Starwest Herbal Fluid Extracts are made to exacting standards, such as those of the German Pharmacopoeia, with a Certified Organic grain alcohol base.

Starwest Herbal Extracts are convenient to use, an excellent alternative to herb tea or capsules. Made by a cold process method that extracts the maximum amount of vitamins, minerals, and active constituents of the herb.

Our extracts have a herb strength of 1 to 1 and a 30% alcohol content; the fresh extracts are a 1 to 2 ratio with a 50% alcohol content.

Our extensive line of herbal extracts are mostly Certified Kosher, including some Fresh, Responsibly
Wildcrafted (WC) and many Certified Organic - all grown in compliance with the National Organic Program.

The 1997 Commission E on Phytotherapy and Herbal Substances of the German Federal Institute for Drugs recommends Chamomile for 'External: Skin and mucous membrane inflammations, as well as bacterial skin diseases, including those of the oral cavity and gums. Inflammations and irritations of the respiratory tract (inhalations). Ano-genital inflammation (baths and irrigation). Internal: Gastrointestinal spasms and inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.'

'Dosage: Boiling water (ca. 150 ml) is poured over a heaping tablespoon of chamomile (ca. 3 g), covered, and after 5 - 10 minutes passed through a tea strainer. Unless otherwise prescribed, for gastrointestinal complaints a cup of the freshly prepared tea is drunk three or four times a day between meals. For inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat, the freshly prepared tea is used as a wash or gargle.'

'External: For poultices and rinses, 3 - 10 percent infusions; As a bath additive, 50 g - 10 liters (approximately 2-½ gallons) water; Semi-solid formulations with preparations corresponding to 3 - 10 percent herb. Mode of Administration: Liquid and solid preparations for external and internal application.'

'Actions: Antiphlogistic; Musculotropic; Antispasmodic; Promotes wound healing; Deodorant; Antibacterial; Bacteriostatic; Stimulates skin metabolism.'

Modern clinical studies have confirmed that German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) and Roman chamomile (Anthemis nobilis) share many of the same constituents, and that chamomile does indeed live up to its traditional reputation.

Chamomile contains numerous volatile oils and flavonoids which contribute to the herb's anti- antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, and muscle relaxing action, especially in the gastrointestinal tract.

Taken as a tea or liquid extract, chamomile can alleviate intestinal pain from gas, heartburn, and ulcers.

Double-blind studies of topical applications of chamomile have shown it to be moderately effective in the treatment of such skin problems as bed sores and eczema. Chamomile ointment can help reduce symptoms of psoriasis and help heal burns.

Chamomile baths are a wonderful skin treatment.

The inhaled steam from an infusion or decoction helps alleviate cold symptoms, and the tea or decoction itself can be used as a mouthwash or gargle to help reduce pain from gum disease or mouth sores.

The traditional herbalists, of course, stress chamomile’s main traditional function – that of a safe and soothing nervine with positive gastrointestinal effects.

Grieve's classic 'A Modern Herbal': 'The flowers of the German Chamomile, though aromatic, have a very bitter taste. They contain a volatile oil, a bitter extractive and little tannic acid.'

'Medicinal Action and Uses: Carminative, sedative and tonic. The infusion of ½ oz. of the dried flowers to 1 pint of boiling water may be given freely in teaspoonful doses to children, for whose ailments it is an excellent remedy.'

'It acts as a nerve sedative and also as a tonic upon the gastro-intestinal canal. It proves useful during dentition in cases of earache, neuralgic pain, stomach disorders and infantile convulsions. The flowers may also be used externally as a fomentation.'

'Preparations: Fluid extract: dose, ¼ to 1 drachm.'

'King’s 1898 Dispensatory: 'Matricaria is usually listed as having properties similar to anthemis, but of less activity. It has, however, come to be preferred over the latter by Eclectic practitioners, and is now an important remedy with us, particularly in affections of young children.'

'It has two particular specific fields of action—one upon the nervous system, subduing nervous irritability, and the other upon the gastro-intestinal tract, relieving irritation. Upon the nervous system its action is most pronounced, affecting both the sensory and motor nerves. It is peculiarly adapted to the nervous manifestations of dentition, and in other affections where there seems to be a morbid susceptibility to pain. Earache, rheumatic and neuralgic pains, abdominal neuroses, etc., are relieved by it when the nervous apprehension is all out of proportion to the actual amount of pain experienced. A matricaria patient is restless, irritable, discontented, and impatient, and, if a child, is only appeased when continually carried.'

'In pregnancy, it relieves nervous twitching, cough, false pains, etc., accompanied by great unrest. It should be borne in mind, however, that it is not the gross dose of matricaria that will overcome these morbid, nervous phenomena, but the small, or almost minute dose. It is one of those agents, and we have many, that exert their peculiar effects only in small doses, yet can be used without harm in large doses, but without the peculiar benefit derived from the smaller amounts. It relieves the erethism producing hysteria—a little slowly, perhaps, but its effects are lasting—and for the conditions that threaten infantile convulsions, during dentition, it is one of the most certain of drugs. After the spasms have supervened, it is not equal to gelsemium or lobelia.'

'In the summer diarrhoea of irritation (not of atony), it becomes an important remedy. The condition will probably not be without call for other specifics, but the indications for matricaria will be distinct. There is marked irritability, the child is peevish and fretful, the stools extremely fetid...'

'Alone, or associated with phytolacca, it relieves soreness and swelling of the breasts in infants, and is useful in suppression of the lacteal secretion. It is a remedy for flatulent colic with distension.'

'Either small or large doses of matricaria (specific or infusion) are of value in amenorrhoea, with sense of weight and heaviness in the womb, and bloating of the abdomen, accompanied with sudden nervous explosions of irascibility. The infusion, given to the extent of producing free diaphoresis, relieves dysmenorrhoea, with labor-like pains, and tends to prevent the formation of clots.'

'Various painful conditions, due to contracting colds, are relieved by matricaria infusion associated with aconite. Among these may be mentioned earache, rheumatism, catarrhal affections of the bowels, ears, nose, and eyes. Locally, it has been used as a wash for leucorrhoea, mammary abscess, ulcerating bubo, and catarrhal conjunctivitis.'

'For topical application and internal administration, an infusion may be used. For its gross action, it may be given freely, but for specific purposes, teaspoonful doses of an infusion of half the above strength will give the best results. Specific matricaria is given in doses of a fraction of a drop to 30 drops.'

American Materia Medica, 1919 (Ellingwood): 'Matricaria is conspicuously a child's remedy, but not distinctly so. A few drops in half of a glass of water, given every few minutes in dram doses, will quiet extreme restlessness and irritability. The general soothing effect is satisfactory. It especially controls certain forms of colic. Peevish children and those who are continuously fretting, or crying out and who demand constant care are benefited by this remedy.'

'It influences the membranes of the gastro-intestinal tract. It is advisable when the patient has contracted a cold, or when there is general chilliness; when the symptoms of la grippe in children are present, especially where there is disturbed condition of the digestion, inducing diarrhea sour eructations or acid vomiting and colicky pains.'