Chamomile (Matricaria recutita, Chamaemelum nobile)
Chamomile is derived from the flowerheads of either of two annual plants: German chamomile (Matricaria recutita), or Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile).

Traditional Uses:
Chamomile is a popular folk remedy for digestive problems, fever, menstrual discomfort, stomachache, and anxiety. It is used to treat insomnia in children because it is a very mild relaxant and has a pleasant taste.
The cosmetic uses of chamomile date back at least 2,000 years, when hieroglyphic evidence indicates that Egyptian noblewomen used crushed petal preparations on their skin. Chamomile is also a traditional topical treatment for cuts and scrapes, sore muscles, rashes, and burns.

Modern Uses:
• Chamomile improves tissue regeneration, reduces inflammation and encourages the healing of wounds.
• Chamomile teas and extracts are widely used for relaxation

Recent findings:
Current research indicates that chamomile stimulates white blood cells in the immune system.

Do Scientists Know How It Works?
Flavonoids such as apigenin as well as a distinctive blue essential oil (azulene) derived from chamomile have been found to reduce inflammation and encourage the healing of wounds. Apigenin may also be responsible for chamomile's anti-anxiety and sedative effects, via action on central benzodiazepine drug (e.g., Valium) receptors.
Over the last 40 years, chamomile has been the subject of hundreds of scientific tests that have confirmed its healing, cosmetic powers and revealed its active ingredients: levomenol, azulenes and flavonoids. Of the two main species of chamomile, Matricaria chamomilla ("German Chamomile") is by far the richest in levomenol, which has a dramatic effect on the skin in terms of improving texture and reducing fine lines and wrinkles caused by pollution, stress and sun. And chamomile's flavonoids possess antioxidant properties, which protect skin from the UV rays and the ravages of free radicals in the air.

Types of products:
Chamomile for internal use is available as a tea, tablets, capsules, concentrated drops, tinctures, and extracts. Camomile creams and ointments are popular worldwide-especially whole extracts that contain guaranteed amounts of levomenol.

Safety:
Both oral and topical chamomile products are considered very nontoxic and gentle enough for use on children or during pregnancy and lactation. It is possible, but unlikely, that people with an allergy to some other herb in the daisy family would also be allergic to chamomile. Chamomile-based skin creams should not come in contact with the eyes.

References

de la Motte, S., et al., "Double-blind comparison of an apple pectin-chamomile extract preparation with placebo in children with diarrhea," Arzneimittelforschung (1997), 47(11):1247-9.

Kreysel HW. Study of Smoothing Effect of Camocare Cream on Skin Surface Damaged by UV Radiation. Dermatological Clinic and Polyclinic, University of Bonn, Germany.

Kreysel HW. Study of Smoothing Effect of Camocare Cream on Skin Surface After Chemically Induced Damage. Dermatological Clinic and Polyclinic, University of Bonn, Germany.

Kreysel HW. Study of Efficacy of Camocare Facial Therapy Compared With Leading Department and Drug Store Brands. Dermatological Clinic and Polyclinic, University of Bonn, Germany.

Viola, H., et al., "Apigenin, a component of Matricaria recutita flowers, is a central benzodiazepine receptors-ligand with anxiolytic effects," Planta Medica 1995, 61(3):213-16.

· Yamada, K., et al., "Effect of inhalation of chamomile oil vapour on plasma ACTH level in ovariectomized-rat under restriction stress," Biol Pharm Bull (1996). 19(9):1244-6