Can pregnant women drink chamomile infusion? Chamomile tea during pregnancy

Even in ordinary life Almost everyone turns to this simple healing flower almost always. Pharmaceutical chamomile has a number of medicinal properties, which puts it at the top of the list of the most popular medicinal plants.

We are accustomed to using chamomile for children and the elderly, externally and internally, with preventive and therapeutic purpose and even simply because it smells nice and tastes wonderful.

Therefore, for many women, the question of treatment during pregnancy is not raised at all: if chamomile can help, then first of all they turn to it. But imagine our surprise when we suddenly read on the packaging that the use of chamomile is contraindicated during pregnancy. And in general, regarding its use during pregnancy, you can find a lot of contradictory statements.

So what to do? Is chamomile beneficial for expectant mothers and babies or does it pose a real threat to them?

What are the benefits of chamomile during pregnancy?

In fact, chamomile is useful and desirable even in such a crucial and difficult period as bearing a child. Moreover, when used correctly, it is safe throughout the entire 9 months of pregnancy. So if you are used to chamomile-based cosmetics (add it to creams, rinse your hair with infusion, wipe your face) or like to pamper yourself with a cup of aromatic chamomile tea, be absolutely calm. And if you were previously indifferent to chamomile, then we advise you to make friends with it. After all, for expectant mother it can serve you well. Here is an incomplete list of how chamomile can be useful during pregnancy:

  • Calms the nervous system: great way relieve overexcitement, overcome apathy or.
  • Relieves pain: Chamomile tea will also help relieve stomach cramps and other pain.
  • Helps with bloating, excessive gas, constipation.
  • Able to relieve signs of toxicosis, in particular.
  • It has a wound-healing, antiseptic, bactericidal anti-inflammatory effect, therefore it is recommended for treating wounds and skin inflammations, rinsing the mouth and washing the genitals.
  • For stomatitis and other diseases of the oral cavity, rinsing with chamomile decoction is recommended.
  • For diseases of the upper respiratory tract You can gargle and use chamomile.
  • For diseases and inflammations of the genital organs, you can use decoctions and infusions of chamomile for washing, douching, compresses and baths.
  • Chamomile reduces joint inflammation.
  • It is a source of calcium and magnesium.

Use of chamomile during pregnancy:

- chamomile decoction

One of the most common “chamomile” remedies is a decoction of the flowers. medicinal plant. It is useful for normalizing work nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, and also has pronounced antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Preparing a chamomile decoction is not difficult at all:

  1. Pour half a liter of purified water into 20 g of dried chamomile flowers and cook over low heat. After 5 minutes, turn off, cover with a lid and leave to brew for another 15 minutes. Strain before using.
  2. Pour one glass of boiling water over 4 tablespoons of chamomile flowers and simmer over low heat, covering with a lid. After half an hour, remove the broth from the heat, open the lid and let cool slightly for 10 minutes. Strain and use as needed. The broth should be stored in the refrigerator, but no more than 2 days.

- chamomile infusion

Even more in a simple way preparing chamomile is its infusion. This remedy can also be used internally and externally:

  • Pour 2 teaspoons of chamomile flowers into one glass of boiling water and leave to steep for 3 hours. It is convenient to do this in a thermos. Strain before use.

It is best to take chamomile infusion warm. However, do not forget that infusions and decoctions from medicinal plants have very wide range applications. Internal use is just one way to extract benefits from a natural medicine cabinet.

- gargling with chamomile

Chamomile can simply become an indispensable remedy during acute respiratory viral infection epidemics, especially in the first trimester, when any medications are prohibited for use by expectant mothers.

If you experience the slightest feeling of discomfort or sore throat, gargle with chamomile infusion as often as possible - optimally approximately every 2 hours. For a sore throat, gargling with chamomile is also very helpful and is a safe method of treatment during pregnancy.

You can gargle with either a decoction or an infusion - prepared according to any of the recipes. Also, these remedies can and should be used for various diseases of the oral cavity, gums and teeth - chamomile disinfects areas of bacterial growth and promotes faster healing of mucous and skin surfaces.

- douching with chamomile

Many women use chamomile, preparing solutions for douching as part of the treatment of various genitourinary infections and inflammation. But during pregnancy, such therapy is contraindicated - regardless of the substance used, douching is not recommended for pregnant women, as it can provoke increased uterine activity and lead to miscarriage.

But there is an alternative - sitz baths with chamomile. They are especially useful for hemorrhoids and inflammation of the vagina, but there are some caveats: firstly, the water should not be hot (all for the same reason of possible tone), and secondly, before using this method of treatment, you should still consult a doctor.

