Growing Chamomile

There are many varieties for growing chamomile in a healing garden. The common variety is a vigorous creeping perennial that grows up to 18 inches. Wild chamomile is sweetly fragrant with small white daisies that appear in early summer. Wild or German chamomile is recognizable by its aroma and hollow bottomed blossom.

Planting

Sow common chamomile seed in the springtime outdoors. Avoid covering as the seeds require sunlight for germination. Established plants may be divided in the spring. Plants should be spaced 18 inches apart when planting. Wild chamomile can be sown in autumn or spring. Water seeds in gently and do not cover.

Soil

Plant common chamomile in fertile, well-drained light soil. Grow wild chamomile in full sun in dry, chalky soils.

Be certain to water herbs well during dry weather conditions. Plants self-seed freely and may spread wildly unless checked.

Plant Diseases

The flowers can be soaked in cold water for a couple of days to use as a spray in the effective treatment against various plant diseases. The sprays can be used to help control damping off in cold frames and greenhouses.

how to harvest chamomile

For common chamomile: the entire plant is used for distillation. Flowers are collected as petals begin to relax in the sunshine and dried quickly in the shade for use in teas and oils. Flowers, fresh or dried in shade are the parts used when growing wild chamomile.

Health Benefits

As healing plants, chamomile flowers are known as calming, soothing herbs that reduce inflammation, soothe teething pain, and relieve painful wounds. