CHAMOMILE

5. Chamomile

WHAT IS “CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA (MATRICARIA) FLOWER EXTRACT” AND WHAT IS ITS USEFULNESS?

Certain parts of a plant are used to design treatments. This is the case of “Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract” which is literally an aqueous extract of German chamomile flowers. This ingredient is present in shampoos, mists, milks or moisturizing creams.

“Chamomilla recutita” or “Matricaria recutita” is the botanical name for chamomile chamomile, chamomile, German chamomile, wild chamomile, true chamomile or truncated chamomile.

It is a medicinal plant from the Asteraceae family and the Matricaria genus, mainly used for the preparation of mother tinctures, herbal teas, essential oils, ointments or ointments. Wild chamomile has its origins in the temperate zones of the northern hemisphere. It often multiplies

wild, but it is possible to cultivate it in a pot or in large quantities.

The matricaria is an annual plant that measures between 50 and 150 cm high. It has erect and branched stems, alternate and thick leaves, yellow flowers in the center surrounded by white petals and a yellowish white fruit. In general, German chamomile flowers are used to integrate targeted treatments. Alcohols, sesquiterpene lactones, flavonoids, coumarin, mucilages and fructans are among the active ingredients contained in

this plant.

In skin and hair care, wild chamomile can

be introduced:

• As an essential oil (INCI: Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Oil) or hydrosol (INCI: Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Water): These two compounds

are extracted by following the steam distillation process of the flowers;

• As a plant extract (INCI: Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract): This

ingredient rather results from the maceration of the plant in an extraction solvent (water + glycerin).

What are the benefits of wild chamomile?

The benefits of wild chamomile on the skin are numerous. This plant contains active molecules, notably flavonoids, which calm and reduce the effects of skin inflammation. Its active ingredients also relieve the symptoms of skin sensitivity, namely itching.

In certain cases, treatments based on chamomile flower extract act on eczema thanks to alpha-bisabolol and their analgesic effects.

They also have properties that relieve redness and burning sensations in the skin. Additionally, German chamomile extract is also used as a masking agent in skin care formulas. It reduces and masks the odor, as well as the basic taste of the other fairly strong ingredients.

Sources :

• MORGAN M. Chamomile from a clinical perspective. Modern Phytotherapist (1996).

• BLUMBERG JB & al. A review of the bioactivity and potential health benefits of chamomile tea (Matricaria recutita L.). Phytotherapy Research (2006).

• ANBINDER AL & al. Effects of Chamomilla recutita (L.) on oral wound healing in rats. Oral Medicine and Pathology (2011).

• DAWID-PAC R. Medicinal plants used in treatment of inflammatory skin diseases. Advances in Dermatology and Allergology/Postepy Dermatologii I Alergologii (2013).