Chamomile is one of the most widely consumed medicinal herbs. Valued for its calming and relaxing actions, most people know it as a tea taken for relaxation, but there is so much more to this herb. It is a versatile, powerful medicine offering support for many conditions and body systems with a long history of traditional use.
Identifying Chamomile: German vs Roman
Chamomile is a member of the Asteraceae (daisy) family, and there are two main Chamomiles used medicinally: German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) and Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile). Other chamomiles that can be found growing wild in the UK include Pineapple weed (Matricaria discoidea), which, as its name suggests, smells just like pineapple, as well as some scentless varieties such as Scentless Mayweed (Tripleurospermum inodorum).
Identifying between German and Roman chamomile is fairly simple. In some respects, they are very similar, but they also have some key differences. Both have daisy-like flowers with yellow centres (disc florets) and white petals (the ray florets), and have sweetly scented flowers and foliage. Key differences to help you ID the two:
• German chamomile is an annual, meaning it will complete its full life cycle and set seed all within one year. It prolifically self-seeds and turns up year after year where it has grown before. Roman Chamomile, on the other hand, is a hardy perennial; its life cycle continues, growing year after year and tends to grow lower to the ground (this is the chamomile used to create chamomile lawns).
• German chamomile produces a LOT more flowers and much more quickly, and they tend to be much sweeter than the more bitter flowers of Roman chamomile when taken as a tea. Both species are used interchangeably however, to make chamomile tea German chamomile is often favoured due to its more pleasant taste.
• If you cut a German chamomile flower in half vertically, the centre of the ‘cone’ will be visibly hollow, whereas if you cut a Roman chamomile flower in half, it will be filled with spongey pith.
History of Medicinal use
As a medicinal herb, chamomile has been used for centuries to support wellbeing, with evidence of its use dating back as far as Neanderthal times. The ancient Egyptians valued chamomile highly for treating fevers, in skincare, and used it in perfumes. They even dedicated the plant to their sun god, Ra, perhaps inspired by the flower’s golden, sun-like centre.
The ancient Greeks and Romans also held chamomile in high esteem. The name “chamomile” derives from the ancient Greek chamaimelon, meaning “earth-apple,” a reference to its sweet, apple-like scent. In classical Greece, physicians such as Hippocrates recommended chamomile to soothe ailments including digestive discomfort and inflammation. For the Romans, chamomile became a staple herb of daily life. Its fragrant, antimicrobial leaves and flowers were used as a “strewing herb,” scattered across floors as a natural air freshener and insect repellent. Chamomile was also infused into communal baths and prepared as a healing tea.
Chamomile’s medicinal benefits
Stress
Chamomile is renowned for its calming effect. As a tea it can help reduce anxiety and stress and ameliorate restlessness associated with sleep troubles. Studies show that chamomile extracts can reduce symptoms of anxiety disorders*. Drinking a cup of chamomile tea before bed can help you to unwind and promote a restful night’s sleep.
Digestion
Chamomile is a natural digestive aid and can help to soothe digestive issues such as bloating, gas, and indigestion. Known by herbalists as ‘mother-of-the-gut’, chamomile is both anti-inflammatory, a gentle bitter and an anti-spasmodic, meaning it can relax the muscles in the digestive tract, reduce inflammation, which can help to ease digestive discomfort and support digestive function. It is of particular benefit in cases of digestive upsets due to nervous origins.
Skin
Chamomile has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which make it an ideal herb for supporting skin health. It can help to soothe inflammatory skin irritations, such as eczema and acne, when used in topical applications such as creams or herbal baths. The essential oil of German chamomile contains constituents called azulene and chamazulene, which turn a deep blue colour during the distillation process. This oil is particularly effective for calming inflamed eczema when added into creams.
Chamomile is generally a very safe herb for most people, including children, but caution is always advised if you have any known allergies to the Asteraceae family, or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
*Amsterdam, J. D., Li, Y., Soeller, I., Rockwell, K., Mao, J. J., & Shults, J. (2009). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of oral Matricaria recutita (chamomile) extract therapy for generalized anxiety disorder. Journal of clinical psychopharmacology, 29(4), 378–382. https://doi.org/10.1097/JCP.0b013e3181ac935c