Real chamomile is one of the oldest medicinal plants used by humans; its use has been documented as far back as the early Stone Age. The medicinal herb can be used in a variety of ways, but primarily helps internally and externally with inflammation and problems with the stomach and intestinal tract. There are numerous different types of chamomile that look very similar but have no healing properties. Find out which characteristics you can use to recognize real chamomile.
How do I recognize real chamomile?
You can recognize real chamomile by its growth height of up to 50 cm, strong chamomile scent, concave flower base with drooping leaves and smooth tongue leaves. In addition, the base of the flower is hollow inside, in contrast to false chamomile and dog chamomile.
Collect chamomile
Chamomile is widespread throughout Europe and grows both at mountainous altitudes of up to approx. 1,600 meters and in the northern German plains. You can find the fast-growing herb in sunny and warm locations on field edges, roadsides, in meadows and fields, on walls, fallow land and rubble sites. However, it is important not to collect wild chamomile carelessly, as many fields and meadows are treated with pesticides and other harmful chemicals. Chamomile treated in this way cannot be used as a medicinal plant, nor can plants growing close to busy roads.
The right harvest time
The flowering period of chamomile lasts from around May to September, although you should collect the flower heads in June / July if possible - the content of the valuable essential oils is highest when the flowers are already a little Have had time to ripen, but are not overripe yet. You can tell when the optimal time is right when around two thirds of a chamomile population has already bloomed, but a few buds are still closed.
Characteristics of real chamomile
You can distinguish real chamomile from other types of chamomile by the following typical characteristics:
- Growth height up to around 50 centimeters, less possible depending on soil conditions (many types of chamomile grow significantly larger)
- a strong scent of chamomile (in contrast to the very similar but odorless false chamomile)
- a concavely curved flower base with drooping leaves
- linearly arranged tongue leaves with smooth edges (the leaves of dog chamomile in particular have a slight serration)
The most important distinction is this: Use a sharp knife to cut through a flower base from top to bottom. it should be more or less hollow inside. Both the false chamomile and the dog chamomile have rather flat, double flower bases.
Tips & Tricks
To prevent confusion and avoid contamination with pesticides etc., grow real chamomile in your own garden. You can also simply collect ripe flower heads in nature and simply drop them in the garden - they will practically sow themselves.
