Chamomile
Chamomile is a delicate looking plant with a longstanding use in herbal medicine. The fragrant flowerheads have been utilized for thousands of years. Many of chamomile’s benefits for health were already valued by ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians.
There are two main types, the more popular German chamomile and the lesser known Roman chamomile. Native to Europe, settlers took the plants with them to North America.
Well known for its calming effect, chamomile tea benefits stomach issues and frayed nerves. With over a million cups of chamomile tea consumed daily worldwide, it is one of the most popular herbal teas. Some studies suggest that chamomile tea may also lower blood sugar levels.
Chamomile essential oil can help with muscle spasms, inflammation of the skin, and certain bacterial skin conditions. No wonder that nowadays, it can also be found in many skin care products.
Origin and types
Chamomile is the common name for several plants of the daisy family (Asteraceae).
Two types are mainly used in herbal medicine, German and Roman chamomile. Both are native to Europe. However, settlers knew the chamomile plants’ benefits and took them to North America. Nowadays, people grow chamomile around the globe.
German chamomile is known as Matricaria recutita, Matricaria chamomilla or Chamomilla recutita. Commonly it is called German, Hungarian, Common, True, Blue, Wild, Sweet false or Scented chamomile, Matricaria or Scented mayweed.
Roman chamomile is known as Chamaemelum nobile but wasformerly classified asAnthemis nobilis. Its common names are Ground apple or English, Garden or Low chamomile.
Even though they belong to different species, both types are used to treat the same health issues.
What does the plant look like?
Although both herbs have white flowers with yellow centres, the plants can be easily distinguished.
The German species is an annual herb that very often self-seeds. It is an upright plant that can grow to 60 cm tall.
Its branching stems bear flowers and fern-like leaves. The flowers have white petals around a hollow, cone-shaped yellow centre.
The Roman species is a low growing perennial with feathery leaves. The flowers are sparse compared with the German species.
Only one flower grows atop each hairy stem. It has white petals around a yellow, slightly rounded disc. The herb is often used for ground cover and smells like apples when walked upon.
Where does the name come from?
The name chamomile is thought to come from the Greek words “chamai” (ground) and “mēlon” (apple). They relate to the apple scent of the low-growing herb.
The genus name Matricaria may be derived from the Latin word “matrix”. One of its meanings is “womb”. This seems to refer to the herb’s use to treat complaints such as menstrual cramps and PMS related discomforts.
Chamomile as a medicinal plant
Chamomile is one of the most widely used herbs. Its most common dosage form is tea, made from dried chamomile flowers.
One of the many health benefits of chamomile tea is that it can help people to relax and fall asleep. Only a few studies have tested chamomile tea as a sleep aid. One reported that it improved sleep quality and eased depression in postnatal women.
Several studies have linked chamomile tea to reduced intensity of menstrual cramps.
Another study found that chamomile extract benefits women with moderate breast pain. There is also some evidence that Matricaria recutita extract may have a moderate benefit for anxiety and depression. However, further studies are needed.
It is probably less known that chamomile herb not only benefits cramps and relaxes muscles, but also can help fight inflammation and bacteria.
This makes it very useful for various gastrointestinal complaints such as nausea, acid reflux, or flatulence. Research showed that drinking chamomile tea helped to reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
The herbal tea may also promote blood sugar control. Especially when consumed with a meal, the tea helps prevent blood sugar spikes after eating. Still, more research is needed.
Chamomile oil is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. Its anti-inflammatory properties seem to help with minor skin inflammations and speed up wound healing. Skin lightening is another of chamomile’s benefits for the skin.
Medicinal Properties of Chamomile
The herb and its active compounds are known for a range of activities, such as:
- inflammation reducing
- wound healing
- muscle spasms and cramp relieving
- mild sedative to calm nerves
- antioxidant (protecting cells against free radicals)
- pain relieving
- digestive relaxant
- antimicrobial
How or what it is used for
Enjoying a soothing cup of tea is certainly the most popular way to use this powerful herb.
Essential oil can be diffused at home. When diluted, the oil can be used to soothe skin conditions.
Inhaling steam with chamomile flower extract not only benefits the skin but can also help with common cold symptoms.
Mouthwash can help with cavities and inflamed gums. Herbal extracts can help relieve digestive issues.
Health Canada approves its use in herbal medicine to help
- Relieve inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract
- Relieve mild digestive upset (such as dyspepsia, flatulence, bloating)
- Relieve restlessness and/or nervousness (calmative)
How or what it is used for
Chamomile has been traditionally used to help with many different conditions and purposes, including:
- Mild anxiety disorders and depressions
- PMS symptoms and other menstrual ailments
- Sleep issues
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Inflammatory conditions
- Muscle spasms
- Skin irritations and infections
- Wounds, bruises, and burns
Medicinal Properties of Chamomile
Health Canada approves its use in herbal medicine to help
- Relieve inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract
- Relieve mild digestive upset (such as dyspepsia, flatulence, bloating)
- Relieve restlessness and/or nervousness (calmative)
Drinking chamomile tea is certainly the most popular way to use this powerful herb. But there are many more possible uses besides enjoying a healthy, soothing cup of tea. Essential oil can be diffused at home. Steam vapor from flowerheads can be inhaled. Compresses can be made for wound-healing, and oil used topically to soothe skin conditions. Mouth wash can help with cavity and inflamed gums. Herbal extracts are also available and can help relieve digestive issues.
