One of the first medicinal herbs many people encounter is German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla syn. or Matricaria recutita). It is a ubiquitous tea herb with a history of use going back thousands of years, found on shelves of supermarkets and referenced in both Peter Rabbit and pop music. For such a well-known herb, however, in my opinion it is often overlooked and under-utilized by both professional and home herbalists. Many people know it as a sleepytime tea, which it excels at, but it is so much more!
Chamomile flowers have a lovely apple-like scent and make a delicious, naturally sweet tea that is safe for nearly everyone to consume daily. Even babies and toddlers can safely drink small amounts and it is of great use to parents struggling with teething, colic, and sleep woes. Only those with ragweed allergies should avoid taking Chamomile, as it is a related plant and may be reactive. It can also be used in external preparations for many purposes – more about that below.
Digestive
One of the primary gifts of Chamomile is its ability to ease many types of tummy troubles. It is soothing and cooling to acid reflux and ulcer conditions, and gently calming of general indigestion, particularly if there’s a nervous or emotional aspect to the upset.
Read more here: Stomach Soothing Herbs
Tummy Soother Tea (child-safe)
1 part chamomile flowers
1 part spearmint
1 part catnipCombine all herbs in an airtight container. For indigestion and general stomach upset, steep 1-2 tsp in 1 cup of boiling water for at least 15 minutes. An 8 oz cup is a standard adult dose. For children under 12, calculate the amount to give them as outlined here: Herbs for Kiddos
Nervous
Perhaps the most well-known aspect of Chamomile is its calming, nerve-soothing, and sleep-inducing properties. Whether someone had a stressful day at work, feels frayed from an argument, or is a cranky child going through a growth spurt, Chamomile tea can offer a relaxing aid. This also makes it a great support during illnesses, to promote restful sleep and ease irritability that often comes with being sick. To some people it is quite sleep-inducing while to others it is mildly calming, so best to try it for the first time at night in case you are the former! The essential oil of Chamomile has also been shown to improve depression and anxiety.
Read more here: Essential Oils For Seasonal Depression
Musculoskeletal & Skin
The final important property of Chamomile is its anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and vulnerary gifts. In plain English it is one of the herbs that can be used to calm inflammation, tissue irritations, and muscle spasms of many sorts. This includes the intestinal discomforts mentioned above, headaches, dry itchy rashes, teething pain, even arthritis pain! It can do this both internally by consuming tea or tincture and externally by adding to bathwater or infusing oils and salves. I regularly made bath sachets for my children when they were little to help their crankiness and sleep.
Read more here: Herbal Support for Arthritis & Joint Pain
Soothing Bath Tea
½ cup raw Rolled Oats
¼ cup Chamomile Flowers
Spoonful of Lavender Flowers
Combine all ingredients into a tied-off piece of stockings or reusable cotton or muslin tea bags and close tightly. Fill the tub with hot water and add the tea bag, squeezing and swishing gently. While the water cools to bathing temperature allow it to steep. You may also gently dab the tea bag on inflamed skin while bathing – my kids loved to play with them!
References:
Chamomile: A Review of Its Traditional Uses, Chemical Constituents, Pharmacological Activities and Quality Control Studies
The effects of Lavender and Chamomile essential oil inhalation aromatherapy on depression, anxiety and stress in older community-dwelling people: A randomized controlled trial
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