Chamomile Health Benefits

Products

Chamomile tea and open chamomile flowers are available in pharmacies and drugstores. In addition, preparations such as liquid extracts, tinctures, the essential oil, creams, gels, ointments, oral sprays and tea mixtures are available.

Stem plant

True chamomile (synonym: ) of the composite family (Asteraceae) is an annual herbaceous plant native to Europe that has been used medicinally for thousands of years.

Medicinal drug

The medicinal raw material used is chamomile flowers (Matricariae flos), the dried flower heads of true chamomile. Extracts are prepared from the flowers using solvents such as ethanol and water.

Ingredients

An essential oil can be extracted from chamomile flowers called chamomile oil (Matricariae aetheroleum PhEur). It exists as a clear, intensely blue and viscous liquid. The azulene chamazulene gives it its blue color. Chamazulene is formed during steam distillation from proazulenes such as matricine and is not present in the medicinal drug itself. Two oils are distinguished. One is rich in (-)-α-bisabolol (= levomenol), the other in bisabolol oxides. Other ingredients are:

  • Flavonoids such as apigenin, apigenin-7-glucoside.
  • Phenolic carboxylic acids
  • Mucilages, polysaccharides
  • Coumarins

Effects

Preparations of chamomile flowers have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antispasmodic, carminative, soothing, antibacterial, antifungal, wound healing and deodorant properties.

Indications for use

Dosage

The preparations are administered as teas, inhalations, partial or full baths, rinses, washes, in the form of creams, ointments and suppositories, among others.

Contraindications

Preparations of chamomile flowers are contraindicated in case of hypersensitivity – also to other compositae. Full precautions can be found in the drug label.

Adverse effects

Possible adverse effects include allergic reactions and contact allergies. However, they are reported to occur rarely.