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Chamomile,
Roman |
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Roman Chamomile (English) Chamaemelum
nobile (Botanical) Asteraceae (Plant Family) Chamomillae
romanae flos (Pharmacopeial)
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Overview |
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Roman, or English, chamomile reportedly reduces intestinal gas, calms muscle
spasms, quells nausea and vomiting, induces a mild sedation, and has
anti-inflammatory effects on skin and mucous membranes. Because of the
similarity of its volatile oils, Roman chamomile acts similarly, if not
identical to, German chamomile (Matricaria recutita). It is used less
often, however, because there exists less scientific documentation of its
therapeutic effects. The origin of its many applications is largely empirical.
Nevertheless, its high demand exceeds crop yields in native northern European
countries, and chamomile is now exported from Argentina and Egypt.
At the dawn of the 20th century, chamomile was used as a folk medicine to
restore tranquility and calm. Although more apt to be regarded in the United
States as a pleasant-tasting tea with a nice aroma, chamomile is used
medicinally today in Europe. There it is used not only as a mild sedative, but
also as a tonic to speed recovery from numerous ailments. In particular,
indications for use are indigestion caused by nervousness or mental stress
accompanied by flatulence.
Roman chamomile differs from German chamomile in that the receptacle below
the flower head is solid instead of hollow, and its leaf segments are thicker.
The plant itself is lower to the ground. Double or semi-double flower heads are
used in the commercial preparation of volatile oil. Both chamomiles share
cosmetic, beverage, and food use; chamomile oils are added to hair dyes,
ointments, shampoos, soaps, perfumes, liqueurs, and baked goods.
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Macro Description |
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Perennial herb with a creeping rhizome. Grows low to the ground but sometimes
reaches up to one foot in height. Stems are hairy, and either drooping or erect.
Grayish-green leaves are alternate, segmented. Flower heads emit an apple-like
fragrance. Disk flowers yellow, ray flowers white, and the cone-shaped
receptacle is solid. Roman chamomile is native to northwestern Europe and
Northern Ireland but has been cultivated throughout Europe, the United States,
and parts of South America. |
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Part Used/Pharmaceutical
Designations |
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Constituents/Composition |
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0.4% to 1.75% volatile oil containing angelic and tiglic acid esters;
1,8-cineole, farnesol, nerolidol, sesquiterpenes chamazulene, alpha-bisabolol;
amyl/isobutlyl alcohols; flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin, quercetin, and their
glycosides); coumarins, anthemic acid, phenolic/fatty acids; phytosterol.
Chamazulene is formed from matricin upon steam distillation. Volatile oil is
blue. |
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Commercial
Preparations |
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Crude dried flowers are available to buy in bulk; also, tea, tincture; Roman
chamomile may be an additive in topical ointments and
cosmetics. |
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Medicinal
Uses/Indications |
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- Traditional: tonic, stomachic, diaphoretic, soporific, antispasmodic,
and folk remedy for colic
- Conditions: ulcer, gastritis, slow-healing wounds, heartburn
- Clinical applications: Roman chamomile is used alone or as a
component of a number of European treatments for heartburn, anorexia,
postprandial bloating and fullness, nausea, newborn colic, spastic constipation,
menstrual disorders, frontal sinus catarrh, hay fever, nasal and pharyngeal
mucositis, ear inflammation, wounds, burns, rashes, bedsores, hemorrhoids,
Romeheld's syndrome, and diseases of the liver and gallbladder. Due to lack of
documentation, these uses are not approved by the German Commission E.
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Pharmacology |
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In experiments with rats, Roman chamomile has been shown to reduce
carrageenan-induced rat paw edema, a standard test for anti-inflammatory
activity. Rat tests also demonstrate Roman chamomile-induced sedative and
antidiuretic effects. Antitumor and cytotoxic activity have been demonstrated in
vitro for various chamomile constituents. Farnesol is sedative and spasmolytic
in vitro; and apigenin is associated with reductions in inflammation, spasm, and
infection. However, Roman chamomile has not been tested as extensively as German
chamomile, and it occurs as an unapproved botanical in the German Commission E
monographs because of the lack of human data.
The volatile oil of Roman chamomile contains the same active constituents as
German chamomile, and Commission E notwithstanding, it has been assumed to have
similar pharmacological actions.