Contraindications

As you can see, the spectrum of action of pharmaceutical chamomile is very wide, so you should not forget about it during the period of bearing a child, and even more so, refuse to use this wonderful plant.

But to extract only the benefits from chamomile, you should use it wisely. Regarding external use, only individual intolerance to the plant can cause concern. But you need to be extremely careful when taking decoctions and teas internally. In particular, chamomile can cause allergic reactions in the form of skin rashes and itching; in rare cases, intolerance to the plant is observed in the form of weakness and headaches, irritability and attacks of aggression.

Caution should be exercised when taking chamomile internally. increased acidity stomach and tendency to diarrhea. And with anacid gastritis, it is better to completely stop using it.

Is it possible to drink chamomile tea during pregnancy?

As for pure chamomile tea, it is necessary to make a weak infusion and not overuse it. An expectant mother can afford no more than two glasses of this drink per day, but it is better not to reach the maximum, but to drink weak chamomile teas occasionally, from time to time. Excessive use of chamomile internally can respond to you and. This is because chamomile decoctions and infusions promote the production of estrogens, which actually tone the uterus, causing the threat of miscarriage.

To avoid this, simply do not overuse chamomile teas. And always pay attention to the composition of herbal teas during pregnancy: in addition to chamomile, they may contain a number of “dangerous” plants.

Especially for- Elena Kichak

Pharmaceutical chamomile is an additional source of magnesium and calcium, affordable for everyone. The plant is widely used by pregnant women for both external and internal use. Teas, decoctions and infusions are prepared from it, and used for inhalation. Judicious use of medicines made from chamomile can solve many health problems that women experience while pregnant.

What are the benefits of chamomile for pregnant women?

Pharmaceutical chamomile can significantly improve the overall health of a woman during pregnancy. But before self-medicating, you need to consult with a gynecologist monitoring the course of pregnancy. The medicinal plant is recommended for pregnant women if problems such as:

  1. 1. Toxicosis. Infusions and tea with chamomile help cope with attacks of nausea that trouble the expectant mother in the early stages of pregnancy. Drinking drinks eliminates odor intolerance and promotes relief general condition, relieves weakness.
  2. 2. Cold. A decoction of chamomile flowers and the use of inhalations will help destroy pathogenic bacteria, in as soon as possible cure colds and prevent infection with ARVI.
  3. 3. Insomnia and psychological stress. Drinking medicinal drinks normalizes sleep. Chamomile therapy helps calm the nervous system, which has a positive effect on the development of the fetus and the health of the expectant mother, and prevents stress, chronic fatigue and the development of depression.
  4. 4. Increased gas formation and bloating. Drinks with an extract of a medicinal plant normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, eliminate heartburn and stomach pain, and are effective against diarrhea and diarrhea.
  5. 5. Thrush. You can get rid of candidiasis by washing and bathing with chamomile infusion.

Chamomile drinks help with swelling. Their use is especially useful for later pregnancy: decoctions, teas and infusions help reduce the load on the kidneys, therefore preventing the occurrence of swelling.

The plant is used to improve the condition of the skin - it is enough to wipe your face with chamomile infusion several times a day. Hair rinsing chamomile decoction after washing your hair will lead to their significant strengthening.

How to use a medicinal plant during pregnancy?

Dried flowers can be purchased at any pharmacy or prepared yourself. They need to be stored in a dry place. Depending on the purpose of use, chamomile should be used as follows:

