As one of the oldest medicinal herbs used, chamomile has proven to have several beneficial properties. Aside from extracting its oil for medical purposes, chamomile is frequently used for herbal infusions. When turned into an essential oil, the chamomile has a soothing, light scent that people often use for calming down the mind and body.
Although there are several species of chamomile, the Roman chamomile (chamaemelum nobile) and German chamomile (matricaria recutita) flowers are the most frequently used for essential oils. The two have very similar properties, although the latter contains more anti-inflammatory agents.
Chamomile Essential Oil Benefits
Chamomile Essential Oil has several health benefits. Its mildness makes it suitable for calming or relaxing, cleansing, as well as for maintaining skin and hair. Chamomile Essential Oil benefits include:
- Fights anxiety and depression
- Has stimulant properties
- Keeps skin and hair cells healthy
- Has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties
- Serves as an antioxidant
- Soothes menstrual cramps
- Improves digestion
- Promotes undisturbed sleep
Chamomile Essential Oil helps fight anxiety and depression because it has mild and relaxing properties, which aid in calming down nerves. This also helps in fighting symptoms of insomnia, and helps in having a good night’s sleep.
When taken internally, Chamomile Essential Oil supports the digestive system by relaxing the muscles. In turn, it also becomes useful for countering menstrual cramps or dysmenorrhea, as well as other stomach pains.
Meanwhile, when used topically, Chamomile Essential Oil can help keep skin and hair radiant and healthy. When applied on skin, it may be used to soothe pain on bruises.
Chamomile Essential Oil Uses
Because of its beneficial properties, Chamomile Essential Oil may be used for several purposes in and out of the house. Here are some of its practical uses:
- Chamomile Essential Oil as Sedative and Antidepressant. Chamomile has a relaxing scent that can be utilized to soothe tenseness. It is a flexible sedative that fights stress, which leads to sleeplessness, anxiety, or depression. It can also counter feelings of nausea. Because of this antidepressant property, Chamomile Essential Oil may also serve a mood booster. Its scent promotes a feeling of being replenished or recharged, thus reducing stress and sluggishness.
- Chamomile Essential Oil as a Moisturizer. Chamomile Essential Oil has sudorific properties which can be used both for cooling down body temperature (as in cases of flu). This may also be a way to moisturizing skin. Frequently using it over healed wounds may also help clear scars. Furthermore, the oil has antioxidant properties that similarly keep hair cells radiant and moisturized.
- Chamomile Essential Oil as Disinfectant and Anti-allergy. Allergic infections, which may come in the form of acne, may also be cleared by Chamomile Essential Oil. Aside from being an effective substance for skincare, it may also be used for practical uses for preventing infections caused by bacteria and fungi.
Chamomile Essential Oil Side Effects
Because chamomile is so gentle, it has no negative side effects except for pregnant women. The oil stimulates blood flow in the pelvic floor area, so it is not suitable for mothers. Additionally, people with extra sensitive skin will need to test it first in small amounts before using the oil thoroughly.
How to Use Chamomile Essential Oil
- For topical use. Simply spread a few drops of Chamomile Essential Oil over skin area or hair and massage for a few minutes. A very small amount of this may be mixed with other skincare products like lotion. The oil may also be placed on cloth or cotton when applying to the feet of small children, or when applying to facial acne.
- For diffusion. This method of usage is most recommended for relaxation purposes, or for countering insomnia. Diffuse at most five drops and leave in the room before sleeping. Inhaling directly from bottle as an emergency anti-nausea remedy is another good use.
- For herbal infusion. Put one to two drops in your drink for extra fragrance. Chamomile goes well with jasmine, lavender, tea tree, and rose.
How to Make Chamomile Oil
Chamomile Oil is produced by using dried chamomile flowers, oils, and may also contain natural preservatives. However, some manufacturers strictly only use chamomile flowers for the extract. Commercially produced oils have long shelf life even without preservatives as they are rid of debris that my cause spoiling.
Chamomile Essential Oil Recipe
Chamomile Essential Oil may be made at home with just a few simple ingredients, which are as follows: chamomile flowers, olive oil, tocopherol (Vitamin E, may be purchased form skincare stores), and rosemary oil extract. You will need two sterilized glass jars, paper towel, cheesecloth or filter, wire mesh, and funnel. The steps are as follows:
- Gather chamomile flowers and dry them (by wilting). These should be dried in a single layer completely, as any small amount of moisture will ruin the mixture. Alternatively, ready-made dried chamomile flowers may be bought in local stores.
- Pour olive oil into a glass jar, leaving a space before the lid.
- Mix the dried chamomiles until all are completely soaked in oil. Close the jar with the lid tightly.
- Expose the jar to sunlight for a minimum of 6 hours a day. Check the jar lid and wipe any evaporation using the paper towel. Repeat this step for two weeks at most.
- Transfer the mixture into the second sterilized glass jar with the funnel. Filter out the chamomile flowers using the cheesecloth and wire mesh. Repeat filtering process until the chamomile bits are completely sieved.
- Mix in a small amount of rosemary oil extract and tocopherol. These act as natural preservatives.
Where to Buy Chamomile Essential Oil
Amazon sells Aviano Botanicals Chamomile Essential Oil. The bottle contains 100% pure extract, and is relatively inexpensive compared to other brands in the market. Now Foods Chamomile Essential Oil is another recommended brand that may be purchased on Amazon.
More Information on Chamomile Essential Oil
Chamomile Essential Oil is one of the oldest known medicinal herbs that continue to be used until the present. It is very light and gentle, which makes it a very flexible essential oil that can be inhaled or diffused, drunk, or applied on skin externally.
Chamomile Essential Oil FAQs
Can Chamomile Essential Oil be used on children?
Yes. Because it is very mild, it may be used on babies with fever for its febrifuge properties, on children having trouble sleeping, and the like.
Does Chamomile Essential Oil trigger allergic reactions?
It is only in cases where a person has severe allergies should the users be cautious when using Chamomile Essential Oil.
