This time of the year, it’s no secret that most of us could use a little extra rest and relaxation. Holiday plans and family get-togethers can be very fun, but also very exhausting, taking a pretty significant toll on both our mental and physical health. Thankfully, we can turn to our very helpful friend, chamomile, to give us some extra support to help tackle this festive season!
But there’s more than one Chamomile!
Plant Therapy carries two different chamomile essential oils and one Chamomile CO2, which may come off as a bit confusing – understandably. Let’s take some time to clear up the differences so that you can make the most educated decision for yourself and your family.
Chamomile Roman, Chamaemelum nobile, and Chamomile German, Matricaria chamomilla, are both aromatic herbs often used interchangeably. However, you’ll notice that both of these “chamomiles” have a different genus and species name; they also have markedly different chemical components and can be used for different purposes.
Chamomile Roman
The Chamaemelum nobile is a small evergreen perennial that grows low to the ground. The hairy stems and threadlike leaves support small, vibrant, daisy-like flowers that often create a gorgeous ground cover. The essential oil has a pale, yellow color and a light, but intense, sweet apple-fruity aroma. This is widely considered the more gentle chamomile oil, making it ideal for use with young children.
It has long been favored to help calm the nervous system and provide support for feelings of irritability, anxiety, and stress [1, 2,3]. Chamomile Roman is also a fantastic choice to help improve the quality of sleep by easing physical and emotional tension in the body that can build up over time [4, 5]. This natural mood booster can also help reduce feelings associated with depression [6]. Perfect for the holidays, right?
Chamomile Roman is rich in esters, which gives this oil its antispasmodic qualities. This is ideal when you’re dealing with a tummy that feels tight and uncomfortable. It helps relax stomach muscles, which consequently can dispel gas and support the digestive processes [5,7]. This is also great for soothing menstrual cramps, body aches, and back pain associated with a woman’s menses [6].
This gentle giant of an oil can also provide soothing relief to irritated skin. It has been used as a natural remedy for dry skin, superficial wounds, and minor burns, bruises, and rashes [8]. For an amazing facial mask DIY using Chamomile Roman, check out THIS blog!
Chamomile German
The Matricaria chamomilla is a self-seeding annual plant with long, branching, hairless stems that can grow up to 24 inches tall. The vibrant yellow and white flowers are steam distilled to produce a strong, herbaceous aroma similar to chamomile tea. The essential oil is a breathtakingly deep and distinct blue color, thanks to its chamazulene content. So be careful – this oil will leave a stain on fabric and carpet!
Chamomile German is rich in sesquiterpene derivatives. Particularly, the chemical components a-bisabolol and azulene are known to stimulate the liver and support the digestive system by easing intestinal cramping [9].
Inhaling Chamomile German has shown to reduce the perception of pain, ease tired muscles and aching joints, and can also assist with nasal allergies, minor cuts, and superficial wounds [10]. Additionally, it is emotionally and mentally calming, helping to settle frayed nerves and ease tension after a long day [5].
Check out THIS blog for a DIY cream using Chamomile German that will help give you a well-rested night of sleep!
Chamomile German CO2
The CO2 Extract version of Chamomile German has a softer, more herbaceous aroma that is considered “truer” to the scent of the flower. A difference from steam distilled Chamomile German that you may notice immediately is the CO2’s lack of color. That’s because chamazulene, the component that gives Chamomile German that beautiful blue color, develops during the steam distillation process.
However, unlike the steam distilled version, the CO2 contains Matricine, a component that is the precursor to chamazulene. This is known to be very supportive, especially for dry or reddened skin. This is a fantastic choice for helping soothe skin inflammations, such as minor rashes, insect bites, and burns.
Keep in mind that this CO2 can be a little tricky to work with because it is very thick and viscous. Just roll the bottle in your hand to create warmth and allow the CO2 to be a bit more workable. You only need a very small amount of it, too — just 0.1 – 0.2% for skin blends — because it is such a powerhouse.
Check out some great recipes for skin using Chamomile German CO2 HERE!
