I personally tested camomile tea for digestive ailments and found amazing results.

In Europe camomile is widely known as herbal tea, but not as well known for its importance as a skin and digestive remedy.

To put camomile extract on a wound probably sounds as uncool to the uninformed, as camomile intrinsically means "mother of the gut".

Yet the use of camomile as a herb has been proved in wound healing. It is a most effective hydrocortisone to support skin health - in creams, lotions and in bath water.

The herb has proven itself for wound healing in an open randomised trial (compared to 5 % dexpanthenol cream) in healing of episiotomy wounds.

Another trial compared several procedures for treating heamorrhoids and found that those who received an application of camomile ointment in conjunction with surgical procedures experienced best healing.

Camomile has anti-inflammatory potency and possesses calming action on the nervous system. It is an excellent sleeping aid. Put one tablespoon in a litre of boiled water, let stand for 10 minutes, strain and add to your natural supplement when struggling with asthmatic, arthritis and chronic bladder problems.

Its calminative effect is helpful in the case of digestive peristalsis, peptic ulcers, reflux, irritable bowel syndrome and stomach aches.

Camomile oil (chamazulene) contains a phytochemical (bisabolol) that has been shown in studies to be effective against diarrhea. Infusions may be used in enemas to clean the bowel and to douche where there is infection.

Drinking the teas may even have a positive effect on prostaglandin (hormonal) release - against pain.

Herbal eye packs may be given in cases of inflammation of the nasolacrimal duct and sac - and natural blonds can wash their hair with the tea to improve their light shading.

Add a third teaspoon of honey to a cup of tea and you could add camomile to your child's natural ADHD programme against hyperactivity.

In fact use of camomile seems to be great - just don't have this tea if you are allergic to the daisy family.

* The author, who is a medical scientist, can be contacted on the tele-phone number 021 975 3777.