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Roman chamomile

Also listed as: Chamaemelum nobile; Chamomile - Roman

• Overview
• Plant Description
• What's It Made Of?
• Available Forms
• How to Take It
• Precautions
• Possible Interactions
• Supporting Research

Overview

There are two plants known as chamomile. One is the more popular German chamomile ( Matricaria recutita), while the other is called the Roman, or English, chamomile ( Chamaemelum nobile). Although they belong to different species, they are used to treat similar conditions. Both have been used traditionally to calm frayed nerves, to treat various digestive disorders, to relieve muscle spasms, and to treat a range of skin conditions and mild infections. Chamomile can also be found in a variety of face creams, drinks, hair dyes, shampoos, and perfumes.

Most research on chamomile has been done with German chamomile, which has similar, but not identical, active ingredients.

Traditionally, Roman chamomile has been used to treat nausea, vomiting, heartburn, and excess intestinal gas. It is widely valued for its anxiety-relieving properties. Used topically, this herb may also reduce inflammation associated with cuts or hemorrhoids. It may ease the discomfort associated with conditions such as eczema and gingivitis (swollen gums).

Test tube studies have also shown that chamomile has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. Chamomile has antispasmodic properties, meaning it helps relax muscle contractions, particularly in the smooth muscles that make up the intestines.

Plant Description

Roman chamomile originates in northwestern Europe and Northern Ireland, where it creeps close to the ground and can reach up to one foot in height. Gray-green leaves grow from the stems, and the flowers have yellow centers surrounded by white petals, like miniature daisies. It differs from German chamomile in that its leaves are thicker and it grows closer to the ground. The flowers smell like apples.

What's It Made Of?

Chamomile teas, ointments, and extracts all start with the white and yellow flower head. The flower heads may be dried and used in teas or capsules or crushed and steamed to produce a blue oil, which has medicinal benefits. The oil contains ingredients that reduce swelling and may limit the growth of bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

Available Forms

Roman chamomile is available as dried flowers in bulk, tea, tinctures, and in creams and ointments.

How to Take It

Pediatric

There are no known scientific reports regarding the appropriate pediatric dose of Roman chamomile. Herbal practitioners may recommend dosing similar to German chamomile, 1 - 2 oz. of tea per day. Talk to your doctor to determine a proper dose before giving Roman chamomile to a child.

Adult

• Tea: Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 2 - 3 heaping tbls. (2 - 4 g) of dried herb, steep 10 - 15 minutes. Drink three to four times per day between meals.
• Liquid extract (1:1, 70% alcohol) 20 - 120 drops, three times per day.
• Bath: Use 1/4 lb of dried flowers per bath, or add 5 - 10 drops of essential oil to a full tub of water to soothe hemorrhoids, cuts, eczema, or insect bites.
• Cream/Ointment: Apply cream or ointment containing 3 - 10% chamomile content.

Precautions

The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, can trigger side effects and can interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, herbs should be taken with care, under the supervision of a health care provider.

Roman chamomile is considered generally safe.

Chamomile may make asthma worse, so people with asthma should not take it.

Pregnant women should avoid chamomile because of the risk of miscarriage.

If you are sensitive to asters, daisies, chrysanthemums, or ragweed, you may also be allergic to chamomile.

Drinking large amounts of highly concentrated chamomile tea may cause vomiting.

Possible Interactions

If you currently take any of the following drugs, you should not use German chamomile without first talking to your healthcare provider.

Anticoagulants (blood-thinning medication) -- Chamomile may increase the risk of bleeding when taken with anticoagulant drugs such as warfarin.

Sedatives -- Chamomile can increase the effect of drugs that have a sedating effect, including:

• Anticonvulsants such as phenytoin (Dilantin) and valproic acid (Depakote)
• Barbiturates
• Benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Xanax) and diazepam (Valium)
• Drugs to treat insomnia, such as zolpidem (Ambien), zaleplon (Sonata), eszopiclone (Lunesta), and ramelteon (Rozerem)
• Tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil)
• Alcohol

The same is true of herbs with a sedating effect, such as valerian, kava, and catnip.

Other drugs -- Because chamomile is broken down by certain liver enzymes, it may interact with other drugs that are broken down by the same enzymes. Those drugs may include:

• Fexofenadine (Seldane)
• Statins (drugs taken to lower cholesterol)
• Birth control pills
• Some antifungal drugs

Supporting Research

Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs . Boston, Mass: Integrative Medicine Communications; 1998:320-321.

Briggs CJ, Briggs GL. Herbal products in depression therapy. CPJ/RPC . November 1998;40-44.

Cauffield JS, Forbes HJM. Dietary supplements used in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. Lippincott's Primary Care Practice . 1999;3(3):290-304.

Ernst E, ed. The Desktop Guide to Complementary and Alternative Medicine: An Evidence-Based Approach . New York, NY: Mosby;2001:110-112.

Foster S, Tyler VE. Tyler's Honest Herbal . New York, NY: The Haworth Herbal Press; 1999:105-108, 399.

Heck AM, DeWitt BA, Lukes AL. Potential interactions between alternative therapies and warfarin. Am J Health Syst Pharm . 2000;57(13):1221-1227.

Leung A, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics . 2nd ed. New York, NY: Wiley & Sons; 1996.

McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A. American Herbal Products Associations's Botanical Safety Handbook . Boca Raton, Fla: CRC Press; 1996:27.

Miller L. Herbal medicinals: selected clinical considerations focusing on known or potential drug-herb interactions. Arch Intern Med . 1998;158(20):2200-2211.

Newall CA, Anderson LA, Phillipson JD. Herbal Medicines: A Guide for Health Care Professionals . London, England: The Pharmaceutical Press; 1996:72–73.

O'Hara M, Kiefer D, Farrell K, Kemper K. A review of 12 commonly used medicinal herbs. Arch Fam Med . 1998:7(6):523-536.

Robbers JE, Tyler VE. Tyler's Herbs of Choice: The Therapeutic Use of Phytomedicinals . New York, NY: The Haworth Herbal Press;1999:69-71.

Rotblatt M, Ziment I. Evidence-Based Herbal Medicine . Philadelphia, Penn:Hanley & Belfus, Inc. 2002:119-123.

• Review Date: 3/18/2007
• Reviewed By: Steven D. Ehrlich, N.M.D., private practice specializing in complementary and alternative medicine, Phoenix, AZ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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