About Chamaemelum nobile (L.) All.
Chamaemelum nobile (L.) All. has daisy-like white flowers and procumbent stems. Its leaves are alternate, bipinnate, finely dissected, and range from downy to glabrous. Solitary terminal flowerheads grow 20–30 cm (8–12 in) above the ground, made up of prominent yellow disk flowers and silver-white ray flowers. In the Northern Hemisphere, this plant flowers in June and July, and it produces a sweet, crisp, fruity, herbaceous fragrance. It is often confused with German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), but the two species have markedly different morphology, properties, and chemical composition.
Roman chamomile, the common name for this species, is native to Western Europe and northwestern Maghreb, with a native range including the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Algeria, and the Azores. It has been introduced and naturalized in many areas outside its native range. In Great Britain, it grows wild in Southern England and parts of Wales, primarily in Cornwall, Dartmoor, the New Forest, and the Welsh coastline; all populations found north of Derbyshire are considered naturalized.
Chamomile is likely unsafe for use during pregnancy. Topical application for skin disorders may cause contact dermatitis, and drinking chamomile tea may have adverse interactions with anticoagulant drugs.
Extracts or dried flowers of Chamaemelum nobile are used in hair care and skincare products. The plant can be used to flavor foods, and it is added to herbal teas, perfumes, and cosmetics. It is used in aromatherapy under the assumption that it acts as a calming agent to reduce stress and promote sleep. Chamomile essential oil contains sesquiterpenes, terpene lactones (including the blue compound chamazulene), acetylene derivatives, and polyphenols; these components contribute to the plant's fragrance and can be extracted individually.
This plant can be grown to create a fragrant chamomile lawn. Chamomile lawns require light soil, adequate moisture, and sunlight to thrive, with 83–100 plants growing per square meter. These lawns are only suitable for light foot traffic; stepping-stones can be added to the lawn if more frequent traffic is expected, and stones must be placed at least 10 cm apart to allow the chamomile to grow. Because chamomile lawns do not require mowing, they are often planted in locations that are difficult for mowers to access, though light trimming can help the lawn grow denser. Flowering varieties require deadheading, so non-flowering varieties are lower-maintenance. Dwarf varieties are also commonly used for chamomile lawns.
Chamomile lawns were popular in England during the reign of Elizabeth I, which lasted from 1558 to 1603. Chamomile seats, smaller raised areas of fragrant lawn designed to be sat on, were also popular, and they remain a common garden feature today. A chamomile seat exists in the Queen's Garden at Kew Gardens. Similar herb seats planted with other species, such as creeping thyme, also exist.
While this plant has been used in folk medicine, no studies have confirmed that it has any medicinal efficacy. Alternative medicine practices approved in Germany include using chamomile as a topical medication or inhalant for mouth and respiratory tract irritations.
