Roman Chamomile Essential Oil has been used since ancient times as a medicinal herb. The essential oil is popular for its soothing and sedative properties, which is why it is effective for those suffering from insomnia, and people who are restless, anxious, over-sensitive, and people who are angry, grieving or discontented. It is also promotes heart health and skin health.
It is perfect as a compress, salve or massage oil to soothe sore and tired muscles. Its high ester content makes it ideal as treatment for gout, issues with the nervous system, heartburn, eczema and fever.
This wonderful, gentle and calming oil is extracted by steam distillation from the buds and flowers of the Anthemis nobilis plant, which is also called Chamaemelum nobile, from the daisy family. The plant grows close to the ground and its oil releases a sweet and fresh apple-like aroma. The oil’s color is clear light blue. Most of the plants are grown in France, Morocco, Italy, Spain and Germany.
Roman Chamomile Essential Oil contains Butyl Angelate, Propyl Angelate, Cineole, Farsenol, Pinocarvone, Gamma Terpinene, Myrcene, Sabinene, Caryophyllene, Camphene, Beta Pinene and Alpha Pinene.
It’s one of the few essential oils that is safe to use on children when well diluted. Diffused Roman Essential Oil can help calm down irritable babies and toddlers throwing tantrums.
Roman Chamomile Essential Oil Benefits
Here are some of its therapeutic benefits:
- Fights depression and anxiety
- Relieves allergies
- Alleviates PMS symptoms
- Lessens the symptoms of insomnia
- Boosts health of your skin
- Provides digestive health support
- Improves heart health
- Can help relieve pain and arthritis
- Gentle enough to be used on children
- May have cancer-fighting properties
Roman Chamomile Essential Oil Uses
- Roman Chamomile Essential Oil for Insomnia. When you inhale the essential oil it lowers the level of the hormone that triggers stress, allowing you to relax. It was found out in a 2006 study that inhalation of Roman Chamomile Essential Oil induced drowsiness and calmness that promoted sleep.
- Roman Chamomile Essential Oil for Skin. The essential oil promotes healthy skin due to its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory components. It’s good for burns, skin irritations, bruises, wounds, ulcers and eczema.
- Roman Chamomile Essential Oil for Anxiety and Depression. The fragrance of this essential oil is calming thus it has the ability to reduce anxiety and encourage relaxation. A 2013 study that appeared in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine reported that anxiety patients were successfully treated using a combination of Roman Chamomile, Neroli and Lavender essential oils.
- Roman Chamomile Essential Oil for Digestion. Anodyne, an antispasmodic compound in Roman Chamomile Essential Oil helps people with digestive issues. The range of digestive problems includes indigestion, leaky gut, vomiting, diarrhea, acid reflux and flatulence.
- Roman Chamomile Essential Oil for Allergies. The essential oil has antioxidant and antimicrobial components that help treat hay fever and seasonal and food allergies including skin irritations, skin swelling and congestion.
- Roman Chamomile Essential Oil for Premenstrual Syndrome. Roman Chamomile Essential Oil has antispasmodic properties that help relax the muscles to prevent the aches, pains and cramping. It also helps improve your mood and control acne, issues related to a woman’s pre-menstrual period.
- Roman Chamomile Essential Oil for Arthritis. Sufferers can apply the diluted oil directly on the aching joints as it has anti-inflammatory properties. It could also be added to a warm bath.
- Roman Chamomile Essential Oil for Childhood Illness. It has success in alleviating fussiness, earache, upset stomach and fever in children. With appropriate doses given by a pediatrician, it is effective in treating colicky infants.
Roman Chamomile Essential Oil Side Effects
Although there are no known toxic elements or irritants in Roman Chamomile Essential Oil it is best to follow safety guidelines for using essential oils generally. As always, it is best to dilute the oil in the proper proportion with a suitable carrier oil. Specifically, here are some of the known side effects of this essential oil:
- Using Roman Chamomile Essential Oil extensively can cause skin sensitization.
- Do a skin patch test first if you are going to use the essential oil topically.
- Avoid using this essential oil if you are sensitive to other plants belonging to the daisy family such as marigolds, daisies, chrysanthemums and ragweed.
