chamomile

The word chamomile is derived via French and Latin, from the Greek {{langx|grc|χαμαίμηλον|khamaimēlon|earth apple|label=none}}, from {{langx|grc|χαμαί|khamai|on the ground|label=none}}, and {{langx|grc|μῆλον|mēlon|apple|label=none}}.{{LSJ|xamai/mhlon|χαμαίμηλον|ref}}{{cite web|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=camomile|publisher=Online Etymology Dictionary|title=Chamomile|date=2019}} First used in the 13th century, the spelling chamomile corresponds to the Latin {{lang|la|chamomilla}} and the Greek {{transliteration|grc|chamaimelon}}. The spelling camomile is a British derivation from the French.

File:Loose leaf chamomile tea.jpg

Some commonly used species include:

• Matricaria chamomilla – often called "German chamomile" or "Water of Youth"{{cite journal | last1= Sarris|first1=J|last2=Panossian|first2=A|last3=Schweitzer|first3=I|last4=Stough|first4=C|last5=Scholey|first5=A| title=Herbal medicine for depression, anxiety, and insomnia: a review of psychopharmacology and clinical evidence| journal=European Neuropsychopharmacology |volume= 21 |issue=12 |pages=841–860|date=December 2011|pmid=21601431|doi=10.1016/j.euroneuro.2011.04.002 |s2cid=16831869}}
• Chamaemelum nobile – Roman, English, or garden chamomile; also frequently used (C. nobile Treneague is normally used to create a chamomile lawn){{cite web |title=Camomile lawn |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=281 |publisher=The Royal Horticultural Society |date=2018|access-date=6 November 2018}}

A number of other species' common names include the word chamomile. This does not necessarily mean they are used in the same manner as the species used in the herbal tea known as "chamomile". Plants including the common name chamomile, of the family Asteraceae, are:

• Anthemis arvensis – corn, scentless or field chamomile
• Anthemis cotula – stinking chamomile
• Cladanthus mixtus – Moroccan chamomile
• Cota tinctoria – dyer's, golden, oxeye, or yellow chamomile
• Eriocephalus punctulatus – Cape chamomile
• Matricaria discoidea – wild chamomile or pineapple weed
• Oncosiphon pilulifer – globe chamomile
• Tripleurospermum inodorum – wild, scentless or false chamomile

File:Camomile tea, High Tea at the Savoy Hotel.jpg

Chamomile may be used as a flavouring agent in foods and beverages, mouthwash, soaps, and cosmetics. Chamomile tea is a herbal infusion made from dried flowers and hot water, and may improve sleep quality.{{Failed verification|date=March 2025|reason=Source only mentions that "There’s very little information on chamomile’s effect on insomnia. A 2019 review of chamomile use found one study on insomnia, which found no benefit from its use for this sleep disorder."}} Two types of chamomile are used, namely German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) and Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile). Chamomile has historically been used as one of the flavouring ingredients in beer,{{cite book |last1=Grieve |first1=Maude |title=A Modern Herbal |date=1931 |url=https://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/c/chammo49.html}} and is sometimes used by modern brewers.{{cite web |title=Chamomile Beer List |url=https://www.ratebeer.com/tag/chamomile/ |website=RateBeer |access-date=28 August 2019}} Usually the whole plant is used, adding a bitter flavour component.{{cite web |title=Brewing Wildflower Wheat |url=https://www.brewersfriend.com/2012/07/01/brewing-wildflower-wheat-a-honey-chamomile-wheat-beer-from-dogfish-head-founder-sam-calagione/ |website=Brewer's Friend |date=July 2012 |access-date=28 August 2019}}

Chamomile, chiefly Chamaemelum nobile cultivars, is used to "upholster" chamomile seats, raised beds which are about half a meter tall, and designed to be sat upon.The Sensory Garden, Buckfast Abbey (image) Chamomile lawns are also used in sunny areas with light traffic.{{cite web |title=Chamomile lawns |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/lawns/chamomile-lawns |website=www.rhs.org.uk |language=en-gb}}

There is no clinical evidence that chamomile is effective for treating any diseases. Chamomile is under preliminary research for its potential anti-anxiety properties. There is no good evidence that it is useful for treating insomnia.{{cite journal |last1=Leach |first1=Matthew J. |last2=Page |first2=Amy T. |author-link2=Amy Page |year=2015 |title=Herbal medicine for insomnia: A systematic review and meta-analysis |journal=Sleep Medicine Reviews |volume=24 |pages=1–12 |doi=10.1016/j.smrv.2014.12.003 |issn=1087-0792 |pmid=25644982}}

