Ormenis multicaulis
FAMILY: Asteraceae (Compositae)
SYNONYMS: O. mixta, Anthemis mixta, Moroccan chamomile.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: A handsome plant, 90 to 125 cms high with very hairy leaves and tubular yellow flowers, surrounded by white ligulets.
DISTRIBUTION: Native to north west Africa and southern Spain, having probably evolved from the very common Ormenis species which grows all around the Mediterranean. Also found growing on the plains in Israel. The oil is distilled in Morocco.
OTHER SPECIES: It is distantly related to the German and Roman chamomile botanically, although it does not resemble them physically.
HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION: This is one of the more recent oils to appear on the market, and as such it does not have a long history of usage. The oil is often mistaken for a ‘true’ chamomile, though it should more correctly be called ‘Ormenis oil’ since: ‘Chemically and olfactorily, the oil is distinctly different from the German or the Roman chamomile oils, and cannot be considered as a replacement for them.’.
ACTIONS: Antispasmodic, cholagogue, emmenagogue, hepatic, sedative.
EXTRACTION: Essential oil by steam distillation from the flowering tops.
CHARACTERISTICS: Pale yellow to brownish yellow mobile liquid with a fresh-herbaceous top note and a sweet rich-balsamic undertone. It blends well with cypress, lavender, lavandin, vetiver, cedarwood, oakmoss, labdanum, olibanum and artemisia oils.
PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS: Unknown.
SAFETY DATA: Generally non-toxic and non-irritant – more specific safety data is unavailable at present.
AROMATHERAPY/HOME: USE ‘Sensitive skin, colic, colitis, headache, insomnia, irritability, migraine, amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea, menopause, liver and spleen congestion.’. Little is known about its therapeutic history and usage.
OTHER USES: Employed extensively in perfumery work, especially in colognes, chypres and fougère fragrance.... chamomile, maroc
Health Encyclopedia