At a glance
- Common name
- German / Roman Chamomile
- Botanical name
- Matricaria chamomilla / Chamaemelum nobile
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Parts mentioned in historical records
- Flower heads
- Traditional correspondences
- Sun; Water / Sun
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Historical record
Revered in Ancient Egypt as a sacred cure for malaria and fevers, dedicated to Ra the Sun God. Recorded by Pliny the Elder and central to Anglo-Saxon monastic medicine as one of the sacred nine herbs.
Folklore and mythology
Known as the 'Plant's Physician', gardeners planted it next to sickly plants to revive them. Gamblers washed their hands in chamomile tea to ensure winning bets and draw prosperity.
Dedicated to the Egyptian sun god Ra due to its rayed petals mimicking the sun. In Norse myth, associated with Baldur the beautiful, god of light and purity, due to its radiant white and gold petals.
Tradition: Ancient Egyptian & Norse Associated figures: Ra & Baldur
Mystical correspondences
Correspondences vary by tradition and source.
Is German / Roman chamomile safe to use?
Historical and spiritual associations do not establish that German / Roman Chamomile is safe or effective. Do not use this page as instructions for ingesting, smoking, inhaling, or applying German / Roman Chamomile.
For current safety information, check a health authority or ask a qualified clinician or pharmacist, especially during pregnancy or lactation, while taking medication, or with an allergy or health condition.
Exposure note: EPA indoor-particle guidance says burning can add particles and advises ventilation. ASPCA plant entries address ingestion, not smoke exposure. See the sourced burning, pet and pregnancy lookup; neither source clears this plant as safe to burn.