Chamomiles are used in Europe in dermatology, pulmonology, pediatrics,
gynecology, gastroenterology, and otolaryngology. Their actions span a broad
range of therapeutics, blocking convulsion, microbes, sepsis, inflammation,
spasms, and viruses. Tests on humans demonstrate that German chamomile reduces
inflammations in mucous membranes and on the skin that may be due to cuts,
burns, yeasts, or other fungal growths. When it is inhaled, the volatile oil
quells respiratory inflammations associated with colds. Investigations
demonstrate that these actions are stimulated by volatile oil constituents
chamazulene and alpha-bisabolol, and flavonoids and coumarins, also found in
Roman chamomile. |
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Dosage Ranges and Duration of
Administration |
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To reduce intestinal colic, flatulence, digestive disturbance, lack of
appetite, painful menstruation, gingivitis, or oral inflammation, choose from
the following.
- Dried flowers, as tea, 1 to 4 g tid
- 70% alcohol extract, 1 to 4 ml tid
For hemorrhoids/skin inflammation, add a few teabags or chamomile tincture to
bathwater. Ointments should contain 3% to 10% crude drug. |
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Side
Effects/Toxicology |
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Roman chamomile has a class 2b safety rating from the American Herbal
Products Association (AHPA). Class 2b indicates that the AHPA advises against
use during pregnancy, and lists it as a potential abortifacient due to its
action on uterine smooth muscle and tendency to induce menstruation when taken
at high doses. Normal dietary intake of Roman chamomile in tea is not associated
with these actions. Roman chamomile in high doses may also stimulate emesis, due
to anthemic acid in the flower heads.
One case of anaphylaxis reportedly resulted from Roman chamomile tea
ingestion in patients with ragweed allergy. |
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Warnings/Contraindications/Precautions |
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Avoid use in patients with known allergies to the aster family (ragweed). In
laboratory tests, cross reactions were noted with German chamomile, yarrow,
lettuce, and chrysanthemum. Allergic rhinitis may develop in patients with
atopic reactions to mugwort.
Do not use during pregnancy or lactation. |
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Interactions |
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No clinically significant interactions between Roman chamomile and
conventional medications have been reported in the literature to date, including
the German Commission E monograph (Blumenthal 1998). Although chamomile contains
coumarins, interactions with anticoagulants have not been documented (Miller
1998). Patients taking chamomile while on anticoagulant therapy should be
monitored closely. |
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Regulatory and Compendial
Status |
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Roman chamomile is on the General Sale List in England. The German Commission
E does not approve of its medicinal use due to lack of demonstrated efficacy,
but use of flower head as tea is permitted. |
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References |
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Achterrath-Tuckermann U, et al. Pharmacological investigations with compounds
of chamomile. Investigations on the spasmolytic effect of compounds of chamomile
and kamillosan on the isolated guinea pig ileum. Planta Med.
1980;39:38-50.
Berry M. The chamomiles. Pharm J. 1995;254:191-193.
Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs Therapeutic
Guide to Herbal Medicines. Boston: Integrative Medicine Communications;
1998:320-321.
Bradley PR, ed. British Herbal Compendium. Vol. 1. Dorset, England:
British Herbal Medicine Association; 1992:1.
De Smet PAGM, Keller K, Hänsel R, Chandler RF. Adverse Effects of Herbal
Drugs. New York, NY: Springer-Verlag; 1992:2.
Evans WC. Trease and Evans' Pharmacognosy. 13th ed. London: Bailliere
Tindall; 1989.
Foster S. Herbal Renaissance: Growing, Using and Understanding Herbs in
the Modern World. Salt Lake City, Utah: Gibbs-Smith; 1993.
Harborne J, Baxter H. Phytochemical Dictionary: A Handbook of Bioactive
Compounds from Plants. Washington, DC: Taylor & Francis; 1993.
Harris B, Lewis R. Chamomile: part 1. Int J Alt Comp Med. September
1994;12.
Hausen BM, et al. The sensitizing capacity of Compositae plants. Planta
Med. 1984;50.
Leung A, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in
Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Wiley & Sons;
1996.
McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A. American Herbal Products
Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, Fla: CRC Press;
1996.
Miller L. Herbal medicinals: selected clinical considerations focusing on
known or potential drug-herb interactions. Arch Intern Med.
1998;158(20):2200-2211.
Newall CA, Anderson LA, Phillipson JD. Herbal Medicines: A Guide for
Health-care Professionals. London: The Pharmaceutical Press; 1996:72-73.
Opdyke DLJ. Chamomile oil roman. Food Cosmet Toxicol. 1974;12:853.
Weiss RF. Herbal Medicines. Beaconsfield, England: Beaconsfield
Publishers, Ltd; 1988. |
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Copyright © 2000 Integrative Medicine
Communications This publication contains
information relating to general principles
of medical care that should not in any event be construed as specific
instructions for individual patients. The publisher does not accept any
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