History
An English garden and domestic medicine staple for hundreds of years, chamomile famously appears at the end of the children's story Peter Rabbit. (Peter Rabbit's mother gives him chamomile tea after his harrowing adventure in Mr. McGregor's garden.)
Egyptians believed chamomile could cure malarial-type fevers, and so dedicated the herb to their gods.
Nowadays chamomile is known as the "plant's physician" because gardeners believe the health of a garden is related to the number of chamomile plants scattered throughout.
Healing Properties
- Analgesic - relieves pain by calming nerves
- Anti-inflammatory - reduces inflammation
- Antispasmodic - relieves convulsions, cramps, muscle spasms, and nervous irritation
- Bitter - promotes digestion
- Diaphoretic - promotes perspiration, thus detoxing and lowering body temperature
- Diuretic - increases urine flow
- Emmenagogue - promotes and regulates menstrual flow
- Nervine - relieves pain, sooths nerves, supports the nervous system
Chamomile is effective against such conditions as poor appetite, poor circulation, colds, colic, digestive problems and gas, drug withdrawal, fevers, the flu, headaches, hysteria, indigestion, insomnia, irregular menstrual flow, sore muscles and muscle cramps, nausea, rattled nerves, pink eye, stress, and urinary tract infections. It is also used to lighten hair.
Description
Chamomile is part of the sunflower family. Referencing the herb's distinct apple smell, the word chamomile comes from two Greek words meaning "ground apple," and the Spanish name manzanilla means "little apple." The tiny white or yellow flowers contain the plant's most potent healing properties.
Preparation
Everyone can use chamomile, including babies and pregnant and nursing mamas.
My favorite preparation is tea. Simply brew a cup (or quart) of tea and enjoy as needed!
To treat pink eye, brew a cup of tea with two tea bags, place a tea bag over each eye, and rest for a few minutes. Alternatively, brew a cup of double strength tea, soak two cotton balls in the tea (one for each eye), squeeze some tea into the corner of the eye, and use the cotton ball to clear the goop. Apply chamomile tea to the eyes every hour (or if mama is breastfeeding, apply breast milk to the eyes every two hours, and apply chamomile tea on the "off hours").
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