Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)
Chamomile is an herbaceous self-seeding annual with feathery leaves, a thin stem, and a bright yellow dome-like center surrounded by small white petals. She grows between 12-24 inches tall, this medicinal herb is native to southern and eastern Europe. The most common type of chamomile used for medicinal purposes is Matricaria chamomilla.
Common names: camomilla, german chamomile, babuna, maiden flower, scented mayweed, single chamomile
Family: Asteraceae
Taste: sweet, bitter, mildly acrid
Energetics: warm and moist
Native: Eastern and Southern Europe
Preparation: tea or tincture, compress, bath infusion
Actions: nervine (mild sedative), carminative, anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic, mild anticonvulsant, vulnerary, antimicrobial, diaphoretic, mild analgesic
Who is chamomile?
If you look in your pantry right now, there is a high chance that you will find a box of chamomile tea sitting on your shelf. You have most likely used this herb to soothe an upset stomach, but do you know her list of healing properties extends to more than just that?
For thousands of years chamomile has been used by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans for:
Treating skin conditions
Soothing frayed nerves
Supporting a good night's sleep
Easing gastrointestinal disorders
Inducing sweat to break fevers
Easing premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
The Anglo-Saxons believed this plant ally to be one of the nine sacred herbs found in the Lacnunga Manuscript. They believed these nine herbs were given to them by Woden, the god of war and wisdom. In other folklore, chamomile is thought to keep away negative energies, bring good luck, positivity, and tranquility.
Her Latin name is Matricaria chamomilla. She is also known to some as “little mother” or “tiny mother”. As Matthew Wood says, she is an ally for “babies of all ages”, gently mothering us back to a state of calm and balance.
What makes chamomile an herbal ally?
Chamomile helps ease anxiety
A simple cup of chamomile tea can bring calm to a stressful day.
Chamomile is a nervine, meaning she restores balance to the nervous system when we are feeling anxious or unsettled. This healing herb contains a bioflavonoid compound called apigenin that binds to the same receptors as some anxiety medications. The plant extracts found in chamomile act on the brain to calm GABA signals; over time chamomile calms the nervous system, and has even been studied for its potential to increase secretion, dopamine, and noradrenaline uplifting a low mood.
Chamomile is also considered a bitter herb, bitter herbs stimulate the digestive system - this stimulation will also directly affect the nervous system promoting relaxation and engaging rest and digest mode, associated with the parasympathetic nervous system.
Calms an upset stomach
Chamomile is most widely known for her ability to soothe an upset stomach, whether that’s gas, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, bloating, or diarrhea.
How can she do all of those things? Chamomile contains a constituent called bisabolol, an anti-inflammatory compound that soothes and relaxes the stomach and digestive system. By relaxing these muscles, the body goes into rest and digest mode and we can digest, absorb and gain valuable nutrition from food.
Chamomile makes a great plant ally for people of all ages. She can ease colic in babies, great for school-aged children who become nervous when taking exams, and adults who are starting a new job or giving presentations.
Eases premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
The list of PMS symptoms is long, and each woman will experience these symptoms differently. Some women have emotional ups and downs, other women experience physical symptoms, and others may experience both. Having a herbal ally to help comfort us can make a big difference.
PMS symptoms can include:
Anxiety
Depression
Nausea
Abdominal Cramping
And the list goes on… Luckily our herbal ally is known for her antispasmodic actions, helping ease the physical symptoms of cramping. While also relaxing the sympathetic nervous system reducing nervousness, and calming an overactive mind.
Treats skin conditions
Due to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, chamomile can be used to treat a long list of skin conditions such as:
Eczema,
Skin rashes
Abscesses
Insect bites
Stings
Acne
Wound healing
You can apply chamomile topically by making a cup of chamomile tea and using the tea bag to apply to the affected area. An 11-year-old study found that a warm chamomile compress healed lesions significantly faster than a 1% hydrocortisone cream while also reducing the discomfort of itching and pain associated with the healing process.
Try adding chamomile to your daily skin routine to see her anti-inflammatory benefits! This skin ally can help fade dark spots, especially if applied to the skin at the onset of a pimple/blemish.
Supports a good night's sleep
Have trouble sleeping? Getting a good night’s rest is one of our basic human needs; it allows us to reset for the coming day. Not getting enough sleep can affect our mood and overall performance.
A hot cup of chamomile tea before bedtime might just be the answer! Chamomile is considered a mild sedative, meaning she may induce sleep. Again this is due to her apigenin content.
If you’re having a lot of trouble sleeping, you can replace the chamomile tea with a chamomile tincture; a tincture is just a more concentrated form of an herb.
