Dreaming In Chamomile // Green Ally
Doubtless you have heard of Chamomile, our aromatic friend and longtime ally. Lauded as a sleepytime herb, remedy for digestive complaints, and a calming agent, Chamomile is often overlooked by more exotic remedies or seen as simply a nice tea versus a powerful medicine.
Native to Southern Europe and Asia, it is now naturalized through most of the world. You can find Chamomile growing in dry fields or open plains, and it is an easy plant to grow in your garden. If you regularly harvest Chamomile, she will give you an abundance of flowers before bolting in the heat. I consider Chamomile a foundational herb, which means it can be used to ease common ailments for people of any age, from infant to elderly. It is gentle and yet, when used correctly, extremely effective.
Much of the medicine in Chamomile is in the volatile oils, which means you must have properly dried and stored chamomile to experience its medicine. It should be dried either on the stalk or as a whole flower. The flowers should still have a strong-apple scent, and the yellow color of the center should still be present. Do not use anything that is scentless and brown or ground up into a tea bag. Chamomile is highly water soluble, and is a classic tea herb. Because it’s volatile oils are quite strong, do not steep chamomile for more than 30 minutes because it will turn quite bitter and can actually be harmful. I find that steeping it for 15-20 minutes is about perfect.
I love Chamomile for sleep. It has helped me fall to sleep easily and sleep deeply, especially when used several nights in a row. Drinking 1-2 cups of Chamomile tea about 30 minutes before I wish to be sleeping works well.
Chamomile can also calm menstrual cramps and PMS with irritability and body tenderness.
Feeling stressed? Consider Chamomile. I find it useful for the tense, constricted kind of stress or nervousness that brings headaches or digestive upset.
Speaking of digestive upset, Chamomile is wonderful for soothing nausea and gas pains. It is the first thing I will turn to when I feel uncomfortable in this way.
Chamomile is a wonder herb for children. Useful for childhood fevers, whooping cough, colic, sore throat, teething, or general crankiness/irritability. For a baby or toddler who is overtired or ill and doing what I call “the wandering cry”, a weak but persistent whine that can be accompanied by walking around in circles, falling down over and over, or waving the head back and forth, a bit of chamomile tea can soothe the child and save your nerves. That being said, chamomile is the perfect ally for parents of colicky babies and melting down kids. Consider it an herb for the whole family. For babies you can give them a teaspoon of the tea every 30-60 minutes. For Toddlers try a spoonful up to a ¼ cup of tea For school-age children, a ¼ cup of tea up to ½ cup of tea, depending on size and need.
As a foundational herb, Chamomile is excellent to combine with other herbs to support your nervous system and soothe specific body systems. Here are some of my favorite tea combinations:
Chamomile + Ginger
Use for menstrual cramps, nausea, morning sickness in pregnancy.
Chamomile + Lavender
Just try to not fall asleep after this potent insomnia remedy. Be sure to use dried herbs that are aromatic. You can use up to 1 oz per pint of hot water if a tablespoon/cup is not cutting it. Steep for no more than 10-20 minutes.
Chamomile + Mallow Leaf
For lung congestion, sticky coughs, colds and sore throats.
Chamomile + Elder Flower
For head colds or flus with headache, sore throat, fever, and sinus congestion.
Chamomile is known as the herb of the solar plexus, and when used regularly can help you realize your dreams, make friends with your precious ego, and bring the power of the Sun into your life, increasing joy and emotional warmth. I invite you to find or grow some high-quality, sweet smelling flowers and join me in Dreaming with Chamomile. As a matter of fact, I think I will go brew myself a cup of tea right now.
In Love,
Susan Marie