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Calming Chamomile

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Is there anyone who doesn't have at least a passing familiarity with this little yellow flower and the soothing nature of chamomile teas? Chamomile is one of the most widely and commonly used herbs, and has been since ancient times. In some places you can still find bulk chamomile flowers sold fairly readily in markets, and most natural food stores still sell bulk flowers in teas. Chamomile has many other uses besides tea, though, so let's take a look...

True Chamomile, or Anthemis nobilis, is just one of many species of chamomile, but it is the most common and the one we'll focus on here.

Cautionary Statement: While Chamomile is one of the safest herbs around, even for children and pregnant women, it can cause problems for a very few, as it's flowers are usually pollen heavy. If you are allergic to daisies, ragweed, chrysanthemums, asters, etc, you might want to be cautious drinking Chamomile teas.

COMMON/FOLKLORE NAMES: Chamomyle, Ground Apple, Maythen, Whig Plant, May Weed, Dog-fennel, Manzanilla (Spanish)

PARTS USED: The flowers are the most common, sometimes whole herb is used in flavoring beer

HISTORICAL REFERENCES: As early as the ancient Egyptians there are notes of use of Chamomile for medicinal and other purposes. Even today in the markets of Cairo, I was thrilled to still find barrels of dried chamomile flowers for sale! It's use from ancient to current times across Europe is well recorded, and it became a staple in English gardens for it's medicinal and culinary uses. The Middle Ages saw it's continued use as a medicinal plant, as well as the popularity of it's use in walking paths, through gardens and as one of the "strewing herbs" so often used for its strong apple-like fragrance. In fact, the early Greeks called it "kamai melon" or 'ground apple'... hence the common form of chamomile today. In many cultures it was (and is) also used as a flavoring for beer.

MEDICINAL USES: It would almost be easier to say what *isn't* Chamomile used for? I'll attempt a small list...It works wonders as: -a soothing tonic/sedative -lessen toothache/teething pains -antispasmodic -antacid -fever reducer -heartburn, indigestion, colic -emotional upset, calm nerves -headache, lessen cold symptoms -earache -reduce inflammation -relieve itching or sunburn -soothe diaper rash -as an appetite inducer, wonderful in the sick or elderly -to relieve menstrual cramps (if you can stand the taste, Chamomile, ginger and cinnamon tea works wonders for me!)

The list goes on, as Chamomile is a potent little medicine which can accomplish much depending on strength of preparation. I think of Chamomile as being wonderful for *anything* that needs soothing or calming, and this makes it excellent for both internal *and* external use. For example:

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