Chamomile for cosmetic purposes

Just like Rosemary is a good hair rinse for dark hair and slowly makes your hair darker, Chamomile can be used as a final rinse for fair hair to make it brighter and softer.


Chamomile Hair Rinse: for lighter and brighter hair
Pour 3.5 cups of boiling water over 1 large handful of chamomile flowers and steep for 30 minutes. Strain and cover and allow to cool. After cleaning your hair, pour this hair rinse over your hair. You should see results after a few weeks, if used continually.

For additional information, see: references and warnings

Medicinal Uses of Chamomile

Chamomile's highly scented flowers possess powerful antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. If taken as an infused herbal tea, it can help with a number of problems: improving appetite, easing anxiety, lessening tension headaches, calming and healing the stomach after nausea, relaxing the body to get rid of insomnia issues, and calming children with teething problems.

To make a Chamomile herbal tea infusion:
Boil 1 cup of water per 1-3 tsp. dried chamomile or 1-3 tbsp. fresh chamomile. Let it steep for 15-20 minutes. Strain and drink 3 to 4 cups per day. Children over the age of 4 years can take a third to half of the adult dosage.

For additional information, see: references and warnings

Headache Herbal Teas

Headaches are a huge problem for me. I have almost daily headaches and they often alter my lifestyle and my daily living in a negative way. I went to a doctor about my constant headaches. Some X-rays, MRI's, blood tests, etc., later, they discovered no serious reasons why I get headaches and simply put me on some pills. These pills had terrible side-effects such as mood swings, irritability, fatigue, etc. I am trying to get myself off of the pills and instead, I am going to try most of these Headache Herbal Teas to find the right recipe to help me have a Life again. These herbal teas don't have side effects and they are way healthier for me than mystery pills filled with who-knows-what.

Ramblings aside, here are a few Headache Herbal Tea recipes:


Headache Tea #1
*3 parts chamomile
*3 parts lemon balm
*1 part passion flower
*1 part skullcap

Slowly boil water, pour over the herbs and let it steep for 20-ish minutes. Strain and drink 1/2 cup every hour until the symptoms subside. 1-3 tbsp. fresh herbs OR 1-3 tsp. dried herbs per cup of water.


Headache Tea #2
*2 parts lemon balm
*2 parts skullcap
*1 part chamomile
*1 part feverfew

Slowly boil water, pour over the herbs and let it steep for 20-ish minutes. Strain and drink 1/4 cup every 30 minutes until the symptoms subside.  1-3 tbsp. fresh herbs OR 1-3 tsp. dried herbs per cup of water.


Headache Tea #3
*2 parts lemon balm
*1 part feverfew
*1 part lavender

Slowly boil water, pour over the herbs and let it steep for 20-ish minutes. Strain and drink 1/4 cup every 30 minutes until the symptoms subside.  1-3 tbsp. fresh herbs OR 1-3 tsp. dried herbs per cup of water. This one is particularly good if you also have a hot bath with a few drops of lavender essential oil added to it.


Migraine/Headache Tea #4
*1 part feverfew
*1 part lavender

This tea is good for those really bad headaches AKA migraines.  Slowly boil water, pour over the herbs and let it steep for 20-ish minutes. Strain and drink 1/4 cup every 30 minutes until the symptoms subside.  1-3 tbsp. fresh herbs OR 1-3 tsp. dried herbs per cup of water.


For additional information, see: references and warnings

Medicinal Recipe: Insomnia Tea Ideas

Use any of the following for insomnia (or combine some), simply make a tea and sip slowly 30 minutes before bed:

*Valerian root (reduces tension and anxiety)
*Chamomile (reduces anxiety and promotes restful sleep)
*Catnip (reduces anxiety and promotes restful sleep)
*Passion flower (promotes calm and relaxation)

Infuse an herbal tea: boil water and pour over the selected herb(s). Let it steep for 20-25 minutes. Sweeten with honey or stevia to taste. One cup of water per 1-3 tbsp. of fresh herb(s) or 1-3 tsp. dried herb(s).

You can make a large batch of the tea and drink a cup of tea each night. The tea will stay good stored in the refrigerator for approx. 4 days.

Medicinal Recipe: Nervous Insomnia

A medicinal infused tea for nervous insomnia.

Ingredients:

Dill seed (2 parts)
Anise seed (2 parts)
Chamomile (1 part)
Hops (1 part)





Directions:
1) Boil water. Add the correct amount herbs. When lukewarm, add 1 tsp. honey. Drink 1/2 cup to 1 cup each night. Sip just before retiring.
2) For amount of herbs, use 1-3 tablespoons of fresh herbs per cup of water or 1-3 teaspoons of dried herbs per cup of water

For additional information, see: references and warnings

Chamomile

Name:
*German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)


Description:
*German Chamomile is an annual
*Roman Chamomile is a perennial but has weaker medicinal potency
*Both are best in zones 4-9

Parts Used:
*flowers are preferable, also leaves, both fresh or dried

Position:
*full sun to partial shade
*well drained soil

Propagation:
*Very easy to grow from seed. You can either sow directly in the garden or transplant from indoor seed trays after final frost in spring

*NOTE: I have tried to grow chamomile for two years now, and despite everything that I read saying that chamomile is easy going and easy to grow, all of my chamomile plants have died before giving me a harvest. Does anyone else have this problem? I have tried more water, less water, more sun, less sun, better soil, worse soil, pots AND direct planting. All failures...

Maintenance:
*do not grow indoors because it gets leggy and more prone to disease
*keep weeded with light to moderate watering

Harvesting:
*gather when flowers are fully open. If you harvest in the summer, it might reflower and give you another harvest
*dry the flowers hung upside in a dark, well-ventilated place. Store in airtight containers

Medicinal:
*excellent remedy for stress, nerves, and anxiety
*good for the immune system
*good for stomach problems and headaches
*it has a calming, soothing, anti-inflammatory effect on the body

Companion Planting:
*it is a plant's physician because when it is planted near ailing plants, if often helps them revive

Misc.:
*when making chamomile tea, brew a second cup that is extra strong and use to wipe down the kitchen sink and table or to wipe out a cabinet to get rid of a musty smell

For additional information, see: references and warnings