Sources:
[1] Study shows chamomile capsules ease anxiety symptoms. (2015). National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Retrieved from https://nccih.nih.gov/research/results/spotlight/040310.htm
[2] Amsterdam, J. D., Shults, J., Soeller, I., Mao, J. J., Rockwell, K., & Newberg, A. B. (2012). Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) may provide antidepressant activity in anxious, depressed humans: an exploratory study. Alternative therapies in health and medicine, 18(5), 44-9.
[3] Guimarães, R., Barros L., Dueñas, M., Calhelha, R., Carvalho, A., Santos-Buelga, C., Queiroz, M., Ferreira, I. (2013). Nutrients, phytochemicals and bioactivity of wild Roman chamomile: a comparison between the herb and its preparations. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23122119
[4] Srivastava, J.K., Shankar, E., & Gupta, S. (2010). Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with a bright future (Review). Molecular Medicine Reports, 3, 895-901.
[5] Butje, A. (2016). Should You Use Roman Chamomile or German Chamomile? Retrieved from https://blog.aromahead.com/2016/05/16/use-roman-chamomile-german-chamomile
[6] Amsterdam, J., Shults, J., Soeller, I., Mao J., Rockwell, K., Newberg, A. (2012). Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) may provide antidepressant activity in anxious, depressed humans: an exploratory study. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22894890
[7] Chamomile. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Retrieved from https://nccih.nih.gov/health/chamomile/ataglance.htm
[8] Srivastava, J. K., Shankar, E., & Gupta, S. (2010). Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with bright future. Molecular medicine reports, 3(6), 895-901.
[9] Chamomile.(2018). Michigan Medicine University of Michigan. Healthnotes, Inc. Retrieved from https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/hn-2066005
[10] Ford-Martin, P. and Odle, T. G. 2005. Aromatherapy. In J.L. Longe, ed. Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Second Edition, Volume I (A–C). Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, p. 123.
Very helpful. Thank you!
Very helpful. It also helps in insomia.
Thanks for this blog post! It’s exactly what I needed to decide between German and Roman, and saved me a lot of time and research! P.s. I’m going with German 🙂
Looking forward to adding some german chamomile into homemade coconut and shea butter lotion for eczema relief for my kids .
This was a great article. The problem is instead of helping decide between Roman and German, I now want thth both lol. Thank you 🙂
I have used camomile Roman, and I have to say Wow! I used it on my face (diluted of course) at bedtime and when I woke up a couple blemishes I had were completely flat which tells me it works for inflammation and it left my skin super smooth! Something I haven’t had in many years! So glad to come into EOS and Plant Therapy!
This was so helpful! Thanks plant therapy for taking the time to spell this out and make it easier for me to chose which one to purchase.
i haven just gotten some roman chamomile during sale and was expecting a more herbaceous scent like the chamomile tea counterpart. turns out its quite sweet smelling which i fancy less..
its interesting to know that the facts behind the co2 version of german chamomile..! thanks for sharing pt!
It would be really nice if PT had a book compiling all this info. I’d love to buy one
Such a huge help! I wanted to order some tonight, but wasn’t sure which to choose. After reading this, I went with the Chamomile Roman. Thank you!
Louise, we’re so glad this post helped you make your choice!
Thank you for this interesting article. I can’t remember where I read this, but somewhere I heard that both of the Chamomile essential oils aren’t good to use if you have Fall seasonal allergies to Ragweed. I was looking into Chamomile tea on the NIH website awhile back and it said that people with ragweed allergies are more likely to have allergic reactions to Chamomile. Is this the same with the essential oils, using them topically and/or diffusing? I see this blog says German Chamomile can help relieve allergy symptoms, so maybe I am wrong and the oils won’t contribute to allergies? Thanks!
Jessie you are correct in that ragweed sufferers may want to steer clear of chamomile because chamomile is a relative to ragweed as such are cucumbers, zucchini, and some melons which also sometimes cause allergy symptoms in those with allergic to ragweed. But I cant find anything with specifics and to whether or not a chamomile oil would have the same effect. I should think it would but I am not an expert lol. This is interesting and would like to explore further. All 3 of my boys have seasonal allergies and I am looking for something as an alternative to zyrtec and nasal sprays… so here I am!
