Essential oil of German Chamomile
German Chamomile
Matricaria recutita
Family: Asteraceae
Origin: England
Plant description: It has a branched, erect and smooth stem, which grows to a height of 15–60 cm (6–23.5 in). The long and narrow leaves are bipinnate or tripinnate. The flowers are borne in paniculate flower heads. The white ray florets are furnished with a ligule, while the disc florets are yellow. The hollow receptacle is swollen and lacks scales. The flowers bloom in early to midsummer, and have a strong, aromatic smell. The flowers contain a blue essential oil, what gives it the characteristic smell and interesting properties. This color characteristic of the oil, attributable to the chamazulene it contains, explains why the plant is also known by the common name Blue Chamomile. The fruit is a yellowish-brown achene.
Part of plant used for essential oil: Flower
Extraction Method: Steam
Main Chemical Constituents: a-Bisabolol oxide A 44.7–53.6% a-Bisabolol oxide B 9.5–13.5%
a-Bisabolone oxide 8.5–12.0% (E)-b-Farnesene 7.7–8.9% Chamazulene 2.7–7.6% (Z)&(E)-
Spiroethers 5.9–7.0% a-Bisabolol
PRECAUTIONS: some drug interactions with German Chamomile Essential Oil, specifically those drugs that are metabolized by the enzyme CYP2D6, CYP1A2, CYP2C9 or CYP3A4
PROPERTIES: Analgesic, Anti-bacterial, Anti-fungal, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-spasmodic, Carminative, Cicatrisant, CNS tonic, Cooling, Emmenagogic, Sedative
Uses:
Digestive: promotes digestion, liver, gallbladder health
Emotional: grounding and calming. Useful during difficult times as it is often helps dissipate feelings of anger and frustration. German chamomile essential oil is also a welcome support during periods of situational anxiety and/or depression.
Mental: insomnia
Muscles/joints: arthritis, carpel tunnel,
Skin: wound management and support for healing scars, acne, eczema
Fun Facts:
Chamomile has survived the evolution from a world that used predominately herbal medicine to a world that relies predominately on biomedicine or laboratory derived medicine. Recognized today as an official drug in the pharmacopoeia of 26 countries, the flowers of Chamomile are still used much as they were hundreds of years ago. And what a useful and beautiful weed Chamomile is. A fast growing annual, German Chamomile fills fields and rows with its dainty little daisies. These cheery little flowers with their apple like fragrance are most familiar for their contribution to our nighttime tea.
References:
“Chamomile, German Essential Oil - Nepal.” Stillpoint Aromatics,
www.stillpointaromatics.com/german-chamomile-Matricaria-recutita-essential-oil.
“Lab Aroma.” Please Login - Aromatherapy Oil Formulation Tool, Lab Aroma,
www.labaroma.com/en/app/oil-profile?item=25.
“USDA Certified Organic Herbs, Vegetables and Perennials from the California Central Valley.”
Matricaria Recutita German Chamomile,
www.mountainvalleygrowers.com/machamomila.htm.
Life Science Publishing. (2014). Essential oils pocket reference. Orem, UT. Page 73
Tisserand, Robert and Young, Rodney, Essential Oil Safety, second edition, London,
UK, Churchill Livingston, 2014. Page: 242-243
