Today’s article is written by one of my teachers, Linda Smith. You can learn more about her wonderful courses at the Institute of Spiritual Healing & Aromatherapy www.ishahealing.com

What Can German Chamomile Do For You?

At the Young Living Convention in June, thousands of participants took advantage of the trip to the Mona farm where we could see the distillation process, buy more “stuff” and wander to our heart’s content through the fields of lavender, chamomile, peppermint, hyssop, clary sage and many more. To our delight–the German chamomile was in full bloom–the intoxicating aroma drew us like a magnet to see fields of beautiful flowers with the most delicious aroma which could be described as similar to honey-sweet-apple. As you can see from the picture–some of us literally “wallowed” in the chamomile! German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) is a delicate plant producing small delicate daisy flowers. The Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) variety is often used as a ground or creeping plant whereas the German chamomile can grow up to several feet in height. Both the leaves and the flowers are used for tea but the leaves are bitter compared to the flowers. Although these two chamomiles belong to different species, they are used to treat similar conditions. The German variety is the stronger of the two and produces a dark blue, almost black colored essential oil. The Roman or English variety produces a pale bluish yellow essential oil and is a milder form of chamomile–more suitable for small children and the elderly. Healing Properties The sedative action of German chamomile produces a tranquilizing and calming effect upon the mind and emotions. It is especially beneficial for treating migraine or tension headaches and other stress-related complaints. You can use German Chamomile as a cool compress or in your diffuser to soothe nervous tension and anxiety. German Chamomile essential oil is an excellent sleep aid and helpful for treating insomnia, sleep disturbances and night fears! Inhale German Chamomile just before bed time to sleep peacefully like a baby. A restless mind finds stability in its aroma, which is a great relief to insomniacs. Besides having relaxing qualities, chamomile also has anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and vasodilating qualities. As an anti-inflammatory, it’s good for rheumatism, arthritis and painful swellings. As an antispasmodic we could use chamomile for menstrual cramps, stomach cramps, irritable bowel syndrome, indigestion, diarrhea, gas, and colic. It relieves gas pains and is a very mild but efficient laxative. Chamomile is excellent for skin care and is used in many cosmetics, soaps and perfumes as well as massage blends, skin creams and bath oils. You can use chamomile essential oil for dermatitis, boils, acne, skin rash, eczema and psoriasis. German Chamomile balances sebum production and is useful for both oily and dry hair and scalp conditions, as well as sensitive skin types. The German variety has also been reported as useful for treating shingles. What About Pregnancy and Newborns–Is German Chamomile Safe? Pregnant moms especially enjoy the many uses of German Chamomile oil since it helps them to stay calm, rested and relaxed. I suggest diffusing or applying the oils neat or diluted to the soles of the feet or where needed. German Chamomile is a traditional remedy for colicky babies. It is used to relieve colic, intestinal cramps and gas, as well as to ease teething pain. Because of its gentle and benign nature German Chamomile oil may be used to soothe diaper rash. You might want to make a dilution before applying to an infant’s irritated skin. Often you will find that the Roman variety is sweeter to the taste-that is the one I would use with infants and small children. One drop of Roman chamomile on the tummy will relieve gas bubbles and one drop on your finger and rubbed on the teething infant’s gums will relieve pain. What About Safety? If you go to the Internet and do a search, you will come upon all kinds of misinformation. Everything from chamomile can cause allergies to the dangers of using chamomile which has coumarin compound with blood thinners. Those who know me will tell you that coumarins are NOT related to coumadin, a blood thinner. Robert Tisserand who wrote a text on Essential Oil Safety does not indicate any special precautions when using this oil. I would agree. This is a very safe essential oil despite all the precautions you might find on the internet.

For more information, or to order, call Young Living Essential Oils toll-free 1-800-371-2928 (7am-7pm Mountain Time, 6am-6pm Pacific, 9am-9pm Eastern Time). If you are a new customer, use this referral number when placing your order: 91798

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