USING CHAMOMILE ESSENTIAL OILS IN SKIN CARE

Lynda Michaluk Sorenson

Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile or Anthemis nobilis) is another of the flowering herbs I like to grow in pots on my terrace, and I enjoy it�s sweet, fruity fragrance on summer mornings when I pick the flowers. I grow so little of it - more for ornament and the thought of it than for any practical purpose - that I only end up at the end of the summer with a tiny jelly jar of flowers, but it is wonderful to unscrew the top and just take a deep sniff of that fresh apple aroma. The local nurseries don�t carry the German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomila), and I suppose one of these summers I will track some of that down as well, just to observe the differences in characteristics of the two plants, though they are said to look very much alike.

Both Essential oils of Roman Chamomile and German Chamomile have their place in skin care usage, and the simplified way to explain it is this: All other factors being equal, if I am using Chamomile Essential oil for the face, most especially during any type of relaxing skin care treatment, I reach for the Roman Chamomile, because I feel that the strong, green, just-cut herbal fragrance of the German Chamomile will overwhelm anything else used in the blend, and is a scent that the average newcomer to Aromatherapy treatments needs to become accustomed to. Using it on the face the first go around is not necessarily the nicest way to introduce it to a client. However, if the issue I am addressing really, really needs serious Chamomile, I whip out the big guns and use German Chamomile.

THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS

Both the Roman and German Chamomiles contain chamazulene, which gives the oil it�s bluish tinge. The greater chamazulene content in the German Chamomile makes it a darker blue, and more effective for certain purposes. This chemical component is apparently not present in the raw plant material, but is a product of the distillation for the Essential oil.

The oils seem to share several therapeutic actions, including the properties of being anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, bacteriostatic and antibacterial, and cytophylactic or cicatrisant. In addition, the Roman Chamomile exhibits the therapeutic actions of being astringent, antimicrobial, analgesic and anesthetic.

These actions would indicate their usefulness in dealing with conditions such as acne, allergies or hives, dry skin, inflamed and irritated skin, cuts, rosacea, sensitive skin, bug bites, and sunburns.

SAFETY AND SKIN PATCH TESTING

Remember our safety mantras: Never, ever use any Essential oil neat, except in certain emergency situations. Any person can become sensitized to any substance at any time. And understand that there are many skin conditions that are not treatable at home; that a qualified medical professional should examine any condition that causes concern or persists after simpler treatments have been tried. While one will typically use dilutions of 2-3% if using Essential oils in massage formulations, when using Essential oils in skin care I prefer to work in dilutions of one-half to one percent or less. I find this to be quite efficacious, and it greatly reduces the risk of sensitization. Also, when using Essential oils in skincare one is most usually working with conditions of broken or damaged skin, and therefore the lowest effective dilutions possible are the ones to use, due to the greater sensitivity and permeability of the skin under such conditions.

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