There is some confusion between this plant and Chamaemelum nobile as to which is the genuine camomile. This species is said to be more bitter and inferior to Chamaemelum nobile in some reports[] and to be more active medicinally in other reports[, ]. Both have similar properties and can probably be used interchangeably[].

Common Name: German Camomile

General Information

Matricaria chamomilla is a freely-branched, annual to short-lived perennial plant that can grow 50 - 80cm tall from a thin, spindly root[, ].
A well known herbal remedy with a long history of use, German camomile is still much used in modern herbalism and also as the source of an essential oil. It is both harvested from the wild and also cultivated in moderate quantity.

Known Hazards

Individuals allergic to ragweeds (Ambrosia spp.) or with known sensitivity to other members of the Compositae family should avoid contact with German camomile and its products. Camomile hypersensitivity is rare, however[].

Botanical References

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Range

Europe, including Britain, east to W. Asia and the Himalayas

Habitat

Sandy or loamy arable soils in Britain[, ]. Also found on saline steppes in Europe[]. A weedy species, preferring sunny sites (slightly shaded sites are tolerated) and found on wasteland, roadsides and fields[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Annual/Perennial
Height	0.50 m
Pollinators	Bees, Flies
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

German chamomile is a plant of the temperate zone, where it can be found wild as far north as latitude 64°N. It has become naturalized in higher areas of the tropics, such as Ecuador at over 3,000 metres, and is also cultivated at lower elevations in some areas, such as Java[, ]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 19 - 25°c, but can tolerate 6 - 30°c[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -5°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at 0°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 700 - 1,000mm, but tolerates 300 - 1,300mm[].
An easily grown plant, it succeeds in any well-drained soil in a sunny position and can tolerate light shade[, ]. It prefers neutral to slightly acid conditions and succeeds in poor soils and moderately saline conditions[, ]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 5 - 7[].
It usually self-sows freely when well-sited[].
The average yield is 0.5 - 2 tonnes of fresh flowers per hectare, from which 100 - 500 kilos of dry material can be produced. With mechanized harvesting, 4 - 8 tonnes of flowery stems can be harvested for the production of essential oil[].
The whole plant has a pungent aroma[].

Edible Uses

The young sprigs are sometimes used as a seasoning[].
An essential oil obtained from the whole plant is used sparingly as a flavouring agent in liquors, particularly of the French type, and in confections, desserts, jellies, ice cream, candy, baked goods and chewing gum[].

The dried flowers are used to make herb teas[, ]. It is aromatic but with a very bitter flavour[]. It is sometimes blended with other herbs or China tea to increase flavour and bulk[].

Medicinal

Chamomile has a long history as a gentle and effective folk medicine for a wide variety of disorders, being especially effective and safe for children[]. In particular it is an excellent herb for treating various digestive disorders, nervous tension and irritability and is also used externally to treat skin problems[].
An infusion of the flowers is taken internally as an anodyne, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, cholagogue, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, febrifuge, sedative, stomachic, tonic and vasodilator[, , ]. An infusion is particularly useful as a stomachic, nervine and sedative for young children, especially when they are teething[]. It is also used in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, peptic ulcers and hiatus hernia[]. In large doses, or when taken regularly for several times each day, the tea can be emetic[] and can also cause the symptoms it is intended to cure[].
The flowers are also used externally to treat wounds, sunburn, burns, haemorrhoids, mastitis and leg ulcers[].
The flowers are harvested when fully open and are dried for later use[].

More than 50% of the essential oil in the plant consists of the sesquiterpenes bisabolol and its oxides, which have anti-inflammatory and spasmolytic properties and counteract gastric ulcerations[].
Flavonoids are particularly concentrated in the ligulate flowers; they include the flavone glycoside apigenin, which has a spasmolytic activity, and flavonols such as luteolin, quercetin and isorhamnetin[].
The azulenes include matricin, the precursor of the chamazulene that is responsible for the blue colour of the oil and has a strong anti-inflammatory activity[].
The flowers contain various volatile oils including proazulenes[]. Upon steam distillation these proazulenes produce chamazulene - this is remarkably anti-allergenic and is useful in the treatment of asthma and hay fever[]. The flowers are sometimes added to cosmetics as an anti-allergenic agent[].
It is not only the genetic influence on essential oil composition that is important, but also many other factors such as plant age, environmental variations, management practices and post-harvest handling[].
The whole plant, harvested when in flower, is used to make a homeopathic remedy[]. It is especially suited to teething children and those who have been in a highly emotional state over a long period of time[].

Other Uses

An infusion of the flowers is used as a hair shampoo, especially for fair hair[, , ].
It is also used as a liquid feed and general plant tonic, effective against a number of plant diseases[, , ].
The flowers are also an ingredient of 'Quick Return' herbal compost activator[].

The whole plant is very aromatic and was formerly used as a strewing herb[, ]. The whole plant is insect repellent[, ].

An essential oil obtained from the whole plant is used sparingly as a flavouring; also in perfumes, where it imparts pleasing and warm tonalities; as well as in shampoos, hair dyes and other cosmetics[, ].
Freshly distilled essential oil is blue, but exposed to light and air it gradually changes to green and finally brown. It has a strong characteristic odour and a bitter aromatic flavour. The constituents of the oil include sesquiterpenes, flavonoids and azulenes[].

Yellow to gold dyes are obtained from the flowers[].

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ[]. Germination should take place within 5 - 10 days

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