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Chamomile is a gateway herb. It has so many benefits, it's safe, tastes sweet. It's such an easy herb to start your herb journey with.
If I had one word to describe what the benefits of Chamomile are I would say
TENSION
Mental tension, physical tension, emotional tension, spiritual tension.......where ever you feel tension in your body Chamomile is a likely ally.
If we look at this plant from an allopathic view....this herb for that symptom. We see that Chamomile is good for inflammation, fever, flatulence, especially painful flatulence, anxiety, insomnia, birth related difficulties (i.e. quiet fetal kicking, stop premature labor). It helps to relieve sore breasts and nipples, suppress milk production, relieve infant colic and it is an immunostimulant.
Chamomile is a go to when our family is sick. It helps to calm down the frustration that often comes with being sick. It's specifically good for fevers, we'll talk about why that is in a bit. It has been knows to treat gastrointestinal upset and strep. The book, Herbal Medicine by Rudolf Fritz Weiss, claims in 1/10th of a gram of chamomile is sufficient to destroy, within 2-3 hours, staphylococcal toxins as well as streptococcal bacteria.
Chamomile has also been shown to stimulate white blood cell production. These are the cells you need to fight infection when you are sick.
I think that herbs are often safe enough to use allopathically, especially Chamomile. It is safe for kids and the only contraindication is those that are allergic to ragweed MAY have a similar reaction to Chamomile.
Where I really love working with plants and people is when we get into a more vitalistic view of herbs.
What is vitalism? Simply it is a way of looking at patterns in nature and patterns in the body as a language. It gives us a deeper way of looking at your experience and symptoms and what herbs may be most beneficial for your unique expression.
When we look at Chamomile on a deeper level we see a constitutional pattern of wind tension and heat excitation. The element of wind is reflected in the mind. Specifically tension in the mind. This can show up as spinning thoughts or obsessive thoughts. The most common expression of heat excitation is a fever. When combined with the wind tension we see hot, angry, frustrated thoughts.
When used for chronic issues, chamomile ideally is being ingested 2-3 weeks to see change in chronic issues. It can be taken for as long as 2-3 months. If you are using chamomile for digestive issues it's best to take on an empty stomach to get the most benefits.
As with most herbs, my favorite way to get to know them and get familiar with their benefits is through tea. Tea is quiet and slow and intimate. You get to know their flavor. Tasting the herb can increase it's benefits in the body. Chamomile tea is simple and safe.
Chamomile Tea
2-3 teaspoons of dried organic Chamomile per cup of tea,
Water that has just been boiling, but the tea itself must not be boiled
Steep, covered for 5-10 minutes
Try without honey first. Small amounts of Chamomile can be very sweet. Add honey to taste if needed.
Enjoy!!
Next time you are under the weather or notice tension in you mind or body, reach for some chamomile tea and enjoy the benefits and relaxation it brings.
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