The chamomile plant

Chamomile is a strongly aromatic annual herbaceous plant, growing up to 60 centimetres tall, with an erect, smooth and branched stem.

It is an herb with a well-established medicinal tradition, especially in Europe, beneficial for "all states of tension and any consequent visceral symptoms, such as nervous dyspepsia and irritable bowel, tension headaches and insomnia; particularly useful for all childhood complaints, calming but not depressant…"

Properties and uses of chamomile essential oil

Chamomile essential oil is used in antiseptic pharmaceutical ointments and in carminative, antispasmodic and tonic preparations. It is widely used in cosmetics, soaps, detergents, fine perfumes and hair and bath products.

The oil has innumerable actions: it is analgesic, anti-allergenic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, bactericidal, carminative, cicatrisant, cholagogue, digestive, emmenagogue, febrifuge, fungicidal, hepatic, stomachic and vermifuge.

Chamomile essential oil is useful for:

• Skin: acne, allergies, boils, burns, chilblains, dermatitis, earache, eczema, hair care, inflammations, insect bites, rashes, sensitive skin, teething problems, toothache, wounds.
• Muscles and joints: arthritis, joint inflammations, muscular pain, neuralgia, rheumatism, sprains
• Digestive system: dyspepsia, colic, digestive problems, nausea
• Nervous system: headaches, insomnia, nervous tension, migraine and stress-related disorders.
• Urogenital system: dysmenorrhoea, menopausal problems, menorrhagia