Chamomile

Chamomile (earth apple), I grow German Chamomile, Marticaria recutita, I find it sweeter in tinctures, glycerites and teas, considered a bitter it's a mild relaxant for the smooth muscles of the gut, uterus, bladder and respiratory tract with a specific affinity for the gut. Chamomile has been used for centuries in teas as a relaxing sleep aid, treatment for fevers, colds, stomach ailments, and as an anti-inflammatory, to name only a few. Chamomile may be used internally or externally. For skin irritations, sunburn, acne, redness, eye irritations and rashes it can be brewed into a tea cooled and applied as a compress. You can use it as a steam in a bowl with a towel over your head for sinus congestion or in a bath when you have a cold coming on. I use it in a couple of my most popular soaps and shampoo bars. Honestly if there was a world where I could only grow one herb it would be Chamomile. I harvest and dry gallon jars full every year and it's never enough, I keep finding more and more to do with her. Because I dry so much Chamomile I like to make a tincture with a honey infused whiskey, it's a bit sweet and very calming for trying times especially if troubles are keeping you awake at night. My favorite relaxing tea blend for nervous or agitated people is Chamomile, Lemon Balm, Rose, Lavender, Peppermint and Fennel seeds. I use Chamomile with Calendula in a tea blend for a gentle sleep aid. She is not one of the trendy herbs right now people always seem to prefer the exotic trucked in from across the golbe herbs so she is often overlooked but the small but fragrant "apple of the earth" remains an invaluable medicine for all of us.

Chamomile was considered one of the nine scared herbs of the Saxons and was used ritually to ward off diseases and to promote health. In the Middle Ages, monks focused on chamomile’s ability to soothe digestion and calm nerves, herbalists recommend it for those same reasons today. During Medieval times they would strew it on the floor with other herbs such as lavender, sage, cedar, mints and thyme. Witches use in spells for money, peace, love, tranquility and purification. Where I come from an infusion of Chamomile is used to wash all the thresholds (doors and windows) to help keep unwanted energies or entities from passing through. You can sprinkle powdered chamomile flowers around yourself or home to remove spells cast against you and to prevent fires and lightening strikes. Cautions: Chamomile is a sleepy-maker, so be warned that it can cause drowsiness. It can trigger allergic reactions in people who have allergies to related plants such as ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, or daisies. As always use common sense when using herbs. A bit about dropper fulls: A “dropper full” is however much the tube fills up with one squeeze - even if the entire tube does not appear full - That is 1 dropper full, and now you know!