Chamomile, Roman

Sow direct from early spring onwards. Can be sown in pots but try to avoid transplanting bare roots. The seed requires light to germinate so scatter on the surface and gently press in to the soil and keep moist. Seedlings are slow to grow so best to sow into weed-free compost. It is a low-growing perennial that reaches about 30cm in height; it prefers a warm sunny spot and a well-drained, compost-enriched soil.

Roman chamomile is used much like the German chamomile, having many similar uses for digestive, nervous and skin conditions. It is renowned for ameliorating restlessness and irritation as it has the effect of giving you more space and greater resilience. Its bitterness adds to the cooling effect it brings to anywhere there is excess heat.

Whilst the uses may be simlar to German chamomile their constituents are not. C. nobile’s essential oil has little of the blue chamazulene’s found in M. recutita and much higher levels of the piney esters that give it such an appealing freshness. It is predominantly relaxing and extremely gentle making it suitable for helping any situations reflecting over-sensitivity. It is a plant that brings a feeling safety and joy helping us to access the more peaceful and profound places with us. And it certainly makes a beautiful home in any herb garden.

Harvest the flowers at the beginning of flowering when the essential oils are at their highest, and they are in their full glory. Either use the tried-and-tested 5-finger method, using your hand as a ‘comb’ to gently pop the flower-heads from their centipedal stems. You may have to hold the stems under your hand so you don’t disturb the roots. For larger quantities you can use a berry harvester.

These flowers can then be used fresh or laid out on a drying rack to dry. Like most herbs they are best dried at a low temperature with good air-flow, around 35C for 12 hours and then stored in an air-tight container.

Make a flower water for a face and body wash. Collect a small handful of the Roman chamomile flowers add to a clear glass jar, cover with water and seal with a lid. Place in the sunlight for 2-3 hours and enjoy as a refreshing wash for revitalising your skin and uplifting your spirits.

Wonderful as a floral bath too.

For a tea, put seven fresh flower-heads or a tablespoon of the dried flowers in a cup of bolied water and infuse in a covered pot for 10-15 minutes to enjoy her soothing nurture.

Inhaling steam containing Roman chamomile is extremely soothing. Use a handful of fresh flowers with boiling water in a bowl. Once the herbs have infused for a few minutes put a towel over your head and place over the bowl. Breathe deeply through your nose and mouth for 5-10 minutes.

For a tincture macerate dried flowers 1:5@45% alcohol.

For an infused oil, macerate 1 part of the freshly-dried flowers in 4 parts olive oil for two weeks.

For an essential oil….grow a lot! 1Kg of the fresh flowers will yield just 1ml of the pale-yellow essential oil.

One potential downside of the sesquiterpene lactones is that they can act as mild to potent allergens for susceptible individuals. Reported reactions have ranged from varying degrees of allergic contact dermatitis all the way up to severe anaphylaxis requiring emergency treatment. Because these compounds are so widely distributed among the Asteraceae, cross reactions can easily occur. A person might become sensitized to the sesquiterpene lactones in one plant (e.g., Ragweeds – Ambrosia spp.) and subsequently will have a reaction to a novel species (e.g., Chamomile or Yarrow) in the family. This is why the herbalist should be cautious when using Asteraceae herbs with people who have a tendency toward respiratory and contact allergies or problems with chronic eczema / atopic dermatitis.