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Note - the monographs are provided for informational purposes only, and are not to be used for self-medication.

Chamomila recutita (German Chamomile)

Botanic Name

Chamomila recutita, Matricaria recutita

Common Name

German Chamomile, Chamomile, Wild Chamomile 1, Hungarian Chamomile, true chamomile 2

Family

Asteraceae

Parts Used

Flower

Habitat

Roadsides, waste places. Introduced from Europe, Gernam chamomile is widely cultivated in New Zealand and on a small scale in Australia. 3

Constituents

Volatile oil (alpha-bisabolol and bisabolol oxides A & B) 4

Matricin (a sesquiterpene lactone) 4

Chamazulene is formed from matricin during steam distillation 4

Farnesene 4

Cis and trans-en-yn-dicycloethers 4

Sesquiterpenes (spathulenol, bisabolone) 4

Various Monterpenes 4

Flavonoids (based on aglycones apigenin, luteolin, quercetin, isorhamnetin and 10 others) 4

Glycosides 4

Coumarins (herniarin and umbelliferone) 4

Phenolic carboxylic acids (anisic, vanillic, syringic, and caffeic acids) 4

Mucilage 4

Choline and Amino acids 4

Actions

Anti-inflammatory 4, 5

Spasmolytic 4

Vulnerary 4, 6

Antimicrobial 4, 6

Mildly sedative 4, 5

Calming restlessness and tensions, particularly as they affect the viscera 5, 6

Bitter 5

Peripheral vasodilator 5

Analgesic 6

Applications

Flatus, colic, abdominal distension and spasms 7, 6, 5, 4

Premenstrual irritability and spasmodic dysmenorrhoea 7, 5

Infantile convulsions from colic, teething, earache, etc 7, 5

Anxiety 6

Insomnia 6, 5 , (mild) 4

Gastritis 6

Gingivitis 6

Inflammed sore eyes (Topical) 6 ??? (See C/I below)

Sore throats 6

Nasal catarrh (Inhalation) 6, 5

Wounds and swelling (Topical) 6, 5, 4

Tension headaches 5

Fever management 5

Dosage

Medium to High dose Herb

LE (1:1, 45%) 1 – 4 mls tds

Combinations

  

C/I Cautions

None Known 4

Minor side effects are recorded by several references. Highly concentrated hot tea is noted as emetic; daily use has been advised against from one source; the German Standard License requires the following label warning "The infusion should not be used near the eyes" 2

BHP S/I

Gastrointestinal disturbances with associated nervous irritability in children 8

Reference

  1. Grieve, M., A Modern Herbal, Tiger, Great Britain, 1994.
  2. McGuffin, M., Hobbs, C., Upton, R., Goldberg, A., American Herbal Products Association - Botanical Safety Handbook, CRC Press, 1997.
  3. Reader’s Digest, Magic and Medicine of Plants. Surry Hills: Reader’s Digest, 1994.
  4. Bradley, P.R.(Ed.), British Herbal Compendium Volume I, British Herbal Medicine Association, 1992.
  5. Mills, S., The Complete Guide to Modern Herbalism, Thorsons, Great Britain, 1994.
  6. Hoffmann, D., The New Holistic Herbal, Element, Dorset, 1990.
  7. Priest, A.W. and Priest, L.R. Herbal Medication. A Clinical and Dispensary Handbook. London: L.N. Fowler & Co. Ltd.
  8. British Herbal Pharmacopoeia 1983. British Herbal Medical Association. 1989.

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Revised: May 18, 2002 .