  1. 1. When you have a cold, it is recommended to drink chamomile decoction, gargle and inhale. To prepare a drinking drink, you need to pour 1 tbsp. spoon of dried flowers with half a liter of water and keep on low heat for 5-8 minutes. After this time, the liquid should be left under a closed lid to infuse for 30-40 minutes. The finished broth should be filtered and consumed warm, half a glass three times a day, drinking in small sips. Taking it will help bring down the temperature, eliminate headache and cough.
  2. 2. To prepare liquid for inhalation, you need 1 tbsp. spoon medicinal herb pour a glass of boiling water and leave for 8-10 minutes. It is necessary to breathe warm steam, since too hot air can burn the oral mucosa. The duration of the procedure is at least 10 minutes. It is advisable to eat 1.5-2 hours before inhalation, since after it you cannot eat for 60 minutes. It is not recommended to go outside for an hour. The optimal number of inhalations per day should not exceed 2 times.
  3. 3. If your throat hurts and you have a strong cough, you should use a gargle. To prepare the medicine you need to brew 3 tbsp. spoons of dry raw materials with a glass of boiling water and leave for 30 minutes. It is necessary to gargle with strained warm liquid 4 times a day with a break of 2 hours.
  4. 4. Drinking the above-mentioned decoction and chamomile tea drink helps against toxicosis. You can buy tea bags sold in pharmacies and grocery stores. But it’s better to prepare it yourself at home from dried flowers, brewing at the rate of 2 teaspoons per half liter of boiling water. You should drink 1 glass of decoction or tea in the morning on an empty stomach.
  5. 5. To normalize digestion and get rid of swelling of the legs, you need to drink an infusion of chamomile. To prepare it, you should pour 2 dessert spoons of the raw material in the evening with half a liter of boiling water and leave to infuse until the morning. The finished product should be strained and consumed 1 glass before breakfast.
  6. 6. To get rid of insomnia and prevent depression, you should drink chamomile infusion prepared according to the following recipe: brew 2 teaspoons of chamomile with half a liter of boiling water, leave for 12 hours and strain. The finished product should be consumed an hour before dinner, 1 glass.
  7. 7. To treat thrush, baths and washes with chamomile infusion are recommended. To prepare it, 5 tbsp. spoons of herbs should be brewed in 1 glass of boiling water, leave covered for 2 hours and strain. You can wash yourself with this product no more than 2 times a day.
  8. 8. To take a bath, add a decoction prepared as follows to the bathing water: pour half a glass of flowers with a liter of boiling water, simmer over low heat for 20 minutes, leave for 3 hours and strain. The water procedure should last no more than 15 minutes. Women should not take a hot bath while pregnant: it can cause swelling, premature birth or oxygen starvation in the fetus.

Decoctions and infusions should be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 2 days.

Women expecting the birth of a child are allowed to drink no more than 2 glasses of chamomile drinks per day. In this case, the product should not be too strong, and the total duration of its use cannot exceed 1-1.5 weeks. Ignoring these rules can lead to premature birth.

Contraindications

Chamomile during pregnancy can be not only beneficial, but also dangerous. Therefore, before using a medicinal plant, it is necessary to study the instructions for use and take into account any existing contraindications. Pregnant women are not recommended to resort to treatment with the plant in the following cases:

  1. 1. In case of individual intolerance and tendency to allergic reactions. If you have such characteristics of the body, taking medications that contain chamomile can lead to anaphylactic shock.
  2. 2. If there is a threat of miscarriage. If a woman has already had miscarriages, then, if she becomes pregnant again, she should refuse treatment with chamomile medicinal products for the entire period of gestation.
  3. 3. For stomach diseases. In the presence of diseases such as gastritis and ulcers, chamomile can provoke their exacerbation. The medicinal plant is contraindicated for frequent diarrhea.

Treatment with herbal remedies is prohibited during the first 4 weeks of pregnancy. Taking chamomile drinks can provoke increased uterine tone, which can lead to miscarriage in the first trimester. They are safest to use in the second trimester. But if you experience pain in the lower abdomen or the presence of vaginal discharge, you should stop taking it and consult a gynecologist.

Douching with chamomile during pregnancy is not recommended; it can only be done with the permission of the supervising gynecologist. The use of alcohol tinctures and essential oils by a pregnant woman is prohibited.

Thus, in order for the medicinal plant not to harm the body, you must strictly adhere to the rules for its use. When used wisely, chamomile will bring significant benefits to the health of a pregnant woman, help get rid of most problems that arise during pregnancy and prevent the development of many diseases.

During pregnancy, you should not drink chamomile in any form. If they enter the bloodstream, the active components of chamomile preparations can have undesirable effects on the uterus, which can lead to a threat to the pregnancy itself.

Taking chamomile during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage and premature birth

Likewise, pregnant women should not add chamomile to inhalation solutions, since the active components of the plant from the lungs can also enter the bloodstream and lead to similar dangerous side effects.

During pregnancy, chamomile can only be used externally to treat skin and hair. It is also allowed to wash the labia majora with it, rinse the mouth and instill chamomile preparations into the nose and eyes.

Theoretically, a doctor may decide to prescribe a pregnant woman to take chamomile orally if the benefits of such use outweigh the expected risk. However, such a prescription is almost never made, since the benefits of chamomile for any disease are not so significant that one could risk the safety of pregnancy for its sake.

Most reputable sources on remedies traditional medicine, indicate pregnancy as a clear contraindication for taking chamomile preparations. WHO reports that chamomile has no effect on the fetus, but does not recommend drinking it for pregnant women.