Thank you for this! I just bought both Roman Chamomile and German Chamomile and it’s great to have a better idea for which one to use when. 🙂 I’m printing this off for my binder. 🙂
Thank you. This comparison was very helpful. I’ve been wanting to get Chammomile EO but I haven’t been able to decide which one would be best. This helped explain the differences for me.
I have all three. So it seems Chamomile Roman EO is best for menstrual cramps, Chamomile German EO is best for skin inflammation and Chamomile German CO2 is even better. And all are good for diffusing to promote rest and relaxation, but maybe the CR eo and the CG eo would be better diffused than CG CO2. I hope I’ve got this straight. Are all 3 KidSafe?
Thank you so much for this informative article. I will have a mich easier time choosing which chamomile to use in the future.
So nice to know the difference, thanks!
Definitely need to add these to my collections. Wish they weren’t so pricey!
This is so helpful! I never knew the difference between the two.
Thank you for this information! I had been debating back and forth which one to get and now I know Roman Chamomile is the one I need! It’s added to the wishlist.
This helps me so much! I always want to order the correct version of each oil! Thank you for explaining the differences. 🙂
Love this type of article explaining the differences between between different versions of oils. Very helpful!
I have several co2 oils rubbing in your hands works sometimes I use warm water and your right very little goes a long way
Thanks you for the explanation. I’m always unsure which to use but now I’m certain.
I love tips like this, I didn’t realize each one had such different uses!
I did not know about the difference between the chamomiles, this was so helpful. Definitely adding both to my wish list
Great info I did not realize german was good for pain.
Thanks so much for clarifying! With so many different kinds it’s kinda confusing which one to order! Thank you!
Please post more about the differences between other kinds of essential oils.
Chamomile is a favorite for many. I did not really understand the difference between the two, so this was a wonderful article! Thanks for keeping us safe and informed! 🙂
Thank you for information. Very useful.
I needed this description this morning! I was all set to buy Roman when I actually need German.
This is very helpful. Thank you!
Here’s what I got from this helpful blog: I need all three! Insomnia/anxiety issues, skin issues, & sinus/pain issues! Lol, I was hoping one would cover everything. I appreciate getting the emails on blogs because I sometimes forget to read them. Thanks!
Thank you for pointing out the difference. I had no idea.
Thank you for explaining the CO2 labels! I’d seen it on the website but wasn’t entirely sure the differences.
I’ve been looking to get a chance I’ll. This article provides great insight on which to get.
Thanks, PT! I’ve often wondered about the CO2 on labels. Now I know! These blogs are very helpful!
These comparison blogs have been extremely helpful. I’m super excited to get my hands on some Chamomile Roman, it’s officiallly in my wish list! I’m hoping it will help with my anxiety and my acne!
Chamomile is one of my favorite oils to work with, it’s an amazing E.O and I encourage people to do further research about the chemical constituents and benefits. My personal favorite is German Chamomile CO2 and then German Chamomile Steam Distilled. Roman has a little sharper scent and it seems German is just as calming, for me. 🙂
It is nice to learn the difference. Thank you for this informative blog!
Wow this was sooo helpful! I always wanted to try a chamomile but never knew which one. A nerd like me appreciates the scientific information, along with uses. I love reading your blogs 🙂 Thanks PT… and I do think German is best for me and my joint pain.
I had no idea that German Chamomile was so good for pain, knowing this I will definitely be using this more often. I already diffuse Roman Chamomile for a calming effect.
I don’t have either of these. I think I should add these to my collection. I have a lot of muscle discomfort in my neck and lower back. Maybe this alone will help.
Thank you for explaining the difference between the two. I can always use a muscle soak as I am on my feet volunteering.
love these oils and great information. thank you!
Ty for this! This is incredibly helpful!
Another awesome post like day before the difference of cedarwood ! Even i see the individual page of chamomile, i still got confusion some time. Thank you so much for the fantastic info!!
love roman chamomile for at night
I’m excited to try the German Chamomile in my son’s diffuser at night!
I had no idea German was good for joints. I knew Chamomile in general is soothing though. Thanks for the info!