Chamomile- Herbs for Beginners

The challenges we face can feel overwhelming, stressful, and discouraging at times. One of the gifts from God are plants. Chamomile is calming, relaxing, and rest promoting- the perfect gift in a little flower. Chamomile's scientific name comes from the latin word for mother- marticaria chamomilla. Drinking a cup of chamomile tea feels like a hug from someone you love, helping you unwind from stress and feeling like you can get through another day. Chamomile has helped me so many times- whether as a tea to relax and unwind from the worries of the day, or as chamomile lotion soothing away a stress headache. Other herbs great herbs for relaxing are lemon balm and skullcap, we will study those soon!

As wonderful and amazing as chamomile is, it is not a showy flower. Chamomile doesn't call attention to itself, it is content to be a background character in the garden, filling the gaps and spaces between other taller plants. Chamomile is easily overlooked and underappreciated but it is a wonderful herb that is gentle and strong. Chamomile is safe for all ages.

Chamomile is a beautiful white and yellow flower that looks like a miniature daisy. It belongs to the daisy family- the asteraceae family. If you’re allergic to the daisy family, you may also be allergic to chamomile. Unlike a daisy, the middle part of the flower is raised like a cone in chamomile flowers. The leaves are very thin and spindly. It has shallow roots. It grows to about 2 feet tall. Chamomile has an apple fragrance. In Spanish it is called “manzanilla” which means little apple. It is cooling and slightly drying. If you have a dry constituency, pairing chamomile with a moisturizing herb is helpful.

Chamomile Look Alike- Feverfew

A look alike of chamomile is feverfew. Feverfew is also a useful herb. Feverfew has wider, lobed leaves, while chamomile has very spindly, thin leaves. Feverfew flowers have flatter centers. Feverfew is usually taller than chamomile, up to 3 feet tall. Feverfew has more of a bitter taste, while chamomile is sweeter. Feverfew doesn’t have a lovely apple smell, like chamomile does. Both are useful plants though. Fever few helps lessen the frequency of migraine headaches if taken over several months. It is also used for fevers (hence the name feverfew), and for helping with women’s monthly cycles, especially during menopause.

Growing Chamomile

Chamomile is easy to grow in the garden. It likes full sun. Once you plant chamomile, it will self seed and come back next year. The more you pick the flowers, the more they grow. Chamomile will flower all summer long if you keep picking the flowers. The whole plant is edible and useful, but the flowers are most commonly used. The flowers can be made into a tea, or infused into an oil. A tincture is also a good way to use chamomile. Chamomile essential oil is bright blue- because it has a chemical called azulene in it. In Spanish azul means blue. Azulene is one of the chemicals in chamomile that helps with pain and inflammation.

If you want the most medicinal chamomile, use chamomile that is as fresh as possible, recently picked chamomile. When you buy chamomile tea at the store, you don’t know how many years it has been since it was picked. And dosage is important- often people take 1 tea bag, which is about 1 teaspoon, when the medicinal dose is about 1 tablespoon. Make sure your chamomile is fresh and that you’re taking enough! If you have an area of muscles soreness, rub chamomile oil or lotion generously over the entire area and then some!

Tea bags might not be the best way to take herbs because a thin layer of plastic is sprayed on the tea bags to keep the herbs fresh. The plastic particles are found in the tea after it is made. Plastic is one more toxin for our body to work on getting rid of, when there's already so much our body is working to clean up with the harmful chemicals around us. Tiny bits of plastic in our food can lead to problems with our hormones and health. Buying chamomile and other herbs in loose form is better if you make herbal teas. There are tea infusers, and tea straws that are fun to use, as well as regular mesh strainers. Homegrown is always best!

Relaxing Nerves

Have you ever been so tired and also so wound up that it is hard to fall asleep? A cup of chamomile tea before bed helps you relax and unwind. It feels like a warm hug that reminds you that you’re OK and you’ll get through this. It helps melt the stress away. Chamomile won’t make you drowsy if you take it during the day, it is good any time of day.

