The Beauty of Chamomile

Chamomile is a very popular herb and has many uses ranging from being a soothing, relaxing and calming tea to being an invaluable ingredient in many skincare products and toiletries. But what is so special about this herb and what is in it that imparts such amazing properties?

There are two main varieties of chamomile: German chamomile (Chamomilla recitita) and Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile). Both varieties are relaxing and gently soothing so they have a mildly sedating action and can relax nervous tension without undue sedation and side-effects. The difference lies inherently in their medicinal strength; German chamomile is stronger, more suited to reducing inflamed mucous membranes such as the gut, skin, mouth and respiratory tract whereas Roman chamomile is less bitter, more soothing to the lungs and more directly accelerating menstrual flow.

Both types are excellent for external use and can now be found in a wide variety of skincare preparations and toiletries. Medicinally however, a compress of the fresh, pulped flowers is used for lumbago, joints affected by gout, sciatica, nerve pain and local inflammation. It is one of the few herbs that is considered safe for children and is generally well tolerated. Both types are used interchangeably, particularly in skincare but due to stronger and more specific actions, medical herbalists will select that type that best suits the presenting complaint.

The flower heads of both varieties are uses to make a tea, tincture, cream, ointment or essential oil. The active constituents in chamomile are attributed to apigenin (German) and chamazulene (Roman) amongst other components such as flavonoids, tannins, phenolic acids and coumarins. These, in their whole form, act synergistically to confer health and cosmetic benefits associated with this herb. A particularly important component of the German chamomile is the volatile oil which contains alpha-bisabolol and proazulene which not only gives it the characteristic blue colour of the essential oil but also the anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties associated with this herb. 

Medicinal Uses: IBS, nausea, vomiting, irritability and fretfulness (especially in children), nervous tension, anxiety, insomnia, acid stomach, period pain, sciatica

Skincare (external) Uses: sore, inflamed skin, sunburn, eczema, psoriasis, very minor burns, scalds that do not require emergency treatment

Suggested Tips

Face: recommended for oily skin, deep cleansing, blackheads or problem skin (add a few drops of essential oil in a facial steam bath). Combines well with lavender for an anti-blemish night cream

Eyes: as a compress to soothe tired, sore and inflamed eyes

Hands: as a skin softener combined into a rich cream made with moisturising ingredients such as rosehip oil, evening primrose oil or avocado oil amongst others

Feet: use the fresh flower heads or the essential oils in a soothing foot bath

Hair: recommended for dry, sensitive hair, and as a colour enhancer for blonde/fair hair. It is a valuable ingredient in natural hair lightener preparations especially as a paste

Body: the infusion is great as a hair rinse. Try adding the dried flowers in a relaxing bath infusion or as a skin softening milk bath

Caution: Those who are allergic to the pollen of other members of the Asteraceae or sunflower family (eg. dandelion, ragweed) should take care. Chamomile can cause rare dermatitis and may interact with prescription drugs especially anticlotting agents. Seek professional advice from a medical herbalist or your doctor before self-medicating. You can find your nearest herbalist at: www.phytotherapists.org