How does it work?
The herb’s healing properties come from its daisy-like flowers. They contain over 120 different components including oils. The German and Roman variety produce essential oils that have different colours and properties.
The freshly distilled oil of the German variety is blue and smells smoky. The reason for the blue color is a substance called chamazulene. This compound is formed during steam distillation and cannot be found in the fresh flowers.
It helps reduce inflammations together with another substance called alpha-bisabolol. Both compounds are skin soothing and act against certain bacteria. They are the reason for chamomile’s beauty benefits. Additionally, bisabolol causes smooth muscle relaxation.
The oil from the Roman variety is colorless or very pale blue to green and turns yellow with storage. It contains mostly substances that are known to smooth muscle spasms.
Another important compound is apigenin. It binds to receptors in the brain that may reduce anxiety and promote sleep. This might be the reason for the calming effects of this herbal tea.
Cautions and drug interactions
Chamomile is generally considered safe for most people. However, it is not suitable for people with allergies to members of the daisy family, including ragweed, asters and chrysanthemums.
In rare cases, irritation upon contact can be triggered. Stop use if hypersensitivity or allergic reactions occur.
Chamomilla might potentiate the effects of anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs as well as drugs or herbs with sedative properties.
German chamomile may also act like estrogen in the body. It should be used with caution in people with a hormone-sensitive condition.
It is always recommended to check with your healthcare provider before adding herbal products or essential oils to your routine. Especially if you are pregnant, nursing or have any specific health concerns.
Disclaimer
Pascoe Canada does not offer health or medical advice as we are not a healthcare practitioner. Please speak with your healthcare practitioner before beginning any program related to nutrition, diet, exercise, fitness, medical, and/or wellness. All content published by Pascoe Canada is developed through collaborating with licensed medical professionals and contributors. This includes text, graphics, images, and other material on the website, newsletter, and products (“Content”). This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The content does not substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please always do your own research on whether this is for you along with your healthcare practitioner advice. Always consult your healthcare practitioner prior to use specific herbs because you might have underlined conditions needs professional care. The content is general in nature and are subject to change. It is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects.
Chamomile as a medicinal plant
Chamomile is one of the most widely used herbs. Its most common dosage form is a hot water infusion, known as tea. For tea, the flowers are harvested as they open and then dried. The dried chamomile flowers can be infused into hot water to make chamomile tea. The yellow flowerheads can also be used in many other forms such as herbal extracts, oils, tinctures, and creams.
Chamomile tea is a caffeine-free beverage that is traditionally used to help people relax and fall asleep. Only few clinical trails were done testing chamomile tea as sleep aid. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial in sleep disturbed postnatal women found that drinking chamomile tea helped to ease depression and sleep quality problems. Several studies have linked chamomile tea to reduced severity of menstrual cramps. A 2010 study in 80 female students suffering from dysmenorrhea showed that consuming chamomile tea for a month could reduce the pain of menstrual cramps. Women in the study also reported less anxiety and distress associated with period pain. Another clinical study in 60 patients with mastalgia concluded that chamomile extract is a well-tolerated and effective treatment for women with moderate breast pain. There is also some evidence that Matricaria recutita extract may have a moderate anti-anxiety benefit and antidepressant action, but further studies are needed.
Although best known as a muscle relaxant and antispasmodic, camomile also has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Chamomile tea contains the antioxidant apigenin, which may help lower inflammation. This anti-inflammatory effect of the herbal tea may also promote blood sugar control. Especially when consumed with a meal, the tea helps preventing blood sugar spikes after eating. Some promising results of in test-tube and animal studies showed that chamomile extract may also reduce the risk of several types of cancer. Still, more research in humans is needed.
Chamomile’s combined anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic actions can also help with various gastrointestinal complaints. The herb is especially helpful in relieving nausea, heartburn, and stress-related flatulence. It relaxes the muscles that move food through the intestines. Studies in pre-clinical models suggest that chamomile oil inhibits Helicobacter pylori, the bacteria that can contribute to stomach ulcers. For external use, it might help with minor skin inflammations and speed wound healing. Some research has documented that it may be as effective as hydrocortisone cream for eczema. The antiseptic properties of the oil seem to be effective in certain bacterial skin diseases as well as respiratory tract inflammation. Studies indicate that inhaling steam with chamomile extract has been helpful in common cold symptoms.