Chamomile
Chamomile is one of the most popular and widely used herbs in the world. Even if you’re not into herbal medicine, you’ve probably had chamomile tea, and you must know about its calming properties. It has been used medicinally for thousands of years across many parts of Europe, where it enjoys a status similar to that of ginseng in Asia. As part of the Asteraceae family, the plant is related to daisies; its flower has a delicate, pretty white petal with a cone-shaped yellow centre. Chamomile gets its name from the Greek word for “earth apple” and, not surprisingly, features an aroma reminiscent of fresh apples. Matricaria chamomilla is sometimes called German chamomile. It should not be confused with Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile), which is not typically used for medicinal purposes.
Health Benefits
Chamomile is much more than just an herbal tea that helps put you to sleep: It’s a popular treatment for numerous ailments, including anxiety, indigestion, skin infections, inflammation, eczema, infant colic, teething pain, and diaper rash.
Chamomile cream can be used for treating eczema. Chamomile’s essential oil contains an ingredient called bisabolol, which has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, and ulcer-protective properties. The flavonoids in chamomile also act as a powerful anti-inflammatory.
Above all, chamomile has a reputation for being a mild relaxant. It’s the go-to anxiety remedy, particularly when symptoms include sleeplessness and indigestion. Evidence indicates chamomile contains compounds that relax the nervous system.
One of chamomile’s virtues is its ability to relax physical as well as psychological tension. Adding a chamomile infusion or essential oil to your bath after a stressful day—or to an anxious child’s or teething infant’s bath—will relax the nervous system and mind. Chamomile even eases muscle cramps: It goes to work on peripheral nerves and muscles and acts as an antispasmodic, relaxing the whole body. When the physical body is less stressed out, the brain takes that as a signal that it can relax—and vice versa.
DIFFICULTY
Easy
HARDINESS
Annual (may self-sow)
TIME TO PLANT
Spring
TIME TO HARVEST
Early summer
LOCATION
Full to part sun
SOIL TYPE
Well-drained
Growing
Chamomile can be easily grown from seed or purchased as a transplant. It bears showy, daisy-like white flowers and is a great addition to herb, vegetable, and flower gardens, though it doesn’t do well in containers. As an ornamental, chamomile attracts important pollinators like bees, birds, and butterflies. The plant thrives with minimal care—in fact, in some parts of the world it’s considered a weed.
Common Varieties: Any cultivar of Matricaria chamomilla.
PLANT
Sow chamomile seeds directly in the garden after the risk of frost or purchase transplants from the garden centre. To get an early start, you can sow seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before last frost date and then plant in the garden mid-spring. Space the plants 7 to 15 cm (3 to 6 inches) apart in full sun. Chamomile will survive in most locations, but it will thrive in rich soils.
GROW
Chamomile thrives in cooler temperatures and will do well in spring, late summer, and fall, but may suffer in the peak heat of summer. Water deeply and infrequently. Chamomile is not only resistant to most insects and disease, it’s also deer-resistant—a worry-free ground-cover herb!
HARVEST
Harvesting chamomile can be a painstaking task. Collect the blooms in early to midsummer by pinching them off the stems. Allow the dew to dry, and harvest during mid-morning on a sunny day. Use only blooms that are full and haven’t discoloured; any discoloured flowers should be removed and discarded. Both the harvesting of full blooms and the deadheading will ensure good health and encourage additional flowers.
STORE
To dry chamomile, arrange the flowers in a single layer on drying screens. Spread them evenly to allow for increased airflow. Cover with cheesecloth and place out of direct light in a dry, well-ventilated area. If space allows, just leave them as is; otherwise, store in an airtight container.
Many plants do better when they’re grown alongside others. Chamomile is an ideal companion to basil, onions, cabbage, and cucumber, and some believe it increases the essential oil production of other herbs located nearby. That’s how it was used here—to boost the plants around it, even if a container isn’t its ideal spot.
Put It to Work
Upset stomach? Settle it with chamomile tea!
Place 3 grams of whole dried chamomile flowers into a mug. Fill the mug with boiling water, cover with a saucer, and steep for 10 minutes. Strain out the flowers or leave them in for a more robust flavour and stronger effect. Drink one cup 3 times daily between or after meals.
Hyper day? Chamomile nightcap and hit the hay!
If you need to “shut ‘er down” early after a stressful day, you could just make a cup of hot chamomile tea using the simple recipe above. But why not get even more potency out of your “earth apples”? Letting the chamomile sit in vodka for a few days will get you zzz’ing much sooner!
What’s more, one drink a day (but not more) is considered heart-healthy and may even slow down the aging process. Besides, we all know if you’re not getting ample sleep you’re contributing to heart disease and speeding up the aging process. Here’s what you’ll need for your chamomile nightcap:
1 cup dried chamomile flowers (about 20 flowers)
3 cups high-quality vodka (at least 80 proof)
1 cup liquid honey
Crush the chamomile flowers using a mortar and pestle or briefly pulse in a blender. Transfer the crushed flowers to a resealable glass jar (like a Mason jar) and add the vodka. Place wax paper over the jar and then screw the lid on tightly to seal it. Shake the jar well. Set aside in a cool, dark place for 4 days, shaking the jar vigorously every day.
After 4 days, cover the mouth of the jar with a coffee filter or cheesecloth and strain the liquid into a glass bottle with a lid (discard solids). Add the honey and shake well. Best served chilled, this liqueur keeps for months, though it will begin to lose its potency after 3 months. Sip 1 ounce about 30 minutes before your intended sleep time. Nighty night!
Irritating eczema? Use calming chamomile ointment!
This oil makes a soothing remedy for the symptoms of eczema.
½ cup freshly cut chamomile flowers
½ cup vodka (at least 80 proof)
3 cups vegetable oil
Using a sharp knife, roughly chop the chamomile. Combine it with the vodka in a resealable glass jar (like a Mason jar). Place wax paper over the jar and then screw the lid on tightly to seal it. Set the jar aside for 24 hours.
In a blender, combine the oil and the chamomile vodka infusion and blend at medium speed until smooth. Using muslin or fine cheesecloth or a coffee filter, strain into a bowl (discard solids).
In a small heatproof bowl over a pot of boiling water (acting as a double boiler), heat the mixture over low heat for 2 hours or until all of the alcohol has evaporated (being careful not to burn the infused oil). Here’s a tip: Test for any remaining alcohol by holding a flame next to the surface of the oil (a barbecue lighter will work). If it lights, there is still alcohol left that needs to be evaporated.
Transfer the oil to a sterile bottle with a tight-fitting lid. Apply to the affected area up to 3 times a day. The oil will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 months.
Fast Forward
Fast forward to the health food store to purchase Clef des Champs chamomile tincture or equivalent. Follow the instructions on the label.
Cautions
Do not take chamomile orally when using blood-thinning medications (anticoagulants and antiplatelets), as it may increase the risk of bleeding.
Avoid chamomile if you’re taking drugs that make you drowsy, as chamomile can strengthen their effects. These include anti-seizure medications such as phenytoin (Dilantin) and valproic acid; benzodiazepines; insomnia medications such as zolpidem (Ambien); tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil); or more than 1 ounce of alcohol.
Do not combine chamomile with sedative herbs such as valerian and kava.
