Matricaria recutita
German Camomile
an annual member of the Matricaria genus in the family Compositae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Compositae
- Genus
- Matricaria
- Life cycle
- annual
- Height
- 0.5 m
- Spread
- 0.25 m
- Fertility
- Bees, Flies
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Bees, Flies
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The young sprigs are used as a seasoning[3]. The dried flowers are used to make herb teas[9][16]. It is aromatic but with a very bitter flavour[17].
- Product or use
- Condiment
- Product or use
- Tea
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
German camomile is a well known herbal remedy and is much used in the West. In particular it is an excellent herb for treating various digestive disorders, nervous tension and irritability and is also used externally to treat skin problems[14]. An infusion of the flowers is taken internally as an anodyne, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, cholagogue, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, febrifuge, sedative, stomachic, tonic and vasodilator[20][10][12]. An infusion is particularly useful as a stomachic, nervine and sedative for young children, especially when they are teething[12]. It is also used in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, peptic ulcers and hiatus hernia[14]. In large doses, or when taken regularly for several times each day, the tea can be emetic[10] and can also cause the symptoms it is intended to cure[11]. The flowers are also used externally to treat wounds, sunburn, burns, haemorrhoids, mastitis and leg ulcers[12]. The flowers are harvested when fully open and are dried for later use[14]. The flowers contain various volatile oils including proazulenes[14]. Upon steam distillation these proazulenes produce chamazulene, this is remarkably anti-allergenic and is useful in the treatment of asthma and hay fever[14]. The flowers are sometimes added to cosmetics as an anti-allergenic agent[12]. The whole plant, harvested when in flower, is used to make a homeopathic remedy[11]. It is especially suited to teething children and those who have been in a highly emotional state over a long period of time[11].
- Product or use
- Anodyne
- Product or use
- Antiinflammatory
- Product or use
- Antiseptic
- Product or use
- Antispasmodic
- Product or use
- Carminative
- Product or use
- Cholagogue
- Product or use
- Diaphoretic
- Product or use
- Homeopathy
- Product or use
- Nervine
- Product or use
- Stomachic
- Product or use
- Tonic
- Product or use
- Vasodilator
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
An infusion of the flowers is used as a hair shampoo, especially for fair hair[2][7][4]. It is also used as a liquid feed and general plant tonic, effective against a number of plant diseases[2][6][7]. The flowers are also an ingredient of 'Quick Return' herbal compost activator[15]. The whole plant was formerly used as a strewing herb[17][4]. The whole plant is insect repellent[2][7]. An essential oil from the whole plant is used as a flavouring and in perfumery[18]. Yellow to gold dyes are obtained from the flowers[4].
- Product or use
- Dye
- Product or use
- Essential
- Product or use
- Hair care
- Product or use
- Liquid feed
- Product or use
- Repellent
- Product or use
- Strewing
Environment
- Range
- Europe, including Britain, east to W. Asia and the Himalayas.
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 6+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
- Salinity
- tolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow spring or autumn in situ[12]. Germination should take place within 3 weeks.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
An easily grown plant, it succeeds in any well-drained soil in a sunny position[8]. It prefers neutral to slightly acid conditions and succeeds in poor soils[12]. It usually self-sows freely when well-sited[K]. Chamomile has a long history as a gentle and effective folk medicine for a wide variety of disorders, being especially effective and safe for children[K]. There is some confusion between this plant and Chamaemelum nobile as to which is the genuine camomile. This species is said to be more bitter and inferior to Chamaemelum nobile in some reports[8] and to be more active medicinally in other reports[21][12]. Both have similar properties and can probably be used interchangeably[K]. The whole plant has a pungent aroma[13].
References
Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3
Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-262-7
Bryan. J. and Castle. C. Edible Ornamental Garden. Pitman Publishing 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-273-00098-5
Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00
Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Castro. M. The Complete Homeopathy Handbook. Macmillan. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-333-55581-3
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148
Bruce. M. E. Commonsense Compost Making. Faber 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-571-09990-4
Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. 1878-00-00
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00
Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5
Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2