Essential Oils

Chamomile Roman - Chamaemelum nobile

Family: Asteraceae (Compositae}

Synonyms: Arthemis nobilis, camomilw, English chamomile, garden chamomile, sweet chamomile, true chamomile.

General Description: A small, stocky, perennial herb, up to 25 cms high, with a much branched hairy stem, half spreading or creeping, It has feathery pinnate leaves, daisy-like white flowers which are larger than those of the German chamomile. The whole plant has an apple like scent.

Distribution: Native to southern and western Europe; naturalized in North America. Cultivated in England, Belgium, Hungary, United States, Italy and France.

Other Species: There are a great many varieties of chamomile found thrpooughout the world, four of which are native to the British Isles, but the only one of these used therapeutically is the Roman chamomile (C.nobile)

Herbal/Folk Tradition:This herb has had a medical reputation in Europe and especially in the Mediterranean region for over 2000 years,and it is still in widespread use. It was employed by the ancient Egyptians and the Moors, and it was one of the Saxon's nine sacred herbs, which they called 'maythen'. It was also held to be the 'plant's physician', since it promoted the health of plans nearby.

It is current in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia for the treatment of dyspepsia, nausea, anorexia, vomiting in pregnancy, dysmenorrhoea and specifically flaulent dyspepsia associated with mental stress.

Actions: Analgesic, anti-anaemic, antineuralgic, antiphphologistic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, bactericidal, carminative, cholagogue, cicatrisant,digestive, emmenagogue, febrifuge, hepatic,hypnotic, nerve sedative, stomachic, sudorific, tonic, vermifuge, vulnerary.

Extraction:Essential oil by steam distillation of the flower heads.

Characteristics: A pale blue liquid(turning yellow on keeping) with a warm, sweet, fruity-hebaceous scent. It blends well with begamot,clary sage, oakmoss, jasmine, labdanum, neroli,rose, geranium and lavender.

Principal Constituents: Mainly esters of angelic and tiglic acids (approx. 85 per cent),with pinene, farensol, nerolidol, chamazulene, pinocarvone, cineol, among others.

Safety Data: Non-toxic, non--irritant; can cause dermatitis in some individuals.

Aromatherapy/Home Use: See German chamomile

Other Uses: See German Chamomile.

Reference: Julia Lawless: The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils.