The entire plant contains a natural, tacky substance known as mucilage, a gelatinous plant compound that is especially concentrated in the root system. This mucilage is most abundant in the roots of plants that are two to three years old, when the plant has had sufficient time to develop a more substantial underground structure.

Because of this, older roots are often selected for harvesting rather than younger plants, as they provide a higher concentration of this characteristic plant material.

After harvesting, the roots are typically cleaned, carefully dried, and then sliced into thin discs for easier handling and storage.

These dried root slices may be sold in this form or further processed into a powdered preparation, depending on traditional or modern usage practices. The transformation from fresh root to dried and powdered form helps preserve the plant material and allows it to be more easily incorporated into a variety of botanical preparations.

Chamomile is native to parts of southern and eastern Europe as well as western Asia, and it has become particularly associated with Germany, where it has been widely cultivated and appreciated for generations.

Today, it can be found growing in many temperate regions around the world, thriving in sunny meadows, roadsides, and cultivated gardens. Beyond its botanical features, Chamomile has earned a lasting place in folklore, literature, gardens, and traditional plant culture.

The supercritical Chamomile extract that Gaia Herbs® uses comes from a world-renowned European supercritical extractor with more than 35 years of experience.

This extractor uses a clean and potent supercritical extraction method. Supercritical extraction is a method of extracting fat-soluble constituents of interest which never use harsh solvents but instead uses pressure and (CO₂).