Chamomile

The colloquial name "chamomile" is used interchangeably for several different species. For example, it is mainly used for true or German chamomile (Chamomilla recutita), Roman chamomile (Chamaelum nobilis, Anthemis nobili = INCI name) and dog chamomile with the subgroup of stinking dog chamomile (Anthemis cotula L.).

True chamomile and Roman chamomile are important medicinal plants that differ chemically despite similar modes of action. They are also widely used in cosmetic preparations.

Dog chamomile, especially the stinking dog chamomile, was used in folk medicine, but no longer plays a role in phytotherapy, mainly due to the strongly sensitizing and locally irritating effect of the sesquiterpene lactone anthecotulide it contains. Anthecotulide is only found in small traces in true chamomile and Roman chamomile.