Sunburn -- red, painful skin caused by excessive ultraviolet light, whether from sunlight or tanning bed-- usually develops within several hours of exposure. The MayoClinic website advises calling a doctor if your sunburn blisters, covers a large part of your body, or is accompanied by high fever, extreme pain or nausea. Mild sunburns can be treated with self-care; the website advises anti-inflammatory medications, cold compresses and moisturizing creams. Some herbalists recommend chamomile tea compresses to soothe sunburned skin. Consult your doctor before using chamomile tea for sunburn.
Features
Chamomile, botanically known as Matricaria recucita and also called German chamomile, is an annual plant native to Europe, North Africa and parts of Asia; it is cultivated in North America, and sometimes can be found growing wild. The white and yellow flower heads are dried and used in herbal remedies. University of Maryland Medical Center website states that the use of chamomile in herbal medicine dates back to the ancient Romans, Egyptians and Greeks.
Constituents and Effects
According to the Drugs website, which provides peer-reviewed medical information to consumers, the blue-colored essential oil of chamomile contains the anti-inflammatory substance alpha-bisabolol, as well as antioxidant flavonoids such as apigenin and luteolin. The website adds that chamomile is employed as a skin wash to promote granulation and encourage re-growth of skin in wounds and ulcers. University of Maryland Medical Center website states chamomile reduces inflammation provides antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral benefits. Blue Shield Complementary and Alternative Health states that chamomile has been approved by the German Commission E, a government agency which regulates herbal medicines in Europe, for use on skin to reduce swelling and fight bacteria.
Research
The Drugs website points out that clinical trials supporting chamomile's use have been limited, but there has been some scientific research supporting chamomile's anti-inflammatory effects. In a study conducted by Mayra Marinho Presibella and colleagues and published in the September 2006 issue of "Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology," researchers found that chamomile extracts inhibited human leukocyte chemotaxis, allowing it to inhibit inflammation as well as dexamethasone, an anti-inflammatory drug. The researchers concluded chamomile may play a role in reducing inflammatory symptoms and promoting wound healing.
Application
You can make a chamomile tea compress by pouring 1 cup of boiling water over 2 to 3 heaping tbsp. of the dried flower heads and steeping 15 minutes. After straining and cooling the liquid, moisten a clean gauze pad and apply to affected area.
Safety
The Drugs website states that you shouldn't use chamomile if you are allergic to ragweed, daisies, chrysanthemums, or any member of the aster family. Ask your doctor before using chamomile, as it can interact with prescription medications. If you are pregnant or breast feeding, you shouldn't use it at all the website states.
References
- MayoClinic: Sunburn Symptoms
- University of Maryland Medical Center: German Chamomile
- Drugs: Complete Chamomile Information
- Blue Shield Complementary and Alternative Health: Chamomile
- Scientific Electronic Library Online: Comparison of Chemical Constituents of Chamomilla Recitita Rauschert Essential Oil And Its Anti-chemotactic Activity