How can chamomile be dangerous during pregnancy?

Chamomile when taken orally and when ingested separately active ingredients into the bloodstream can stimulate uterine activity and contractions. According to researchers, chamomile preparations can lead to miscarriages and cause premature birth.

Birth of a child weighing less than 2.5 kg - possible consequence taking chamomile preparations in late pregnancy.

This outcome is possible if chamomile decoction, tea or infusion enters the digestive tract and its components are absorbed into the blood.

A similar effect can be observed when chamomile is added to an inhalation solution in a steam inhaler or nebulizer. At the same time, when entering the lower respiratory tract, some active components of chamomile can also be absorbed into the blood and have the same effect as when entering the digestive tract.

According to WHO, chamomile preparations do not have any teratogenic effect, either when taken orally or when used as an inhalation agent. Consequently, these drugs have no effect on the fetus, and their main and currently only known danger lies in possible stimulation muscular activity of the uterus with all its undesirable consequences.

In rare cases. Such situations are very rare, but possible and are regularly documented. Despite the fact that this plant is often used to relieve allergy symptoms, some pregnant women may experience hypersensitivity to its active components, and even applying chamomile to the skin, not to mention taking it internally, will cause a characteristic reaction.

At what time is this remedy especially undesirable?

It is most dangerous to use chamomile in the early stages of pregnancy and in the last trimester.

In the first trimester of pregnancy, chamomile tea, decoction or infusion can lead to a miscarriage even before the woman herself realizes that she is pregnant, when the miscarriage itself can be difficult to distinguish from heavy menstrual flow. However, there are known cases of such involuntary termination of an already identified pregnancy.

In later stages, chamomile can lead to premature labor and the birth of a child. ahead of schedule. Often in such cases it is necessary to refer the mother for preservation in order to ensure full maturation of the fetus and its birth at normal times. Throughout the 3rd trimester, the likelihood of such an undesirable effect from taking chamomile preparations is very high, but it increases as labor approaches. At 38-39 weeks it is especially high, and drinking chamomile tea at this time is strictly prohibited.

Which types of chamomile are more dangerous?

Roman chamomile differs from pharmaceutical chamomile in having less tall heads of inflorescences

It is believed that the most dangerous during pregnancy is Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile), a species related to chamomile and having similar pharmacological properties. Its stimulating effect on the uterus is so pronounced that its drugs are officially included in the list of contraindications for use in pregnant women by the US National Institutes of Health.

However, chamomile (most often used in Russia and the post-Soviet space) should also not be taken by pregnant women, since the consequences of taking it differ little from those of Roman chamomile. In all literary sources, it is chamomile that is described as a remedy that is contraindicated during gestation.

Which plant preparations and in what use are clearly prohibited during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, the expectant mother is strictly contraindicated:

  1. Drink chamomile tea or decoction (essentially the same thing), including purchased and brewed in bags;
  2. Take chamomile infusion internally, both aqueous and alcoholic, or on any other basis;
  3. Drink various teas and decoctions that contain chamomile as one of the components. For example, a very popular recipe for tea with propolis, sage, marshmallow and chamomile should not be consumed during pregnancy;
  4. Breathe chamomile over the pan or add its preparations to the solution for inhalation with a nebulizer. In both cases, it is possible for the active components of the drug to enter the lower respiratory tract, but when inhaled with a nebulizer, this probability is much higher (the nebulizer is designed specifically for treating the lungs and bronchi with a medicinal solution);
  5. Do enemas with chamomile;
  6. . The danger of these procedures lies both in the likelihood of miscarriage or premature birth, and in the fact that when douching, pregnant women are more likely to have a low-weight baby (less than 2.5 kg) than if they refuse such procedures.

It is important to understand that the amounts and concentrations of chamomile preparations taken by a woman affect the likelihood of unwanted effects. The more often a pregnant woman drinks tea or infusion and the stronger it is, the greater the likelihood of miscarriage or premature birth. This, however, does not mean that if you drink chamomile infusion rarely, it will be relatively safe: if such a drink is not habitual for the body, it can act even in minimal doses and concentrations.

How can pregnant women take chamomile?

During pregnancy, chamomile can be taken in all forms that involve applying preparations to the skin or external mucous membranes. For example, with the same chamomile decoction or infusion you can:

Chamomile poultices are quite acceptable during pregnancy, as long as they are not used to warm the abdominal cavity.

