Chamomile is a herbal plant which is widely used for medical purposes. It belongs to the family of ragweed and daisy flowering plants. The medicinal benefits have been known since ages. It is now grown around the globe owing to its wide usage in curing human disorders. It is grown in midsummer season and is cultivated within 2 to 3 weeks time.
Chamomile oil is extracted as the chief product from the plant as it is widely used in wide range of products ranging from medicines to perfumes. The oil is mainly extracted from the small flowers of the plant. Chamomile oil comes in mainly two verities, Roman and German.
Chief ingredients and usage
The extraction process of both the oils is by steam distillation. Roman chamomile yields about 1.7 % from fresh flowers and German chamomile yielding about 0.2 – 0.4 %. The chief constituents of German oil are a-bisabolol,chamazulene, bisabolol oxide A and bisabolol oxide B. The chief components of Roman oils are b-pinene, sabinene, a-pinene, camphene, myrcene and butyl angelate.
As oil, chamomile is widely used for various therapeutic purposes. It is also very popularly used for treating stress and providing relaxation and calmness. It has proved to be a healer in cases of stress and anxiety. It works by reducing the production of adrenocorti-cotropic hormone which is responsible for stress and anxiety. Pure oil is also used to resolve flatulence, especially in children with colic. Chamomile tea and oil prove beneficial for children who have sleeping disorder or are under stress. Proper usage of German or Roman oil provides mental piece, relief from stress and other mental disorders.
Chamomile oil contains antibacterial compound called blue chamazulene which helps in tissue regeneration. This makes it an excellent product for skin and hair. Oil forms the chief component of skin moisturizer. It helps in effective skin treatment under the circumstances of wounds, blisters, burns, boils, eczema, dermatitis and rashes. The anti-inflammatory effect of the oil improves skin regeneration, and a cold compress helps in relaxing puffy eyes. It is very good for restoring the skin’s natural elasticity and curing most open wounds and skin problems. It works fast on skin and calms red, dry and irritated skin, as well as calming allergies, eczema, psoriasis and various other skin problems. The bitter sweet flavour of oil makes it an excellent tonic for liver and digestive system. Its anti-inflammatory and antihistamine actions soothe inflammation through the digestive tract. Oil when mixed with ginger proves magical for curing nausea and morning sickness.
The compound spiroether found in Chamomile, which is a very strong antispasmodic agent that helps in relaxing of muscle, aching, and reduces premenstrual pain. It is an effective treatment for delayed menstruation and irregular menstruation, and is especially very helpful in conditions caused due to stress and tension.
Chamomile oil is also used for bath or massage for relaxation as it relaxes sore overworked muscles and inflamed joints. It also proves beneficial to treat headache, nervous tension, ear pain etc. It is also an excellent household disinfectant.
Precautions during usage
It is generally suggested that Chamomile oil should not be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding as they have emmenagogue properties when used in high concentrations. It is equally important to note that Chamomile is a part of ragweed family, so people allergic to ragweed should avoid using this oil. You should consult a Homeopathic physician before using oil so that you can have the exact idea over the directions of use.