Pain and Muscle Tension or Cramps

Chamomile helps relax the nerves and muscles. Sometimes tightness, stress, and tension in the muscles can cause pain. Relaxing the muscles can help the pain resolve. Can you think of times that muscles are too tight and stressed, and it causes pain or illness? Can you think of when chamomile can help by relaxing muscles? I will list a few examples, but you will probably think of more.

Headaches can be caused by tension or tightness in the head and neck muscles. Drinking a cup of chamomile tea or rubbing chamomile oil on your neck and head will help the muscles relax enough that the headache goes away. I have loved using chamomile to take my headaches away instead of other medicines.

Recently we made chamomile popsicles- a strong chamomile tea mixed with pineapple juice and honey. After too many late nights and early mornings, I had a headache and felt stressed at the busy day ahead. I ate a couple chamomile popsicles. The headache pain went away, and a calm peacefulness replaced it within a few minutes of eating the chamomile popsicles. I am so thankful for the gentle and effective gifts of chamomile.

Chamomile tea can also help relieve pain with painful menstrual (monthly cycle) cramps for women. It relaxes the muscles that are causing the cramping.

Chamomile tea can also help with asthma, it helps to relax the bronchioles in the lungs and decrease swelling. Chamomile tea can be inhaled as a vapor. Put your head over a pot of warm chamomile tea and put a towel over your head. This will make a steam tent. Breathe in the moist air from the chamomile tea.

Sometimes when we’re hurting, we want an herb or medicine that will take the pain away quickly. Chamomile decreases swelling, tension and stress- which are all part of pain. Asking yourself “Why am I hurting?” helps you think about simple changes that might help. Think about what you’re eating and if it’s really nourishing you, how much sleep you’re getting, and if you’re getting enough exercise. Maybe there are relationships that need clarity or boundaries? Looking at the whole picture is part of healing. Herbs are a blessing from God- but they can’t fix unhealthy habits. Herbs are amazing when you give them a good environment to work in.

Anti- inflammatory

Chamomile helps stop swelling or inflammation, which can be painful. A cool cloth dipped in chamomile tea can help with pink eye, or dry irritated eyes. Chamomile cream or lotion can help relieve skin rashes and eczema, calming the irritated skin.

Digestion

Chamomile helps soothe a stomach ache. It can help with nausea (feeling like you need to throw up). Chamomile can also help with diarrhea, relaxing the overactive cramping of the intestinal muscles. The slightly bitter taste of chamomile can help increase digestive juices, helping with upset stomachs.

Chamomile may be helpful with babies with tummy aches. Sometimes babies cry even after they have been fed, changed, and even when they're held- this is referred to as colic. This is frustrating for the mom and baby, but usually resolves with a few months. If the baby is fed, and doesn't have a messy diaper, and they are still crying, it is OK to let them cry while their mom takes care of herself. Our oldest son was a colicky baby. His Chilean pediatrician recommended I drink 2-3 cups of chamomile tea a day, since I was breastfeeding, it would help the baby. They also recommend avoiding foods that might upset the babies tummy or cause allergies. Chamomile tea may have helped- both for me and for the baby.

Chamomile’s Wild Cousin- Pineapple Weed

Pineapple weed is a wild cousin of chamomile that kind of looks like a tiny pineapple! Pineapple weed can be used in all the same ways as chamomile. It likes dry compacted soil, you’ll find it on the edges of mountain trails and dirt roads.

It is interesting that God created wonderful herbs that can be grown in gardens, and also their wild cousins that grow in open areas that have similar benefits. It shows that God blesses all of his children with helpful plants, whether they have a garden or not.

Test your knowledge.

Can you tell the difference between chamomile, feverfew, and pineapple weed? See if you can name the following flowers. Can you name two uses for each one?