh)

    Ginger (Fresh) has these Actions in Common

    Carminative, Spleen-tonic, Antispasmodic, Digestive, Stomachic, Analgesic, Blood-thinner, Nervine, Vasodilator, Anti-inflammatory

    LEARN MORE

  • Rosemary

    Rosemary has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Emmenagogue, Spleen-tonic, Diaphoretic, Immune-calming, Stomachic, Analgesic, Digestive, Nervine, Vasodilator

    LEARN MORE

  • Lavender

    Lavender has these Actions in Common

    Analgesic, Boosts-gaba, Sedative, Antispasmodic, Makes-you-tired, Vasodilator, Anxiolytic, Nervine, Vulnerary

    LEARN MORE

  • Nigella (black cumin)

    Nigella (black cumin) has these Actions in Common

    Anti-inflammatory, Diaphoretic, Spleen-tonic, Antispasmodic, Digestive, Vasodilator, Analgesic, Carminative, Nervine

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Chamomile

  • Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

    Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

    Emmenagogue, Immune-calming, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Anti-inflammatory, Nervine, Antispasmodic, Sedative, Anxiolytic, Stomachic, Boosts-gaba, Vasodilator, Diaphoretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Dong Quai

    Dong Quai has these Actions in Common

    Boosts-gaba, Carminative, Digestive, Emmenagogue, Analgesic, Immune-calming, Anti-inflammatory, Nervine, Antispasmodic, Vasodilator, Blood-thinner

    LEARN MORE

  • Hops

    Hops has these Actions in Common

    Boosts-gaba, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Immune-calming, Analgesic, Nervine, Anti-inflammatory, Sedative, Anxiolytic

    LEARN MORE

  • Kava Kava

    Kava Kava has these Actions in Common

    Anxiolytic, Boosts-gaba, Digestive, Makes-you-tired, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Analgesic, Nervine, Anti-inflammatory, Sedative, Antispasmodic

    LEARN MORE

  • Lemon Balm

    Lemon Balm has these Actions in Common

    Boosts-gaba, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Immune-calming, Nervine, Analgesic, Sedative, Antispasmodic, Vasodilator, Anxiolytic

    LEARN MORE

  • Mugwort

    Mugwort has these Actions in Common

    Diaphoretic, Digestive, Emmenagogue, Analgesic, Nervine, Anti-inflammatory, Stomachic, Antispasmodic, Boosts-gaba, Carminative

    LEARN MORE

  • Angelica

    Angelica has these Actions in Common

    Diaphoretic, Digestive, Emmenagogue, Immune-calming, Nervine, Analgesic, Stomachic, Antispasmodic, Vasodilator, Blood-thinner

    LEARN MORE

  • Yarrow

    Yarrow has these Actions in Common

    Analgesic, Vasodilator, Anti-inflammatory, Vulnerary, Antispasmodic, Blood-thinner, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Immune-calming, Stomachic

    LEARN MORE

  • Ashwagandha

    Ashwagandha has these Actions in Common

    Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Nervine, Analgesic, Sedative, Anti-inflammatory, Vulnerary, Antispasmodic, Anxiolytic, Boosts-gaba, Immune-calming

    LEARN MORE

  • Lavender Essential Oil

    Lavender Essential Oil has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Anxiolytic, Boosts-gaba, Makes-you-tired, Nervine, Sedative, Vasodilator, Analgesic, Vulnerary

    LEARN MORE

  • Yogaraj Guggulu

    Yogaraj Guggulu has these Actions in Common

    Analgesic, Vasodilator, Anti-inflammatory, Antispasmodic, Anxiolytic, Blood-thinner, Carminative, Emmenagogue, Nervine

    LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

Guidelines - Preparation & Dose

1 dropper full 2x/day or as directed by your practitioner.
See guidelines for tinctures?

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Chamomile may temper these symptoms. The suitability of any herb supplement for a condition is highly dependent on the individual. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

CONTRAINDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Chamomile may be harmful or contraindicated for these symptoms. Note this is not a complete list of all possible contraindications. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

Herb Drug Interaction Risk

Here are some potential herb drug interactions with Chamomile. Please see your health care provider for more information.

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