The main compounds in chamomile flowers are coumarins, flavonoids, and polyphenols, including apigenin, quercetin, patuletin, luteolin, and daphnin.{{cite journal|pmid=16628544|year=2006|last1=McKay|first1=D. L.|title=A review of the bioactivity and potential health benefits of chamomile tea (Matricaria recutita L.)|journal=Phytotherapy Research|volume=20|issue=7|pages=519–30|last2=Blumberg|first2=J. B.|doi=10.1002/ptr.1900|s2cid=21041569}}{{cite journal |last1=El Mihyaoui |first1=A |last2=Esteves da Silva |first2=JCG |last3=Charfi |first3=S |last4=Candela Castillo |first4=ME |last5=Lamarti |first5=A |last6=Arnao |first6=MB |title=Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.): A Review of Ethnomedicinal Use, Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Uses. |journal=Life |date=25 March 2022 |volume=12 |issue=4 |page=479 |doi=10.3390/life12040479 |pmid=35454969|doi-access=free |pmc=9032859 |bibcode=2022Life...12..479E }}

The use of chamomile has the potential to cause adverse interactions with numerous herbal products and prescription drugs and may worsen pollen allergies. People who are allergic to ragweed (also in the daisy family) may be allergic to chamomile due to cross-reactivity.

Chamomile consists of several ingredients including coumarin, glycoside, herniarin, flavonoid, farnesol, nerolidol and germacranolide. Despite the presence of coumarin, as chamomile's effect on the coagulation system has not yet been studied, it is unknown whether a clinically significant drug–herb interaction exists with anticoagulant drugs. However, until more information is available, it is not recommended to use these substances concurrently.{{Cite journal|last=Abebe|first=W.|date=2002-12-01|title=Herbal medication: potential for adverse interactions with analgesic drugs|journal=Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics|volume=27|issue=6|pages=391–401|issn=0269-4727|pmid=12472978|doi=10.1046/j.1365-2710.2002.00444.x|s2cid=1828900|doi-access=free}}

Chamomile should not be used by people with past or present cancers of the breast, ovary, or uterus; endometriosis; or uterine fibroids.

Because chamomile has been known to cause uterine contractions that can invoke miscarriage, pregnant women are advised to not consume Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile). Although oral consumption of chamomile is generally recognized as safe in the United States, there is insufficient clinical evidence about its potential for affecting nursing infants.

The chamomile plant is known to be susceptible to many fungi, insects, and viruses. The following fungi are known to attack this plant: Albugo tragopogonis (white rust), Cylindrosporium matricariae, Erysiphe cichoracearum (powdery mildew), E. polyphage, Halicobasidium purpureum, Peronospora leptosperma, Peronospora radii, Phytophthora cactorum, Puccinia anthemedis, Puccinia matricaiae, Septoria chamomillae, and Sphaerotheca macularis (powdery mildew). Also, yellow virus (Chlorogenus callistephi var. californicus Holmes, Callistephus virus 1A) causes severe damage to this plant. {{Cite journal |last1=Singh |first1=Ompal |last2=Khanam |first2=Zakia |last3=Misra |first3=Neelam |last4=Srivastava |first4=Manoj Kumar |date=2011 |title=Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.): An overview |journal=Pharmacognosy Reviews |volume=5 |issue=9 |pages=82–95 |doi=10.4103/0973-7847.79103 |doi-access=free |issn=0973-7847 |pmc=3210003 |pmid=22096322}}Aphids (Aphis fabae) have been observed feeding on chamomile plants and the moth Autographa chryson causes defoliation.The insect Nysius minor caused shedding of M. chamomilla flowers,

Nicholas Culpeper's 17th century The Complete Herbal has an illustration and several entries on chamomel.{{cite book |last1=Culpeper |first1=Nicholas |title=The Complete Herbal |date=1600s |url=https://www.gutenberg.org/files/49513/49513-h/49513-h.htm}}{{cite web |title= [Illustration on Project Gutenberg]|url=https://www.gutenberg.org/files/49513/49513-h/images/i_plate_04-big.jpg |access-date=1 December 2022 }}

• In The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter (1902), Peter's mother gives him chamomile tea to cure his stomach ache.Michael Castleman {{google books|DuUx21ovi90C|The New Healing Herbs: The Classic Guide to Nature's Best Medicines ...|pages=123–125}}
• Mary Wesley's 1984 novel The Camomile Lawn features a house in Cornwall with a lawn planted with chamomile rather than grass.
• In the 2001 No Doubt song "Hey Baby", chamomile is featured in the line "I'm just sippin' on chamomile", sung by Gwen Stefani.{{Citation |title=No Doubt (Ft. Bounty Killer) – Hey Baby |url=https://genius.com/No-doubt-hey-baby-lyrics |access-date=2024-04-24}}
• Chamomile is the national flower of Russia.James Minahan. The complete guide to national symbols and emblems, Vol. 1. Greenwood Press. 2009.
• In Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 1, Falstaff proclaims “…the camomile grows faster the more it is trodden on“.

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category|Matricaria chamomilla}}

• [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ANTI PLANTS Profile: Anthemis tinctoria L. (golden chamomile)], USDA
• {{Wikisource-inline|list=
• {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Chamomile|short=x |noicon=x}}
• {{Cite Americana|wstitle=Chamomile|short=x |noicon=x}}

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