Chamomile and Aromatherapy

German chamomile, sometimes spelled camomile, is a type of daisy widely spread around the world. You may have played the "He loves me, he loves me not" game with this flower as a child. I know I did.

Here are a few facts about the essential oil from this flower:

Botanical Name	Matricaria Recutica, Chamomilla Recutita, Matricaria Chamomilla or Matricaria Suaveolens
Family	Asteraceae
Extraction Method	Steam distillation of the flower
Essential Oil Colour	Yellow (Roman) or Blue (German)
Consistency	Thin
Description	Top note, and medium to strong initial strength, it has a warm, relaxing, rich, herbaceous aroma with a hint of apple and straw-like scents.
Important Constituents	For Roman: Isobutyl angelate, 2-methylbutyl angelate, methallyl angelate, isobutyl isobutyrate, isoamyl angelate

How Can You Use This Herb?

Tea. Trouble sleeping? When taken as an herbal tea, use two teaspoons of dried flower for one cup of boiled water. This herbal tea is well-known for its relaxation qualities and is especially good to help you fall asleep. Talk about a natural sleep aid! You can also use this tea for a sore stomach. When treating your stomach, take a cup every morning on an empty stomach for a couple of months. I recommend Chamomile Tea from Adagio.

• Essential Oil. This essential oil is well known for its sedative and relaxing effects. In addition to these properties, this oil can also help soothe pain and aches in muscles and joints. It is also known for reducing the symbols related to stress-induced Pre-Menstrual Syndrom (PMS).
  
  There are many possible combinations for chamomile and aromatherapy. This essential oil blends well with geranium, lavender, marjoram, neroli, cedarwood, rosewood, sage and ylang ylang.

DO NOT apply this oil directly to the skin without being diluted in a carrier oil first. An estimate of 3 drops of essential oil per 1 teaspoon of carrier oil is suggested.

Where Can You Find This Essential Oil?

This essential oil normally comes in various sized bottles and can be found in major drugstores and specialized stores. Many internet-based aromatherapy companies carry this essential oil. You can purchase Now Foods CHAMOMILE OIL PURE from Amazon.com.

Chamomile is only one option for relaxation. Find out more about aromatherapy

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IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE: Use this essential oil sparingly with caution. This oil may cause dermatitis in some. Use with caution if you are lactating. Pregnant women, epilectic people or people with cancer or liver problems should not take this essential oil. Undiluted oils should never be applied onto the skin. Do not take any oils internally without consultation from a qualified professional aromatherapy practitioner. Consult a professional aromatherapy practitioner prior to using this oil to treat children.

Note: The information contained on this site is for educational purposes only and does not replace the advice of a physician and/or other health specialist. Precautions must be taken to ensure aromatherapy does not conflict with existing medical conditions.