Scient name: Chamomilla recutita, Matricaria recutita

Common names: False chamomile, German chamomile, Wild chamomile

Ayurvedic names: babuna

Chinese names: Yang gan ju

Bangladesh names: Babunphul

Arabic names:    البابونج الألماني (al baboonj al almani)

Rain Forest names:

Family: Compositae (Daisy)

Approximate number of species known:

Common parts used: Flower

Collection: May to october

Annual/Perennial: Annual

Height: Up to 1 metre  

Actions: Anti-inflammatory  

Known Constituents: Essential oil comprised of a blue-colored azulene, also coumarin, flavonic heterosides, tannic acid

Constituents Explained:

Description: 

The head of the flower is 1.2-2.4cm in diameter.

Traditional Use:

One of the most popular teas used worlwide.  The flower heads have been used since ancient times in medicinal preperations.7  Traditionally used to soothe and upset stomach and aid digestion. It also has a calming effect that seems to gently promote the inductino of sleep.  Its use isn’t just restricted to an upset stomach, it has also been used for ulcers.

Sometimes the German chamomile is adulterated with the Roman chamomile.7  It has been used to traeat cattarh in the respiratory system and eyes.7

Clinical Studies:

Peristomal skin complications interfere with stoma appliance use and negatively affect patient quality of life. To find an alternative to long-term peristomal skin treatment involving corticosteroid products, a prospective study was conducted to compare the effect of a German chamomile solution to topical steroids on peristomal skin lesions in colostomy patients. 

Persons seeking care for the treatment of a peristomal skin lesion were assigned to a treatment regimen of once-a-day hydrocortisone 1% ointment or twice-a-day chamomile compress application.

Treatments were assigned by matching patient demographic, history, and skin condition variables. At baseline, no significant differences between the variables were observed. Forty-two (42) of the 72 patients were female. Most participants had their stoma for more than 1 year.

Lesions were assessed every 3 days for a maximum of 28 days. Lesions healed significantly faster in the chamomile than in the hydrocortisone group. Stoma patient symptoms (pain and itching) also resolved more expediently in the chamomile than in the hydrocortisone group. 

Because corticosteroids are nonspecific anti-inflammatory agents, herbal extract use can prevent the side effects of long-term topical corticosteroid use. The results of this study suggest that German chamomile can be recommended to relieve itching and inflammation and that twice-daily application facilitates healing of peristomal skin lesions.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled efficacy and tolerability trial of Matricaria recutita (chamomile) extract therapy in patients with mild to moderate generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) was conducted.

Sixty-one outpatients with mild to moderate GAD were enrolled, and 57 were randomized to either double-blind chamomile extract or placebo therapy for 8 weeks. The study was powered to detect a statistically significant and clinically meaningful group difference in change over time in total Hamilton Anxiety Rating scores.

Secondary outcomes included change in the Beck Anxiety Inventory, Psychological Well Being, and Clinical Global Impression Severity scores and the proportion of patients with 50% reduction or more in baseline HAM-A score.

A significantly greater reduction in mean total HAM-A score during chamomile versus placebo therapy was observed. Although the study was not powered to identify small to moderate differences in secondary outcomes, a positive change in all secondary outcomes in the same direction as the primary outcome measure was observed.

Although the study was not powered to identify small to moderate differences in secondary outcomes, we observed a positive change in all secondary outcomes in the same direction as the primary outcome measure. 

References:

Charousaei F, Dabirian A, Mojab F, “Using Chamomile Solution Or A 1% Topical Hydrocortisone Ointment In The Management Of Peristomal Lesions In The Colostomy Patients: Results Of A Contrlled Clinical Study.” 2011 May http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21617262

Amsterdam JD, Li Y, Soeller I, Rockwell K, Mao JJ, Shults J. “A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial Of Oral Matricaria Recutita (Chamomile) Extract Therapy For Generalized Anxiety Disorder.” 2009 August http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19593179