Description

Roman Camomile essential oil is produced from Anthemis nobilis (Chamaemelum nobile) of the family species Asteraceae, formerly placed in the Compositae family and also known as English camomile, sweet camomile and garden camomile.

German camomile essential oil is from Matricaria chamomilla (M. recutica) of the same family and also known by the names of blue camomile, Hungarian camomile and single camomile.

Both Roman and German camomile have excellent calming properties, but Roman camomile is more effective for irritation, impatience and feeling disagreeable, and has great value in treating PMS and other menstrual and menopausal problems, while German camomile again is super effective on the skin, not only to sooth and calm, but to heal and to regenerate tissue.

Oil properties

The Roman camomile essential oil has a sweet, apple-like fragrance and is very light clear blue in color with a watery viscosity, while the German camomile oil is sweet and straw-like in fragrance, is dark blue in color and its viscosity is medium.

Origin of Roman and German Camomile oil

German camomile oil is mostly cultivated in Hungary, Egypt, Eastern Europe and France, while Roman camomile is cultivated in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Morocco and France.

Roman camomile is a small perennial herb with a hairy stem and feathery pinnate leaves, daisy like white flowers (larger than those of German camomile) and grows about 25 cm high, while German camomile grows about 60 cm high and has a hairless branching stem with delicate feathery leaves and simple daisy like white flowers on single stems.

To the Egyptians it was a herb dedicated to the sun, used to cure fevers, and to the moon, for its cooling ability. It was also recognized as a soother of nervous complaints and used in shampoos, cosmetics and perfumes.

German camomile contains azulene, a powerful anti-inflammatory agent and this blue crystal is not actually present in the plant, but forms in the oil. Only a small quantity is needed to be effective.

Extraction

Both the camomile oil are extracted from the flowers by steam distillation, with the Roman camomile yielding about 1.7 % from fresh flowers and the German camomile yielding about 0.2 – 0.4 %.

Chemical composition

The main chemical components of Roman camomile oil are a-pinene, camphene, b-pinene, sabinene, myrcene, 1,8-cineole, y-terpinene, caryophyllene, propyl angelate and butyl angelate.

The main constituents of German camomile oil are chamazulene, a-bisabolol, bisabolol oxide A, bisabolol oxide B and bisabolone oxide A.

Precautions

Both are considered non-toxic and non-irritant, yet since they do have emmenagogue properties when used in high concentrations, they should be avoided during pregnancy.

Therapeutic Properties

The therapeutic properties of Roman camomile oil are analgesic, anti-spasmodic, antiseptic, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-infectious, anti-depressant, anti-neuralgic, antiphlogistic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, bactericidal, carminative, cholagogue, cicatrisant, emmenagogue, febrifuge, hepatic, sedative, nervine, digestive, tonic, sudorific, stomachic, vermifuge and vulnerary.

The therapeutic properties of German camomile oil on the other hand are analgesic, anti-allergenic, anti-spasmodic, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, antiphlogistic, bactericidal, carminative, cicatrisant, cholagogue, emmenagogue, hepatic, digestive, sedative, stomachic, vermifuge, vasoconstrictor and vulnerary.

Uses

Roman camomile oil is used for

This essential oil can be used with great effect on children when they feel irritable, impatient, teething or colicky. When used for women, it is great to relieve PMS and in general for abdominal pain, gall bladder, as well as throat infections. it furthermore helps to relieve allergies, hay fever and asthma.

For the skin it can be used to calm acne, eczema, rashes, wounds, dermatitis, dry and itchy skin and other allergic conditions in general.

For babies it can be used in a very diluted form to sooth an irritated and teething baby. It helps for colic, diarrhea and gastric spasms.

German camomile oil is used for

This essential oil has a calming effect on the mind and body and is excellent in treating any type of inflammation – be that internal or external. It is very effective on urinary stones (bladder gravel) as well. It furthermore stimulates the liver and gall bladder, thereby improving digestion and is valuable in treating menstrual and menopausal problems.

On the skin it is a miracle worker, and calms red, dry and irritated skin, as well as calming allergies, eczema, psoriasis and all other flaky skin problems. It is high in -(-a)-bisabolol, which promotes granulation (healing) and is also a great tissue regenerator.

Summary

Both Roman and German camomile have  calming and relaxing abilities, especially on the nervous and digestive systems, regulating and easing the menstrual cycle, and has soothing and healing influences on the skin, as well as being a potent remedy for inflammatory conditions.

• Burners and vaporizers
  • Roman camomile can be used in vapor therapy for nervous complaints, headaches and migraines.
• Blended massage oil or in the bath
  • Roman camomile can be used in a blended massage oil, or diluted in the bath to assist with allergies, anorexia, addiction, colic, insomnia, back pain, muscle pain, arthritis, post-natal depression and bowel disorders, whereas German camomile can be used for asthma, measles, mumps, PMS, menopausal symptoms as well as rheumatism.
• Lotion and cream
  • Roman camomile can be used in a cream base for diaper rash, burns and sunburn, while German camomile is useful in general skincare, especially allergic skin.
• Mouthwash
  • Roman camomile can be used as a mouthwash for dental abscesses and tonsillitis.

More information about Roman Camomile