Updated 16 January 2024
Botanical characteristics
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Class: Angiosperms
- Class: True Dicots
- Class: Asteridae
- Class: Campanulidae
- Order: Asterales
- Family: Asteraceae
- Genus: Chamaemelum
- Part used: Flowers
- Country of origin: France, Western Europe
Precautions for use
Chamomile roman essential oil is very flexible in its use.
It is non-toxic and can be used by everyone from adults to babies, except people with epilepsy and pregnant women under three months.
Be careful not to use too much as it can cause dizziness and drowsiness.
Other precautions
Warning:
- In high doses, Chamomile roman essential oil may cause drowsiness and dizziness.
- People with epilepsy should seek medical advice before using Chamomile roman essential oil: risk of seizures at high doses.
Diffusion:
- Dilute Chamomile roman essential oil between 10 and 15% in other essential oils.
Allergenic components:
Chamomile roman essential oil contains one biochemical allergenic component: limonene (≤1%).
Note: It is best to test the essential oil before use (two drops on the crease of the elbow for at least 24 hours to check for a reaction).
Authorised users
How to use
Risks of use
Properties​
- Powerful calming effect on the central nervous system
- Powerful antispasmodic
- Analgesic and pre-anaesthetic
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antiparasitic
- Antipruritic, antiallergic
- Digestive tonic, carminative, cholagogue
Indications
- Nervous shock
- Agitation, Anger (children)
- Neuralgia, Pain of nervous origin
- Toothache
- Asthma
- Intestinal worms (children)
- Sleep disturbances
- Insomnia
- Respiratory allergies
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Stress
- Headaches
- Migraine
- Surgery (preparation)
- Sickness
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Mouth ulcers
- Couperose
- Urticaria
- Sensitive, inflamed skin
Directions for use/usual dosage
- All indications: orally, 1 to 2 drops diluted or on a neutral base, 2 to 3 times a day.
- Nervous problems: 2 to 3 drops applied topically or on the solar plexus, diluted 10% in a vegetable oil.
Cosmetic
- Soothing and calming, it relaxes the skin.
- In cosmetics, Roman Chamomile EO is used to treat stretch marks, blotches, scars, age spots and to cleanse the skin.
Find out more
- The main components are esters (80%) and ketones.
- This EO is rare and expensive.
- It is said that this EO can produce a deep relaxation before an operation, comparable to that of a pre-anaesthetic (pure unction on the neck, throat and carotid artery).
- N.B.: Roman camomile EO should not be confused with "wild camomile" EO, which is actually "mixed-flowered ormice" (Ormenis mixta or multicola).
- Its composition and properties are different; among other things, it is effective against coli bacteria and STDs, and is a tonic and neurotonic useful in cases of depression.
- Similarly, it should not be confused with Moroccan blue chamomile (or Atlas chamomile), which is a very specific tansy (Tanacetum annuum), useful for asthma attacks and irritant and allergic dermatitis.
- Finally, not to be confused with chamomile EO (Matricaria chamomilla or M. recutita), which is useful for dermatitis, eczema, dyspepsia and skin or stomach ulcers.