Camomile is a beginner friendly herb as it’s easy to grow, store and its uses are very flexible! In traditional herbal medicine it’s a family favourite for young babies and children as the calming nature of the herb slows down the nervous system; helping with mental, emotional and physical grounding.
Used to Treat the Following →
Calming the body and the mind for a good night's sleep (Internal digestion - Tea)
Ulcers and lassitude (mental weariness or lack of energy) due to congestion, poor body tone (Internal digestion - Tea)
The best herb for infants and children, to calm the mind and aid to an upset stomach (Internal digestion - Tea)
Toning the organs, symptoms of indigestion and restoring appetite of someone who has been ill for a time. (Internal digestion - Tea)
Fair hair lotion as a final rinse to strengthen the hair follicles and maintain health in length. (External Application - Flower head Infusion)
Sore muscles, joints, aches, sprains and bruises (External application - Ointment)
Body wash, improving the health of your skin from blemishes and acne (External Application - Ointment)
Growing the Plant →
To get the most out of your harvest is to let the plant grow through its natural course, when you want to use some of either the flowers or leaves just pick what you need and leave the rest. Another option is to harvest the majority of the leaves and flowers during peak flowering season. Depending on what you believe is fair, most traditional herbalists take only 20% and leave the rest for nature at one time.
Camomile is best grown through late summer to autumn and early spring. Harvesting can take place when the plant has matured enough to maintain a solid root system and has had time to grow a moderate size, a rough time span is 60 days from seed sown age. So really, good harvesting of the herb is done with a careful and considerate eye.
......If You Help the Plant, the Plant Will Help You......
Preparing in Your Apothecary →
Everything you'll need to know!
Drying the Herb Chamomile
Easy to achieve and safe to store. Gently wash the picked pieces of the herb and dry with a cloth, then (opt 1) evenly lay out on a tray or (opt 2) bunch into a small bouquet, tie and hang upside down and store in a dry and well ventilated area. Every day for up to 5-9 days check the herb and keep an eye out for unwelcome bugs and decay, these things can be avoided by remembering…
Wetness and Dampness = Rotting = Attracting Bugs.
When the herb has fully dried, store it where it has even just a little air circulation like a jar with a lid not tightened too much or a natural cloth bag. Personally, I would avoid plastics as it can cause moisture to build up and the herb to mold.
Bases for Infusions and Ointments
Castor oil, Sweet Almond/Almond, Jojoba, Avocado, coconut butter or oil, lard, chicken fat (fats are used for low heat pan and used immediately). Each of these elements are great, use what is readily available or research on what you would personally prefer.
Preparation Type: Tea / Cold Infusion
1) Ingredients
Fresh or dried leaves and/or flowers, honey and water
2) Method
Lightly bruise the herb and steep in hot water
3) Consumption
Tea is prepared and consumed within about 10 minutes. Repeat 3-4 times a day for best outcome. An Infusion is the same process but left covered for up to 10 hours to get more benefits and to be consumed cold, this is called a cold infusion.
Preparation Type: Infusion / Ointment
1) Ingredients
Oil or fat base, fresh leaves
2) Method
2/1) For the infusion lightly bruise or chop the herb and place into a jar of oil, no particular ratio but always have 50% or more of base, stored in a sterile jar with a sealed lid for up to 7-10 weeks before use.
2/2) For the Ointment bring a pan to a low heat with oil or fat, add bruise herb and leave to simmer for a few minutes. No need to over do it as you just want to pull the goodness from the herb into the oil. When it has cooled down to a stable temperature it will be ready to use.
3) Application and consumption
Apply directly to the external issue eg, bruise, sprain and let it soak into the skin. Repeat this process up to 2-3 times a day until you begin to see relief, should be no more than 2 days.
4) Final Note
Essentially the outcome of the ointment and infusion is the same. The difference is the infusion is cold pressed and the ointment is pulled via heat in a short amount of time. Both are good, but typically the fusion will be stronger in herb saturation.
Preparation Type: Water / Wash
1) Ingredients
Fresh leaves and/or flowers and water
2) Method
Lightly bruise the herb and steep in hot water
3) Application
After washing your hair and/or skin as a final rinse.