- Roman Chamomile Essential Oil have emmenagogue properties (agent that increases menstrual flow) that stimulate blood flow, particularly when the oil is used in high concentration. Therefore it is not advisable to be used by nursing moms and pregnant women.
How to Use Roman Chamomile Essential Oil
Roman Chamomile Essential Oil can be used through inhalation and topical application. Under the guidance of an expert and professional practitioner, it can be taken internally. Here are the ways to use this essential oil.
- For depression and anxiety. Inhale the scent of the essential oil directly from the bottle. You can also add five drops of Roman Chamomile Essential Oil to your diffuser.
- For digestive issues. Apply two to four drops of the essential oil directly to your abdomen. Dilute the essential oil further with a carrier oil when using it on a child.
- To promote sleep. You can inhale the essential oil from the bottle or rub some on your temples. You can also add a few drops to a diffuser and place it close to your bed.
- To calm fussy children. Diffuse the oil or dilute it with coconut oil and apply directly to the back of the neck, soles of the feet, stomach, temples and wrists of a fussy child.
- For the skin. If you have skin conditions or you want to smoothen aging skin, apply the essential oil to the affected areas directly.
- For heart issues. Apply two to four drops of Roman Chamomile Essential Oil on your chest, directly over the heart.
- To relieve nausea. Inhale the aroma directly from the bottle or apply a drop or two on your temples. Diffuse a combination of Roman Chamomile Essential Oil with ginger, lavender or peppermint oil.
How to Make Roman Chamomile Essential Oil
Roman Chamomile Essential Oil is extracted from the buds and flowers of Anthemis nobilis or Chamaemelum nobile, a small perennial plant that belongs to the Asteraceae or Compositae (Daisy) family. The flowers that look like small white daisies with yellow centers emit a fragrant, apple-scented aroma. The oil is produced by steam distillation of the flowers that are sun dried for a short time.
Roman Chamomile Essential Oil Recipe
Sometimes, making essential oils by yourself is better than store bought variety. If you’re growing English chamomile (garden chamomile or sweet chamomile), you can make your own batch of Roman Chamomile Essential Oil. Here’s how.
You will need:
- 1/2 cup of dry chamomile flower (store bought or freshly picked)
- 1 quart olive oil or another plant oil
- 1 teaspoon vitamin E
- 5 drops of rosemary oil
- Clean and dry glass jars with cover, sieve and cheesecloth
Procedure:
- Wash the freshly picked flowers. Dry them completely as water will cause your essential oil to have mold.
- Pour the oil into the jars, leaving about 1/2 from the top.
- Divide the chamomile flowers and put them into the jars. Push the flowers into the oil, allowing the oil to coat the flowers well.
- Seal the jars and place them in a location where they can get direct sunlight for 6-8 hours daily.
- Open each jar and wipe the moisture that builds on the jar covers with paper towels.
- Cover the jars once again after removing the moisture and shake them once a day.
- Leave them under the sun for two weeks, wiping the moisture and shaking them every day.
- After two weeks drain the oil with the sieve and cheesecloth to remove all the flower parts.
- Add the rosemary oil and vitamin E and blend them well. Vitamin E is used to prevent oil deterioration.
- Label the jars and store them in a cool dry place.
Where to Buy Roman Chamomile Essential Oil
Roman Chamomile Essential Oils are available from online shops such as Amazon, MountainRoseHerbs.com, Young Living and reputable aromatherapy shops, specialty stores and pharmacies.
Other Roman Chamomile Essential Oil Information
- The name chamomile is from chamos, a Greek work that translates to ground, and melos (apple) for the apple-like odor of its flowers.
- Roman, Moroccan and German chamomile have the same therapeutic properties despite them being from different species.
- German chamomile is also called blue chamomile, which was highly prized by Egyptians.
- Romans used chamomile in their beverages and as incense.
- It is a ‘plant doctor’ because it assists the health and growth of other plants that produce essential oils, particularly those from the mint family.
- It should not be used undiluted.
- It is not advisable to use Roman Chamomile Oil in mucus membranes or in eyes.
- The oil should not be taken internally, except under the strict guidance of an expert and qualified practitioner.
- Keep the essential oil away from children’s reach.