  1. Lubricate various rashes and abscesses on the skin;
  2. Treat skin for allergies;
  3. Rinse your mouth and throat without swallowing the broth itself;
  4. Rinse your nose, wipe and rinse your eyes, wash your hair;
  5. Treat wounds and ulcers, extinguish the edges of deep tissue cuts;
  6. Make lotions, baths, poultices;

Simply put, procedures are acceptable in which chamomile does not enter the digestive tract or respiratory tract. Provided that the pregnant woman is not allergic to chamomile, such procedures will be harmless and safe for both the fetus and the pregnancy itself. If characteristic allergy symptoms appear during such procedures, the use of chamomile should be discontinued.

Why shouldn’t you be especially worried about using chamomile during pregnancy?

At the same time, the inadmissibility of using chamomile during pregnancy is not at all critical. Today there is not a single disease known that could not be cured without chamomile; chamomile itself is not an essential medicine for almost any pathology. This means that during gestation it is quite possible to do without chamomile tea or infusion and giving them up will not lead to any significant consequences.

Nasal rinsing is a normal daily practice for yogis. If such procedures are carried out with chamomile decoction, they will prevent bacterial infections and cleanse the nasal mucosa of impurities and allergens.

For example, for a cold (acute rhinitis), taking chamomile tea internally does not have any therapeutic effect. For this disease, rinsing the nose with chamomile decoction and gargling with it can be useful; they help reduce inflammation. But such washing and rinsing is quite acceptable and permitted during pregnancy.

For coughs associated with inflammation of the lower respiratory tract, inhalations with chamomile help to slightly reduce the inflammation. However, during pregnancy, chamomile for such procedures can easily be replaced by many other anti-inflammatory drugs based on herbs or pharmacological drugs. In addition, today there is no evidence of the effectiveness of chamomile when used for coughs: there are suggestions that it can help, but as a main medicine It is not used for any reason causing cough.

Therefore, if chamomile is not used during pregnancy, this will not affect the success of treatment of any pathologies. This means that you can be away from it during this period without any consequences.

What do different authors and researchers say about the use of chamomile during pregnancy?

The inadmissibility of using chamomile internally during pregnancy is indicated by most authors of works and books devoted to medicinal plants.

V. G. Kukes in the reference book “Phytotherapy with the Basics of Clinical Pharmacology” indicates pregnancy as a clear contraindication to taking chamomile.

James A. Duke, in his Handbook of Medicinal Plants, indicates that chamomile tea or infusion should not be used during pregnancy, but mentions Lininger's Natural Pharmacy, which indicates the possible permissibility of these remedies for some indications.

Newall in Herbal Medicine describes in detail the effects of chamomile on menstrual cycle and the ability to cause uterine contractions and early contractions. The book strictly states that the use of chamomile during pregnancy should be avoided.

  1. During pregnancy, chamomile should not be drunk, used as a solution for enemas and douching, used rectally or as a component of solutions for inhalation;
  2. Chamomile can be used topically during pregnancy by treating the skin, various rashes on it, rinsing the mouth, rinsing the nose and using it to wash hair;
  3. Chamomile preparations should not be taken during pregnancy at any time, but they are most dangerous at the beginning of pregnancy, when they can lead to miscarriage, and in the last weeks, when they can provoke premature birth;
  4. Avoiding chamomile during pregnancy is not at all critical in the treatment of any diseases. If it is not used, any pathologies can be eliminated without it.

Sources:

  • James A. Duke - Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. Second Edition. - CRC Press, 2002.
  • Herbal medicine with the basics of clinical pharmacology. - Edited by Academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences V. G. Kukes. - Moscow, “Medicine”, 1999.
  • Newall, C.A., Anderson, L.A., and Phillipson, J.D., Herbal Medicine - A Guide for Health-Care Professionals, The Pharmaceutical Press, London, 1996.
  • Lininger, S. et al. Eds., The Natural Pharmacy, Prima Publications, Rocklin, CA, 1998.

In the article we discuss chamomile during pregnancy. We tell you whether it can be taken in the early and late stages, and what contraindications there are for use. You will learn about the benefits and rules for using the product, how chamomile helps cope with coughs, colds, thrush, cystitis and sore throats.

Chamomile is one of the safest medicinal plants that can be used in the early and late stages of pregnancy. It is used to treat children, adults and the elderly. It is especially beneficial during pregnancy, since at this time the list of approved medications is quite small.

