Common Name: Chamomile: Roman or German
Latin Name: Chamaemelum nobile/Anthemis nobilis and Matricaria camomilla/recutita
Family: Asteraceae
Characteristics: Roman chamomile grows in a mat formation low to the ground with small daisy-like flowers with bright yellow centers. German chamomile grows taller, it's considered an upright, herbaceous annual, with the flower very similar to daisies. The leaves are thin and deep green in color, making the flower the main focus point of the plant.
Constituents: Flavonoids, coumarins, fatty acids, cyanogenic glycosides, choline, tannin and salicylate derivatives.
The Blurb: Chamomile is a gentle, bitter yet slightly sweet herb that’s used for many general ailments. The flowers are usually used in teas. Great for soothing a stomach ache especially for young children. Chamomile is also a good herb for helping with cold and flu symptoms as it can help with headaches and fevers. Chamomile is also amazing to soothe skin, such as adding to a bath with oatmeal to soothe a rash and gentle enough to be on most children’s skin. Chamomile is an easy herb to have on hand, while there are many different ways to take and use chamomile, my favorite way to take it is in tea. Having chamomile tea bags on hand is easy and tasty and with a little bit of honey makes it one of the tastiest herbs I've had. Drinking chamomile tea to unwind after a long day while not being overly sedated is one of the great things about chamomile. Having indigestion after a large meal? A cup of chamomile tea will soothe the stomach and help relive gas or common stomach aches in children. Chamomile tea is a good staple herb to keep around for when you need to settle your nerves, comfort the stomach and help soothe headaches and calm fevers while being tasty and gentle for many people.
-Maisie Moore, 2020