Chamomile essential oil : natural remedies for skin and hair well-being. All the properties of chamomile essential oil.
Chamomile is characterized by a herbaceous scent and a sweet note and is distinguished by its peculiar properties.
Homemade chamomile essential oil
chamomile essential oil is extracted from the flower heads and other parts of the herb “Matricaria chamomilla” or common chamomile. Its extraction is done with a steam distillation method.
If you live near a chamomile field you can try to prepare this essential oil at home using a specially modified pressure cooker. How to prepare the essential oil of chamomile done in house? For all information on the extraction technique and do-it-yourself in the home, we invite you to visit the page dedicated to steam distillation. You will understand that to prepare a vial of a few ml of chamomile essential oil you will need a lot of raw material.
Chamomile essential oil
Chamomile is popular for its anti-inflammatory properties dictated by the active ingredients contained in its essential oil, we are talking about the compounds alpha-bisabolol, guaiazulene, chamazulene and farnesene.
The anti-inflammatory properties of chamomile are also linked to the activities carried out by flavonoids (especially apigenin, quercetin, apiin and luteolin) and by the matricin and des-acetyl-matricarin lactones.
To underline the anti-inflammatory properties of chamomile it will be enough to point out that, with the same active ingredient in weight, its anti-inflammatory power is comparable to that of cortisone.
Why do they advise you to drink chamomile tea when your stomach hurts? For the presence of stimulating and digestive substances. Quercimethrin, eupatuletin and coumarins are responsible for the digestive properties of chamomile and are present in abundance in its essential oil.
If these properties were not enough, it is also useful for relieving pain from rheumatism, muscle strains and sciatica.
Chamomile essential oil in cosmetics
Those interested in cosmetic properties, let’s say right away that this essential oil is a good natural remedy for treating sensitive skin. It can be useful for treating sunburn, sunburn, insect bites, psoriasis, eczema, pimples and skin spots.
Can chamomile tea lighten hair?
Those hoping to be able to use chamomile essential oil to lighten their hair may be a little disappointed: this essential oil does not work miracles! For hair care, it can make them brighter but if you are brown or basically black, you will not wake up in the shoes of blonde dolls!
If you still want to try lightening your hair with chamomile essential oil, we recommend using it with black tea rather than beer or other random ingredients. Thanks to the essential oil of chamomile, the hair will be brighter from the first application.
DIY hair mask
Here’s how to make a hair pack:
- highly concentrated black tea infusion (300 ml)
- chamomile essential oil (10 drops)
Chamomile essential oil, in addition to lightening your hair slightly, will help keep it healthy, smooth and strong. When the infusion has cooled, mix it well and pour it on your hair: leave the mixture on for 15 minutes. It is advisable to repeat the treatment 2 or 3 times before shampooing.
An alternative natural remedy to obtain a “highlights ” effect and lighten the hair, consists in making a pack with 150 ml of wheat germ oil and 6 drops of chamomile essential oil. The pack should be left on for 30 – 40 minutes before rinsing with plenty of warm water.
How to use chamomile essential oil
We recommend some valuable uses and applications of the essential oil. In addition to lightening your hair, this essential oil can come in handy for making a multipurpose blend!
6 drops of chamomile essential oil in 2 tablespoons of sweet almond oil can be used for soothing massages, massage the abdomen and stomach in case of abdominal cramps, to soothe dry and irritated skin, to moisturize sun damaged skin, to relieve the itching of an insect bite or to relieve muscle and rheumatic pains.
To treat psoriasis, prepare an ointment based on:
- 4 drops of chamomile essential oil
- 50 ml of borage oil
- 50 ml of avocado oil
- 3 drops of birch essential oil
Roman chamomile and blue chamomile
When we talk about chamomile essential oil we refer to three different types of essential oils:
- Extract from common chamomile ( Matricaria chamomilla)
- Obtained from Roman chamomile ( Chamaemelum nobile)
- Produced from the species Matricaria recutita or blue chamomile
There is no scientific evidence that an essential oil can be richer in certain active ingredients, however Roman chamomile essential oil as well as blue chamomile essential oil are much more expensive than that obtained from the common species.
The properties attributable to these essential oils are:
- Sedative / calming
- Antispasmodic
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antiseptics
- Antimicrobial
Chamomile essential oil: price and where to find it
This essential oil can be purchased at the most well-stocked herbalists or by taking advantage of the online purchase.
The only recommendation is to always choose a pure (undiluted) and natural (unadulterated) product. It is up to you to untangle yourself between choosing an essential oil obtained from blue, Roman or common chamomile. All three oils are very rich in esters and as stated, there is no scientific evidence that one plant is more promising than the other.
