Chamomile, a daisy-like plant in the Asteraceae family, has an ancient reputation for soothing nerves and creating calm. Although native to eastern Europe, North Africa, and western Asia, it’s now naturalized and cultivated across Europe and North America. Learn more about this sunny flower, and how to weave it into your self-care rituals.

Calm and quiet

Creating calm with chamomile is quite easy, with this highly medicinal herb. Chamomile’s medicinal value comes primarily from three actions: it reduces inflammation, relieves spasms, and counteracts flatulence (and the pain resulting from it). Historical uses of chamomile trace back to the ancient Egyptians and Romans, who used it to cure gripping headaches, dissolve kidney stones and gallstones, counter jaundice, and treat sprains and strains topically. Chamomile’s potent anti-inflammatory action makes it an effective herb for the digestive system. The tea soothes the digestive tract, as well as treating heartburn, indigestion, peptic ulcers, loss of appetite, flatulence, and diarrhea.

This fun and floral herb is especially helpful for easing pain related to infant teething, colic, and earaches. Children usually calm down within 20 minutes of taking chamomile tea. It blends well with peppermint, milk, and honey for a lovely children’s nightcap. Consuming chamomile tea, or bathing in it, helps alleviate children’s stomachaches and fevers. 

Using Chamomile essential oil is highly effective in reducing nervousness and anxiety, relieving shock, and treating insomnia. Chamomile essential oil also acts as a mild antidepressant. Breathing diffused Chamomile essential oil can ease tensions and create calmness in your body. 

First aid with Chamomile

Try this miraculous first aid use for chamomile. Use a tea bag as a poultice to treat styes and other inflammation-causing irritations of the eyes and eyelids. People treat conjunctivitis and dust allergies using this method. Just squeeze the tea bag out a little, recline a bit, and gently place the tea bag on your eye, lightly squeezing a bit of the fluid into your eye. Leave it on the eye until it cools down, then discard the tea bag. You can do this every hour or so until the condition improves. In addition, drink chamomile tea simultaneously to support the internal anti-inflammatory process! This method is useful topically for acne and boils. 

Brewing tips

Always avoid boiling chamomile, as its precious volatile oils will be destroyed. To prevent its aromatic oils from evaporating, keep a lid on your vessel while steeping chamomile. Also, don’t be afraid to steep this herb strongly to achieve the medicinal effects you are looking for. Use at least two or three teaspoons per 8oz hot water. Lastly, drink chamomile tea multiple times a day for the greatest benefits.

Teas with Chamomile

Lucky for you, we offer many chamomile blends! Chamomile Calm is a long-time favorite here at the shop and puts a fun spin on your traditional Chamomile brew. Our rooibos blend, Cup of Good Hope, has Chamomile added for its soft touch and smoothness of flavor. Spicy Ginger Snap, Big Sky Breeze, Catch some Zzzz’s, Coming Up Roses, and Easy Does it Elderberry are wonderful blends that also feature our lovely and calming friend, chamomile.

Next time calmness is out of your reach, reach for a cup of chamomile tea and let the ease begin!

Written by: Greta de la Montagne; Edited by: Boo Curry

References:

The Essential Guide to Western Botanical Medicine by Christa Sinadinos; Herbal Formularies for Health Professionals, Vol 1 Digestion and Elimination by Dr. Jill Stansbury, ND; Culpeper’s Color Herbal, Ed David Potterton; A Modern Herbal Vol 1 by Mrs. M. Grieve; An Encyclopedia of Natural Healing for Children and Infants by Mary Bove, ND; Common Herbs for Natural Health by Juliette de Bairacli Levy; Practical Herbs 2 by Henriette Kress; Textbook of Modern Herbology by Terry Willard, Ph.D; Herbal Medicine by Rudolf Fritz Weiss; The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics by H.W. Felter, MD