There are certain rules for using chamomile during pregnancy

When used correctly, it can be used throughout the entire period of bearing a child, not only for medicinal, but also for cosmetic purposes. For example, rinsing your hair with chamomile tea helps make it stronger and has a slight lightening effect.

The natural product has the following beneficial properties:

  • bactericidal;
  • painkiller - relieves stomach cramps;
  • calming - effectively eliminates stress, depression, apathy and overexcitation;
  • antiseptic;
  • eliminating the manifestations of toxicosis;
  • wound healing;
  • eliminating gases in the intestines;
  • anti-inflammatory.

Chamomile also enriches the body with important microelements such as calcium and magnesium, which are necessary for proper operation nervous and cardiovascular systems.

Indications

Apply any medicines and traditional medicine, including chamomile, during pregnancy should only be taken after consultation with a doctor. Firstly, this is necessary to exclude serious diseases that caused the illness. Secondly, the specialist will determine the exact course of treatment and use of the natural product.

Chamomile is usually prescribed for colds during pregnancy. It effectively copes with inflammatory processes of the upper respiratory tract during sore throat, flu, ARVI, acute respiratory infections - in this case it is used to gargle and inhale.

If a pregnant woman suffers from a runny nose, then rinsing the nose or using drops with chamomile infusion will help cope with the ailment. Chamomile tea helps relieve coughs, but during pregnancy you can drink no more than 2 cups a day.

For inflammatory ailments such as stomatitis, gingivitis and periodontitis, it is useful to use mouth rinses. This procedure relieves swelling and redness of soft tissues, and also soothes the mucous membrane. Thanks to the antiseptic and bactericidal properties of the product, the infection is eliminated.

Decoctions and infusions are prescribed for gastrointestinal diseases: colitis, flatulence, chronic gastritis. Chamomile eliminates increased gas formation, inflammation and muscle spasms.

The use of pharmaceutical chamomile is effective for infectious and inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary area. In these cases, it is used in the form of baths, douches and for washing. Such procedures quickly cope with discomfort and unpleasant sensations, but they will not be able to completely cure the disease; additional medications will be required.

It is useful to drink chamomile for problems with appetite, as it increases it and improves digestion. The active substances contained in the product activate the production of gastric juice, gently affecting the mucous membrane. In case of poisoning, the plant is used as an adsorbent that binds and removes toxins.

The antiseptic properties of chamomile allow it to be used internally and externally to treat damaged skin and mucous membranes.

Decoction and infusion recipes

Pharmaceutical chamomile can be used in various ways: externally, locally and internally. But first you need to prepare a decoction or infusion, which will later be used to treat certain diseases.

Infusion recipe

You will need:

  • water - 250 ml;
  • chamomile flowers - 2 tsp.

How to cook:

  1. Place the flowers in a thermos, then pour boiling water over them.
  2. Leave for 3 hours, then strain.

Decoction recipe

This decoction is best suited for internal use.

You will need:

  • dry chamomile inflorescences - 5 tbsp;
  • water - 0.5 l.

How to cook:

  1. Fill the inflorescences with water, then place the container on the fire.
  2. Boil for 5 minutes, then cover with a lid and leave for a quarter of an hour.
  3. Be sure to strain before using.

Concentrated decoction recipe

This product is best suited for local and external use.

You will need:

  • water - 250 ml;
  • dried chamomile flowers - 4 tbsp.

How to cook:

  1. Pour water over the chamomile and simmer the mixture over low heat for 30 minutes with the lid closed.
  2. Remove the lid and cool the broth. Strain before use.
  3. Store the product in the refrigerator in a closed container for up to 2 days.

Application

Below we will talk about ways to use infusion and decoction for various pathologies. Remember, consult a professional before using these products. An important rule When using the described products, the temperature of the decoction or infusion should not exceed 38 degrees, otherwise there is a risk of burns, increased inflammation or miscarriage.

Tea

Many expectant mothers are interested in whether it is possible to drink chamomile during pregnancy. Yes, but you must adhere to certain rules. Chamomile tea is prepared according to the decoction recipe. It is best to drink it warm, but not more than 450 ml per day. Regular consumption of this drink improves the functioning of the nervous system and strengthens the immune system.

If you don’t want to bother with preparing a decoction, then buy special chamomile tea at the pharmacy, made in the form of filter bags. Its cost ranges from 40-80 rubles per package of 20 sachets.

Gargling

It is necessary to rinse the mouth and throat after eating. Rinse your mouth with warm decoction or infusion for 30 seconds, carry out the procedure twice a day. After this, do not eat or drink for several hours.

