Real chamomile is a versatile medicinal plant that has been collected and used by humans for thousands of years. However, it is very easy to confuse it with other, very similar species.
Is chamomile poisonous to humans or animals?
False types of chamomile are not poisonous to people or animals, but have no medicinal effect and taste different to real chamomile. Only the real chamomile variety should be used for medicinal purposes or as a tea.
Various types of chamomile
Dyer's chamomile, dog chamomile or false or odorless chamomile - there are a variety of plants that look very similar to real chamomile. However, these false chamomiles have no medicinal properties and are therefore of no interest to both the collector and the gardener. So if you want to go on the hunt for real chamomile, you should memorize its characteristics well or take an identification book with you (€4.00 on Amazon).
False chamomiles are not poisonous
But don't worry: Contrary to many forum entries or grandmothers' advice, false chamomiles are neither poisonous to humans nor animals - they are only ineffective for the intended medicinal purposes and of course they do not taste like real chamomile.
Tips & Tricks
Real chamomile is also good for animals and is by no means poisonous, as is sometimes claimed. For example, many cats love chamomile and especially chamomile tea. However, horse owners should be careful: many people have confused the highly poisonous ragwort with a type of chamomile.
