Roman Chamomile

Description

Also known as English or sweet chamomile, this creeping perennial is native to southern and western Europe, but is now grown widely in American herb gardens (Foster 1990).

History

Chamomile tea was commonly used as a remedy for indigestion, and the dried flowers ofChamaemelum nobile were used to rid patients of parasitic intestinal worms in Germany (Lewis 2003). Dried flower heads were also used to flavor the tobacco used in cigarettes. A lotion containing Roman chamomile was used to treat ear and tooth aches, while the oil is said to have antispasmodic and carminative properties. Compresses of the flowers have been used to treat gout, inflammation, and skin disorders (Duke 1985).

Current medicinal uses

Roman chamomile is used in much the same way as German chamomile, but is much less extensively researched for clinical application. In Britain, chamomile tea is made from the flowers of Chamaemelum nobile rather than Matricaria recutita and is used in treating menstrual cramps, as a carminative (reducing flatulence), and for wound healing. German pediatricians use Chamaemelum nobile to treat inflammatory skin conditions in children (Lewis 2003). The pharmacologic profile of the essential oil of Chamaemelum nobile differs from Matricaria recutita, but Roman and German chamomile share some components, including the flavonoids apigenin and luteolin (Wichtl 1984).

Adverse effects

People sensitive to the Asteraceae family may have allergic reactions to Roman chamomile (Lewis 2003). Roman chamomile contains nobilin, a sesquiterpene lactone with allergenic potential, which may be responsible for contact dermatitis in some farmers (Duke 1985). Chamaemelum nobile is not recommended for use during pregnancy, due to possible abortifacient effects (Fugh-Berman 2003).

Comments

Floral disks of Roman chamomile are solid and conical, which can be used to distinguish Chamaemelum nobile from the hollow-coned floral disks of Matricaria recutita (Grieve 1998).

References

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

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

Fugh-Berman A. The 5-Minute Herb and Dietary Supplement Consult. Lippincott, Williams, and Wilkins, Baltimore, 2003: 74-75.

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.

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

Disclaimer 

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.