Rinsing your nose with chamomile infusion will help relieve a runny nose.

Nasal rinsing

In the complete absence of nasal breathing, the procedure is prohibited. If it is there, at least partially, then use a special teapot, a syringe without a needle or a syringe for rinsing.

Nose drops

For nasal congestion and runny nose, drop 3-4 drops of concentrated broth into each nostril 3-5 times a day. It is not recommended to use instillations if you have an allergic or vasomotor rhinitis, as in this case you can only do harm.

Inhalations

For the procedure, you can use a nebulizer if its model allows the use of infusions and decoctions. If you don't have one, take a porcelain teapot and insert a paper cone into its spout. Breathe in pairs for 3-10 minutes.

Washing

If there are inflammatory processes on the skin or face, use decoctions or infusions. For traumatic lesions of the dermis, soak a cotton pad or gauze in the healing liquid, then blot the wound area.

Washing (gynecological baths)

Take a basin, pour 10 liters of warm water and 500 ml of chamomile decoction into it. Gently sit in the container for 10-20 minutes. This procedure is prescribed for inflammatory pathologies of the external genitalia. In some cases, washing with chamomile can alleviate conditions such as hemorrhoids, cystitis and thrush, but these ailments cannot be completely cured.

Douching

Despite the benefits of chamomile douching for genitourinary diseases, such procedures are prohibited during pregnancy, both in the early and late stages of pregnancy. This is due to the fact that douching can cause miscarriage or.

Contraindications

When used correctly, pharmaceutical chamomile will not harm the body of the expectant mother or fetus. The only exception for external use is the presence of individual intolerance.

You should be extremely careful when using the product internally, as chamomile can cause allergic reactions in the form of redness, rashes and itching. Less commonly, signs such as weakness and migraine, attacks of aggression and irritability may be observed.

If you have increased stomach acidity, a tendency to diarrhea and anacid gastritis, it is advisable to avoid using the product.

Pharmaceutical chamomile - effective and inexpensive remedy, which can cope with most diseases during pregnancy. Use it only strictly according to the rules so as not to harm either yourself or the baby.

Video: Chamomile tea

During pregnancy, a woman is deprived of the opportunity to use a large number of medications. And herbal medicine is also not always useful in her situation. One of the few herbs that is not only not harmful, but even recommended traditional medicine To solve some health problems in a pregnant woman, chamomile is used. It is suitable for external and internal use in any trimester of pregnancy, even in the later stages.

Content:

Benefits of chamomile for the expectant mother

With the help of chamomile, you can solve a number of problems that arise even in a healthy woman during pregnancy. These problems often turn out to be very stressful not only for her nervous system, but also for the general condition of the body. Therefore, you should not leave everything to chance, especially since the use of ordinary chamomile during pregnancy will help to significantly improve the well-being of the expectant mother:

  1. Will relieve toxicosis. Toxicosis is a constant companion of bearing a child, accompanied by vomiting, nausea, and intolerance to certain odors. Caused by changes occurring in a woman’s body.
  2. Normalizes the functioning of the digestive organs, relieves bloating and excessive gas formation. Expectant mothers often complain of these symptoms. This is due to the presence in the body of a pregnant woman higher level progesterone, which affects muscle tone. Its decrease causes congestion in the intestines or stomach.
  3. Will cure without medication colds. In force physiological reasons the expectant mother is more likely to catch a cold than before pregnancy. This is explained by the fact that her body itself suppresses its defense system so that fetal rejection does not occur.
  4. Relieves psycho-emotional stress. This condition is fraught negative impact not only on the mother’s health, but also on mental development future child.
  5. Normalizes sleep. Insomnia as a result of hormonal changes occurs in almost 80% of pregnant women. And by the end of the third trimester, this figure increases to 97%. This is not a very comforting statistic, considering that the lack of normal sleep negatively affects the condition of the expectant mother and the development of her baby. During pregnancy, doctors recommend sleeping pills only in very extreme cases, therefore, relief from exhausting insomnia can be obtained with the help of herbal infusions.

Video: Beneficial properties of chamomile

Chamomile recipes

Pharmacy chamomile is the most affordable and most versatile drug that will support a woman while she is expecting a child, relieve the unpleasant symptoms associated with her situation, and prevent the exacerbation of many chronic diseases.

Chamomile decoction to normalize the gastrointestinal tract, nervous system, and colds

Pour 500 ml of water into a tablespoon of dried flowers and place on very low heat. Turn off after 5 minutes. Cover with a lid to infuse. Strain the decoction when cooled to an acceptable drinking temperature. It is advisable to prepare the drink in a single dose, but if necessary, it can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than two days.

