Chamomile for skincare

In this Article (Index)

• What is Chamomile?
• Historic and Traditional Medicine Uses
• Medical properties and benefits of chamomile
• Skin related Benefits
• Skincare Uses of Chamomile
• Homemade Salve with Chamomile-infused Oil
• Chamomile Poultice
• Chamomile Compress
• Risks and Precautions

What is Chamomile

Chamaemelum nobile or Chamomile (also spelled camomile) is known under different common names such as Roman chamomile, mother's daisy, English chamomile, and garden chamomile. It is often confused with the German chamomile or Matricaria chamomilla which belongs to a different genus of the same Asteraceae Family. Both German and English chamomile are used for the same purposes.

It is a perennial plant roughly 1 foot tall (30 cm) with small daisy-like flowers with a large central yellow disk and thin white petals.

Its name comes from the Greek words "chamai" = ground and "melon" = apple, due to its scent, which resembles that of apples.

Its dried flowers are used in teas, and its essential oil is used in aromatherapy.

Historic and Traditional Medicine Uses

Many online sources claim that chamomile appears in the "Ebers Papyrus," an ancient Egyptian medical papyrus dating back to 1,500 BC, but we checked the text and didn't find it mentioned there; in case you are interested, you can read it online in an English translation (1).

Greek pharmacologist, botanist, and physician Pedanius Dioscorides (c. 40–90 AD) is known as "the father of pharmacognosy." He wrote about chamomile in his medical encyclopedia De materia medica (2).
Discorides mentions it as follows:

It grows in rough places and byways. It is gathered in the spring. The roots, flowers, and herb have a warming, relieving strength. Taken as a drink of a decoction (or by bathing) they expel the menstrual flow, are abortifacient, expel stones [urinary, kidney], and induce urine. They are taken as a drink for gaseousness, and for suffering from intestinal obstruction; they clean away jaundice, and cure liver ailments; and a decoction of them is used in warm packs for the bladder... Smeared on they cure ulcers in the inner angle of the eye. Chewed, they cure aphta. Some also use it as a suppository (beating it finely with oil) for recurrent fevers... Chamomile pounded into small pieces with rosaceum cures fevers. It is an effective plant for those who are reasonably well... some call it chamemelum because of the similarity of its smell to apples; some call it melanthemon, chrysocome, or callias; the Romans call it malium, and the Africans, astertiphe. Discorides

Modern popular uses include poultices (powdered herb in hot water) and hot foments using chamomile flowers as a remedy for inflammation, and external swelling. Herb beer is used for external applications in toothache and earache. For cracked nipples, rash, burns, bruises, canker sores, eczema, gout, and irritated skin. Chamomile tea is used in gargles to treat sore throat and to treat insomnia, and nightmares, as a sedative for sleep problems. (8)

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Chamomile has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine in herbal baths as an anti-inflammatory, skin moisturizer, and decoction (tea) in water. It is also applied topically as a powder or a lotion on wounds, hemorrhoids, eye, nose, and throat inflammation. (5)

Traditional Uses in Europe

The European Medical Agency mentions traditional herbal medicine uses for the following conditions: (6)

• Complementary therapy for non-serious skin and mucous irritations in the anal and genital region. As an infusion using 4.5 to 5 g per liter of water, for irrigation applied several times a day.
• For the treatment of sunburn, minor inflammation of the skin, small boils (furuncles), and superficial wounds. Using 3 to 10 g of herbs per 100 ml of water in an infusion, used for washing or as impregnated dressings several times a day.

Medical properties and benefits of chamomile

• Improves Sleep
• Antibiotic and Antiviral (Herpes)
• Wound healing
• Atopic Eczema

Improves Sleep

Chamomile promoted sleep and improved sleep quality in elderly adults using extracts (200 mg twice a day). (9)

A randomized trial found that post-partum women had improved sleep quality but the benefits were short-lived, dwindling after 4-weeks. (10)

A review and meta-analysis of 10 studies with 772 participants reported that: "Chamomile improved sleep, especially the number of awakenings after sleep or staying asleep; however, it did not lead to an improvement in the duration of sleep, percentage of sleep efficiency, and daytime functioning measures. Future studies are suggested to assess objective measures." (11)

Skin related Benefits

The following properties of chamomile are related to the skin, including therapeutic benefits.

