“I am sorry to say that Peter was not very well during the evening. His mother put him to bed and made some chamomile tea and she gave a dose of it to Peter, one tablespoon full to be taken at bedtime.”
(The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter)
(Chamaemelum nobile)
Chamomile has for hundreds or perhaps thousands of years been used as a soothing, relaxing “tisane” or tea. The Egyptians dedicated chamomile to the sun and worshiped it above all other herbs for its healing properties. Greek physicians prescribed it for fevers and irritability. Today’s uses differ little from those of ancient times. Chamomile is used to quiet an upset stomach, relieve colic and as a mild sleep aid. Topically, it is used to heal cuts, sores and bruises.
The herb is also valued for its very sweet apple-scented leaves. The generic name is derived from a Greek word meaning “earth apple”. There are several varieties of chamomile, each with unique uses.
Roman Chamomile, a hardy evergreen perennial, can be used as an ideal ground cover. It has inspired a proverb about energy in adversity, “like a chamomile bed, the more it is trodden the more it will spread”. It reaches a height of approximately 4 inches with a spread of 18 inches with white flowers with yellow centers all summer. It is sweet smelling with finely divided foliage.
A variety commonly known as Lawn Chamomile is ‘Treneague’, a hardy evergreen perennial that is a nonflowering , low growing very aromatic plant which can be used for a mow-free lawn.
German Chamomile is a hardy annual with a height of 2 inches and a spread of 4 inches This is the variety mainly used for medicinal purposes and the one that I most certainly recommend for use in tea.
Chamomile Tea Recipe
1 heaped teaspoon German Chamomile flowers (dried or fresh)
1 teaspoon honey
slice of lemon (optional)
Put the chamomile flowers into a warm cup. Pour on boiling water. Cover and leave to infuse for 3-5 minutes. Strain and add the honey and lemon , if desired.
German Chamomile’s highly scented dry flower heads contain up to 1 percent of an aromatic oil that contains antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Chamomile is a wonder drug for digestion, weak stomach or for anything related to digestion.
If you should experience an “allergic reaction” to using chamomile be very certain of your source. The flowers are very low growing and are sometimes incorrectly picked with some ragweed content.
All the chamomiles prefer a well-drained soil and a sunny location, although they will adapt to most conditions. Prepare the site well, make sure the soil is light and free from stones and weeds. Gather the leaves in spring and early summer for best results. Use fresh or dry for use as tea.
Harvest the flowers when they are fully open, around mid-summer. As with any fresh herb, I find the ideal time to pick if possible, is after the morning dew has lifted and before the sun is quite high in the sky.
And by the way, upon arising the next morning, Peter Rabbit felt so fine that he frolicked in the meadow all through the day!
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