Baths and rinsing

For external and internal use of chamomile during pregnancy, infuse 3 tbsp in a thermos. l. raw materials, pouring a glass of boiling water over it. Cooking time – 3 hours. Strain immediately before use. To gargle with inflamed tonsils, you can add a couple of drops of iodine to the chamomile infusion. You should rinse with warm infusion every two hours, but at least four times a day. This product is suitable for warm sitz baths for various inflammatory processes, for inhalation.

Inhalations for colds

Brew a tablespoon of herb with a glass of boiling water, leave for 5-10 minutes to infuse. Do not inhale too hot steam to avoid burns to the oral mucosa. The duration of the procedure is up to 10 minutes. After it, you cannot eat or go outside for an hour, and it is undesirable to talk. Eating before inhalation should be one and a half to two hours. Carry out the procedure no more than twice a day to avoid excessive drying of the mucous membrane.

Important: It is advisable to carry out inhalations using a nebulizer or a teapot with a paper straw. A pregnant woman should not breathe over a pan of steam while covering herself with a towel. It is better for the steam to hit the throat purposefully.

For toxicosis

For exhausting toxicosis during pregnancy, chamomile is brewed overnight in a thermos (1 tablespoon per glass of water). In the morning, strain and drink on an empty stomach. After just a few days of taking chamomile infusion, most pregnant women experience unpleasant symptoms of nausea, weakness, craving for vomiting, and intolerance to certain odors.

Preparing chamomile for washing

To wash away hemorrhoids and thrush, brew 5 tbsp in a glass of boiling water. l. herbs. Leave covered for at least an hour. Strain and use as directed no more than twice a day.

Chamomile bath

For a soothing bath for insomnia or nervous tension, relaxing constant fatigue To relieve allergic rashes and dermatitis, prepare a chamomile decoction. Pour two handfuls of chamomile flowers into a liter of hot water. For insomnia, you can add an equal amount of motherwort to chamomile, for colds - linden, to support the immune system - raspberry or currant leaves. Simmer the herb over low heat for 15-20 minutes. Leave for at least three hours. Strain and pour into the bath. Take this bath for 15 minutes.

Video: Doctor Komarovsky on the treatment of ARVI in pregnant women

Note to expectant mothers

Although chamomile is the most versatile and non-aggressive herb, it should not be overused, especially during pregnancy. It is advisable to avoid too strong infusions or excessive amounts of them. Those who drink large quantities of chamomile tea should limit its consumption to two cups per day. And in order not to make a mistake in choosing a single dose of the herb, it is better to purchase packaged chamomile at the pharmacy, designed for a certain volume of water indicated on the package.

Important: Chamomile promotes the production of estrogen. An excess of this hormone in the body reduces the resting potential of the uterus, making it more susceptible to the action of another hormone, oxytocin, which is responsible for labor. Therefore abuse chamomile tea may cause premature birth.

Chamomile has many relatives that are visually very reminiscent of it, but do not have any medicinal properties: cornflower, pyrethrum, navel. And although chamomile and its closest relative, tongueless chamomile, which also has healing properties, the only ones of their kind that have a characteristic strong aroma, it is still better to purchase the herb only in pharmacies or from a trusted seller.

During the entire period of pregnancy, you should not take too hot baths. It is advisable to avoid hot foot baths, which can provoke reflex contractions of the uterus, which will cause premature labor. But even if this does not happen, then the rush of blood to the lowered ones is too hot water legs can cause swelling in a pregnant woman or oxygen starvation in an unborn child due to insufficient blood supply to the placenta.

Things to remember: Chamomile during pregnancy is allowed only in the form of water infusions and decoctions. Essential oils and alcohol tinctures are contraindicated.

Video: Which herbs are contraindicated during pregnancy

Contraindications

Chamomile is one of the few safest remedies during pregnancy. But even with her you need to be vigilant. After all, there are a number of contraindications for its use:

  1. Chamomile is not recommended for those with individual intolerance.
  2. Women who are prone to miscarriage, after several pregnancies that ended in miscarriage, should not consume chamomile teas or infusions with herbs included in them.
  3. You should avoid taking chamomile infusions and decoctions internally if you have increased stomach acidity and frequent diarrhea.

Chamomile during pregnancy can be used without restrictions only for external use. Taking herbal teas and douching, even with a positive pregnancy, should be discussed with a gynecologist. In no case should you ignore their quantity and duration of administration.