Updated 5 January 2024
Other botanical names
- Anthemis nobilis
Common origins
- Atlantic region of Europe (Portugal, Spain, France, UK, Ireland) and North Africa (Morocco, Algeria)
Botanical classification
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Magnoliophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Order: Asterales
- Family: Asteraceae
- Genus: Chamaemelum
Components
- Essential oil (up to 2%) mainly rich in esters, ketones, presence of chamazulene, bisabolol (very small amounts).
- Sesquiterpene lactones responsible for the bitter taste: nobilin and derivatives.
- Flavonoids: apigenin and derivatives, luteolin, apiin
- Phenolic acids: trans-caffeic acid, ferulic acid
- Polyines
Parts used
- Dried flowers (fragrant flower heads)
Organoleptic properties
- Aroma: pleasant, floral, penetrating, with hints of honey and apple.
- Taste: bitter
Properties
- Antispasmodic
- Anti-inflammatory
- Bitter tonic: aperitive, eupeptic, cholagogue
- Carminative
- Antipyretic
- Emmenagogue
- Soothing, antipruritic, vulnerary
- Relaxing, calming, sedative
Indications
Internal use
Digestive disorders:
Other indications:
- Liver and spleen congestion
- Hepato-biliary lithiasis
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Digestive or hepatic migraines
- Menstrual problems (pain, irregularity)
- Menopausal problems
- Neuralgia (especially facial neuralgia)
- General aches and pains
- Painful teething in babies and young children
- Intestinal parasites
- Nervousness
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Insomnia (especially of nervous origin)
External use
- Sore throat
- Mouth ulcers
- Stomatitis
- Oral hygiene
- Irritation of the eyes and eyelids
- Conjunctivitis
- Skin irritations and allergies
- Itching
- Wounds
- Burns
- Skin diseases
- Rheumatic and gouty pains
- Neuralgia
Precautions / Contraindications
- No special precautions are needed unless you are allergic to sesquiterpene lactones or plants in the Asteraceae family.
- Excessive consumption (especially of the essential oil) may cause side effects such as dizziness, nausea, vomiting, etc.
- Contraindicated for asthmatics and pregnant women
Interactions
- Anticoagulants
How to use / Current dose
Internal use
- As an infusion: 5 flower heads per cup. Leave to infuse for 10 minutes. Drink during the day for fever, 10 minutes before meals for its aperitif and digestive properties and in the evening for its relaxing effect. In large doses, the infusion may cause vomiting.
- It is often used in a mixture with other plants.
- In powder form: 2 to 5 g per day for migraine, 8 g for vermifuge, also used for recurrent fevers (2 to 4 g intermittently).
External use
- As mouthwash: concentrated infusion
- For eye compresses: 1 tablespoon in 125 ml of boiling water, infuse for 10 minutes, filter and allow to cool.
- In bath water: concentrated infusion, 50 g of flowers in 1 litre of water, infuse for 1 hour. For fatigue, nervousness, skin disorders, joint and muscle pain.
- Use as a hot compress with the whole plant to relieve neuralgia.
- Camomile maceration (mixed with other plants) for rheumatic pain or gout.
- Chamomile Roman essential oil
More about camomile
The term 'chamomile' is used to describe several plants belonging to different genera. The Latin name is therefore very important in determining which plant we are talking about.
To name the most well-known plants used in France, Chamaemelum nobile (Roman chamomile) should not be confused with Matricaria recutita (German chamomile) or Tanacetum partenium (feverfew).
The anti-inflammatory effect of Chamaemelum nobile is thought to be due to the presence of flavonoids combined with sesquiterpene lactones, unlike Matricaria which contains more azulene and bisabolol, which give it this effect.
Additional information
Habitat and botanical description
Roman chamomile (single variety) is commonly found in Western Europe up to an altitude of 1000 m, but also in other temperate regions of the world (North America). It prefers dry, sandy soils rich in silica and full sunlight. It is a cultivated variety (double flower heads giving it the appearance of a "white pompon"), particularly in Anjou.
It is a perennial herbaceous plant, 10 to 30 cm high. Its hairy stems, which are initially flat and then straighten out, are branched at the top (unlike the chamomile - Matricaria recutita - which has a single stem). The leaves are pale green, sessile, alternate and sharply serrated. The solitary, fragrant, radiate flower heads, 2-3 cm in diameter, are formed of yellow tubular florets in the centre, which become white and sterile at the edges (7-10 mm) and overlap each other.
Flowering is from July to September. The fruits are small, yellowish, ribbed achenes (with 3 ribs), 1 to 1.5 mm long.
Harvest time
In summer, when the flowers are in full bloom.
Mythology / History / Anecdotes and traditional virtues
The genus name 'Chamaemelum' is derived from the Greek 'khamai' (ground, dwarf) and 'mêlon' (apple), and refers to its apple-like fragrance. This partly explains the horticultural practice of chamomile lawns (made famous by Mary Wesley, whose novel The Chamomile Lawn is set in Cornwall), which require less maintenance than lawns and give off a pleasant scent when walked on!
Roman chamomile has been prized for its medicinal properties since ancient times, particularly in Egypt and Greece. According to Galen, the wise Egyptians dedicated it to the sun for its effectiveness against fever. Despite its name, it was unknown in Rome, where it was not cultivated until the 16th century. It was considered a remedy for many ailments, including nausea, colic, fever, asthma and skin problems. Some doctors preferred it to cinchona for treating persistent intermittent fever.