German chamomile

Description

German chamomile originated in Europe, Iran, and Afghanistan, but this fragrant annual is now cultivated all around the world (Grieve 1998, Foster 1990).

History

Used both internally and externally, German chamomile has been used by many cultures for gastrointestinal disorders as well as skin conditions. Chamomile was used in ancient Egypt to treat fevers caused by malaria, and in Rome to treat headaches and urinary tract disorders. Chamomile was used in medieval Europe as a diuretic and a tonic to manage pain and fatigue (Foster 2006).

In South Africa, chamomile is used for a variety of ailments including insomnia, lumbago, hysteria, rheumatism, and sore throat. Called manzanilla (“little apple”) in Spanish, chamomile tea is used as a diet aid in Costa Rica (Duke 1985). The essential oil of German chamomile, which is dark blue when extracted, is used in many cosmetic products such as shampoos, lotions, soaps, and perfumes, and also appears as a flavoring in candies, baked goods, cordials and liqueurs (Duke 1985).

Current medicinal uses

Chamomile tea made from the dried flowers of Matricaria recutita is very popular in the United States as a remedy for stomach ailments and for general relaxation purposes. Modern herbalists recommend chamomile to calm the digestive tract, soothe heartburn and menstrual cramps, and speed healing of lesions in the mouth and other skin irritations (Foster 2006).

Apigenin, matricin, and other compounds in the flowers have spasmolytic, antiseptic, antibacterial and antifungal properties (Wichtl 1984). Matricaria recutita is the primary active ingredient in Kamillosan® cream, which was claimed to be effective in treating atopic eczema in one clinical trial (Patzelt-Wenczler 2000). However, this study did not present data that convincingly supported the efficacy of the chamomile cream used, as the cream was clearly identifiable from the control and no statistical analysis was reported (Fugh-Berman 2003). Research on German chamomile to treat oral mucositis, colic, and radiation dermatitis did not show any significant benefit, but inhaling chamomile vapors may help symptoms of the common cold (Fugh-Berman 2003). In an uncontrolled study, 10 of 12 patients who drank chamomile tea fell into a deep sleep during cardiac catheterization, normally a very painful and nerve wracking experience (Gould 1973).

Adverse effects

Generally safe, but remedies are often made from the pollen-containing flowers, which can cause allergic reactions for those with sensitivity to ragweed or other members of the Asteraceae family. One case report describes a 26 year old student who developed acute facial eczema after applying a topical fomentation ofMatricaria recutita to her face and subsequently presented with systemic contact dermatitis after drinking a cup of chamomile tea (Rodrigues-Serna 1998).

Comments

German chamomile can be distinguished from Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) by its hollow conical receptacle – the disk upon which the white florets are arranged. Roman chamomile has a solid conical disk (Grieve 1998).

References

Duke JA. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. CRC Press: Boca Raton, 1985.

Foster S. Chamomile: Matricaria recutita & Chamaemelum nobile. Botanical Series – 307. American Botanical Council: Austin, 1990.

Foster S and Johnson R. Desk Reference to Nature’s Medicine. National Geographic: Washington, DC, 2006.

Fugh-Berman A. The 5-Minute Herb and Dietary Supplement Consult. Lippincott, Williams, and Wilkins, Baltimore, 2003: 346-47.

Gould L et al. Cardiac effects of chamomile tea. J Clin Pharm. 1973; 13(11): 475-479.

Grieve M. A Modern Herbal. Tiger Books International, London, 1998 (first published in 1931 by Jonathan Cape Ltd).

Lewis WH and Elvin-Lewis MPF. Medical Botany: plants affecting human health. John Wiley and Sons Inc.: Hoboken, 2003.

Patzelt-Wenczler R, Ponce-Poschl E. Proof of efficacy of Kamillosan® cream in atopic eczema. Eur J Med Res. 2000; 5: 171-175.

Rodriguez-Serna M et al. Allergic and systemic contact dermatitis from Matricaria chamomilla tea. Contact Dermatitis. 1998; 39: 192-193.

Wichtl M. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals: A handbook for practice on a scientific basis. medpharm GmbH Scientific Publishers: Stuttgart, 1994.

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Information on this website is for educational purposes only. Many herbs historically used for medicine are considered too toxic to use today; some of these herbs have caused deaths. Do not ingest these herbs based on information on this website. We have not provided sufficient information for the safe medicinal use of any of these herbs, nor sufficient information for treatment of poisoning. All recreational use of these herbs is dangerous.