Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
August 1, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Field Notes • Herb

Chamomile

Chamomile is the common name for several daisy-like flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, especially those used in herbal tea and traditional medicine.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

Chamomile is the common name for several daisy-like flowering plants in the Asteraceae family, most notably German chamomile and Roman chamomile. It has a long history of use in herbal tea and traditional medicine for calming, digestive, and skin-related purposes.

What it is

Chamomile refers to several flowering herbs in the daisy family, Asteraceae. The two main medicinal species are German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) and Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile). These plants are native to Europe and Asia and are widely cultivated for their flowers, which are used in teas, extracts, and cosmetics.

Why it matters

Chamomile is a staple in herbal medicine and wellness, valued for its calming and digestive properties. It has been used in ancient traditions across Egypt, Greece, Rome, and China, and remains popular today in teas and natural health products. In Canada, it is a common grocery item and ingredient in wellness products.

Key details

Chamomile flowers contain volatile oils and flavonoids, which are often cited for their anti-inflammatory and soothing effects. German chamomile is the most common species for tea, while Roman chamomile is also widely used. Other related plants may be called chamomile, but these two are the primary medicinal species.

In short

  • Chamomile is a common name for several daisy-like plants, not a single species.
  • German and Roman chamomile are the main types used in tea and medicine.
  • Its flowers contain volatile oils and flavonoids linked to calming and digestive uses.
  • Chamomile has a long history in traditional medicine across multiple cultures.
Canadian angle

Chamomile is widely used in Canada as an herbal tea and as an ingredient in natural health products, and it is familiar to Canadian consumers in both grocery and wellness contexts.

Quick questions

What is chamomile?
Chamomile is the common name for several daisy-like flowering plants, especially those used in herbal tea and traditional medicine.
What are the main types of chamomile?
The main medicinal types are German chamomile and Roman chamomile.
What is chamomile used for?
It is commonly used in tea and traditional remedies for relaxation, digestive complaints, and some skin conditions.

Sources

  1. NCCIH — https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/chamomile
    Supports: Chamomile species, historical medicinal use, and modern promoted uses
  2. University of Wisconsin Extension — https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/chamomile-matricaria-chamomilla/
    Supports: German chamomile as a species commonly used for chamomile tea
  3. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/plant/chamomile
    Supports: Chamomile as several daisylike plants in Asteraceae and tea species
  4. WebMD — https://www.webmd.com/diet/supplement-guide-chamomile
    Supports: Main varieties and general description of chamomile
  5. PubMed Central — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2995283/
    Supports: Traditional medicinal uses and constituent compounds