The power of essential oils for hay fever - Chamomile

Whenever we develop a new product, every ingredient is extensively researched and selected for its scientifically backed and longstanding use in traditional remedies.

Breaze Hay Fever support products are based on a complex functional aromatherapy formulation of 10 essential oils and botanical ingredients. Each plays an important role, and together they’re proven to help you breathe easier and sleep better when hay fever and allergies strike.*

In this series, we’re taking a deep dive on our functional ingredients to explain the history, heritage, and science behind each, and to show how it earned its place in our award-winning formulation.

German Camomile. Matricaria chamomilla

Camomile is one of the oldest medicinal herbs in the world. There are two key varieties, Roman Camomile and German Camomile, and we selected the latter for the Breaze hay fever blend due to its powerful anti-inflammatory properties.

This pretty, yellow-centred white flower is part of the daisy Asteraceae family and its name is derived from the ancient Greek words ‘kamai’ and ‘melon’ meaning ‘earth apple’ due to its delicate apple-like fragrance. Native to western and southern Europe, Asia and north Africa, it’s easy to grow in large parts of the world, including in any well-drained spot in your garden. You can even use it as an alternative to grass for your lawn!

Often the basis for relaxation and sleep wellbeing products, it’s easy to pigeonhole camomile as no more than a useful natural sedative. But its pedigree and history as a healing herb go much further than that.

Recognised by the ancient Greeks, Egyptians and Romans for its medicinal properties, it’s still used today in Traditional Chinese Medicine - as a treatment for hay fever, inflammation, muscle cramps, insomnia, ulcers, wounds, digestive disorders, and rheumatic pain. It’s also a common ingredient in ointments to soothe skin irritation and is used in shampoos for blonde hair due to its hair brightening effects.

When distilled from dried camomile flowers, the essential oil is dark blue in colour with a bittersweet, apple-y herbal fragrance that smells slightly medicinal. Its medicinal properties come from its rich flavonoid content. Containing over 50 of these powerful antioxidant compounds, camomile essential oil is packed full of health-giving goodness.

Camomile is central to our formulation for its natural anti-inflammatory action. Modern studies show that when inhaled, it can reduce the inflammation in the airways that causes a stuffy nose and head during a hay fever or allergic rhinitis flare-up. Herbal tea, made from dried camomile flowers is also shown in in research to have a soothing anti-inflammatory and anti-histamine effect in the gut.

So, whether you want to relax with a cup of herbal tea, inhale its soothing aromas or plant a pretty, fragrant lawn, camomile is one of the most versatile health-giving herbs around.

* Breaze user trial 2020 82% of users said that Breaze helped with hay fever symptoms