Antibiotic and Antiviral (Herpes)

One of chamomile's phytochemicals, &alpha-bisabolol is an anti-microbial that has proven effective against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Its essential oils have shown strong antiviral activity against "acyclovir-sensitive and acyclovir-resistant Herpes simplex virus strains." (3)

Wound healing

A 2006 study using rats compared chamomile and corticosteroids for treating ulcers finding that it completely cured lesions after 5 days of treatment; the "animals treated with chamomile presented significantly faster wound healing in comparison to those treated with corticosteroids... chamomile in comparison to corticosteroids promotes faster wound healing process." (4)

Atopic Eczema

The use of chamomile for treating atopic eczema is "moderately effective... It was found to be about 60% as effective as 0.25% hydrocortisone cream." (8)

Skincare &Cosmetic Uses of Chamomile

• Homemade Salve with Chamomile-infused Oil
• Chamomile Poultice
• Chamomile Compress

Bioactive Plant Compounds in Chamomile

Dried chamomile flowers contain flavonoids like apigenin, guercetin, luteolin, and patuletin; and terpenoids like nobilin and 3-epinobilin. Other components include &alpha-bisabolol, A and B bisabolol oxides, chamzaulene, and coumarins. (8)

Chamomile is used for treating acne and rashes, for hydrating the skin, it improves elasticity and repairs sensitive skin. (5)

Chamomile has softening properties, the flowers contain 1 to 2% volatile oils with &alpha bisabolol and matricine which have anti-inflammatory properties. "The flavonoids are not only adsorbed at the skin surface but penetrate into deeper skin layers." (12)

Homemade Salve with Chamomile-infused Oil

Easy to make at home it is a two-step recipe. First, you need to prepare the infused oil, then you can make the salve.

Chamomile-infused Oil

You can use any oil, like olive oil, but a neutral one like almond oil is better. Fill a jar halfway through with dry crushed chamomile flowers and add oil until it covers the flowers. Let it steep for at least 3 weeks.
You can also place the flowers and oil in a stainless steel pot and heat them at bain-marie for around one hour. Let it cool before using. Strain with a cheesecloth to remove any herb residues.

You can infuse other herbs such as rosemary, lavender, rose petals, dandelion, or calendula. Use dry herbs, not fresh ones. Fresh herbs contain too much water and they will go rancid sooner or promote microbial growth. The shelf life for an infused oil is around 90 days. Store in a dry, cool, dark place.

Preparation of the salve

Ingredients
Makes 2 ounces
1⁄3 cup of chamomile-infused oil
1 tablespoon of beeswax pellets
10 drops of chamomile essential oil (optional)
2 oz tin for the finished product.

Preparation

Melt the beeswax at bain-marie, add the infused oil, and stir, as it cools add the essential oil. Pour into a small can, and let it cool.

Store in a dry, cool place. Shelf life is six months. Adding the contents of a vitamin E supplement capsule (antioxidant) will ensure it does not go rancid with time.

Before using any new cosmetic, even a natural, homemade one test it first. Even if you know your skin well, even if it is healthy, and not sensitive, it is possible that an ingredient in a cosmetic formulation may trigger an allergic contact dermatitis sensitizing it. The trick is to test cosmetics on several small areas of your skin first, to see if you experience a skin reaction.

Chamomile Poultice

A poultice is a fresh herb crushed or a paste prepared from a dry herb, applied directly on the skin.

Heat one teaspoon of powdered chamomile flowers in water for 10 minutes until a paste is formed. Let it cool. Apply to the skin and let it act for a few minutes. Wash off with tepid water, softly.

Chamomile Compress

A compress or fomentation is the application of a cloth that has been soaked in a herbal preparation.

Prepare an infusion of chamomile in water and let it cool. Wet a clean gauze or cloth in the cold tea. Apply to the skin (1-15 min).

Risks and Precautions

Despite being natural, herbs can cause adverse reactions and can interact with other herbs, medicines, and supplements. You should only use them under the supervision of your healthcare provider. Discontinue their use if you notice side effects or allergies.

Chamomile is listed on the FDA's GRAS (generally recognized as safe) list.

People who are allergic to chrysanthemums, daisies, or ragweed may also be allergic to chamomile.

If you suffer from asthma, don't take chamomile. Neither should women who have a history of breast or uterine cancer (sensitive to female hormones); chamomile may act like estrogen and is not indicated in these cases.

It can increase the risk of bleeding(7) so discontinue intake at least 2 weeks before undergoing surgery.

Chamomile can make you drowsy, don't drink it and drive.

Eyewashing with chamomile in people who have hay fever can worsen eye inflammation. (8)

Safety for pregnant or nursing women has not been established.