Ally for diabetics
A 2015 study in patients with type 2 diabetes showed that chamomile tea had a significant effect on blood glucose levels. How does it work?
Certain constituents in chamomile, extracted when making chamomile tea, increase liver glycogen. The liver helps to convert certain types of glucose to keep levels stable. Other studies have also found that chamomile extract may inhibit some enzymes that take part in the glucose metabolism pathway(s), preventing glucose from accumulating in the blood.
Side Effects
Chamomile is a gentle herbal ally; she is considered safe for children, the elderly, and expecting and lactating mothers. Although she is generally considered safe some people have reported rare incidents of contact dermatitis.
Dosages
Chamomile Tea: 8 oz. of boiling water, 2-3 teaspoons of dried chamomile flowers, let sit for 10 minutes.
Chamomile Tincture: 1ml 3x/day
Chamomile Bath: 1 quart of boiling water, 1 cup of dried chamomile flowers, let steep for 15 minutes, add contents to a thin muslin cloth or nut bag to avoid any of the contents from clogging the drain, add to bath.
Chamomile Tea Latte
Chamomile can be enjoyed in many different ways, she can be used medicinally in teas and tinctures or enjoyed in cookies, lattes, and even cakes. Try this warming chamomile tea latte inspired by Jee Choe from www.ohhowcivilized.com.
What you’ll need:
1 cup of any milk of your choice
1 tbs of dried chamomile flowers
1 tbs of vanilla extract
1 cinnamon stick
1- 2 tsp of honey or maple syrup
(optional) add other spices like nutmeg or cloves to enhance flavor
Method: Heat your milk of choice on the stove, add the dried chamomile flowers, cinnamon stick, and any additional spices you might like to add, bring to a simmer for about 5-10 minutes. Strain chamomile tea latte to remove the herbs and cinnamon stick. You can enjoy it as is or use a milk frother to get that latte-like consistency.
Chamomile Bath Salts
This relaxing bath salt recipe will help you wind down at the end of the night, relaxing your body and mind and preparing you for a good night’s rest.
What you’ll need:
1 cup of Epsom salt
½ cup of oats
½ cup of dried chamomile flowers
1 tbsp of baking soda
(optional) 4 tbsp of dried lavender flowers
Method: Take the ¼ cup of chamomile flowers and using a mortar and pestle lightly grind the flowers (do not grind completely). Combine the Epsom salt, oats, baking soda, and herbs into a bowl. Once all ingredients are incorporated, place your bath salts into a mason jar and seal tightly to preserve freshness.
Chamomile Flower Essence
Most people have heard of chamomile being used as a tea or a tincture, offering healing benefits to the digestive system, skin, nervous system, and more.
But did you know that there are other ways chamomile flowers can be used?
Chamomile flowers can also be used to create flower essences, historically flower essences have been used to guide your body both energetically and physically into a flow of wellbeing. Different flowers are used for different needs, just like herbs!
Who is chamomile flower essence for?
Chamomile flower essence is indicated for those who are experiencing emotional tension/ heightened emotions, negativity, disappointment, or anger. Physically, she can be used for those who experience headaches or migraines that improve with a cold compress but become worse with heat.
What can chamomile flower essence do for you?
Although this form of therapy is not widely known, many people have benefited from allowing themselves to be guided back into balance by our beautiful flower allies.
Unwind after a long day with a few drops of chamomile flower essence under the tongue. This flower essence can promote a sense of calm, especially for those dealing with strong emotions that they can’t seem to shake off. She is even a great ally for nightmares, restless sleep, fear, and anxiety.
Like chamomile tea helps digestion, chamomile flower essence can help the digestion of everyday life experiences.
How to grow chamomile in your backyard
So now that you’ve met chamomile and learned about her healing properties, a great way to connect with chamomile is to plant and watch her grow.
Chamomile is best planted in the spring, she grows quickly and can reach full bloom in about 10-12 weeks. German chamomile requires very little attention to grow, make sure to plant her in rich soil (although she may still grow in poor soil). You can water her once a week, but if you’re located in a hot climate make sure to water her more often. If the leaves begin to turn brown and fall off, you may be overwatering.
German chamomile prefers full sun, if you live in a hot climate partial shade is preferable. The best temperature to keep your chamomile plant is at 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Your chamomile flowers will be ready to harvest in the summer, picking the flowers will encourage new flowers to grow.
Once you’ve harvested your chamomile plant, you can dry the flowers and store them to make healing herbal teas. Spread the flowers on a tray, place the tray in a dry, dark place such as a cabinet or closet, in one to two weeks your chamomile flowers will be ready to enjoy.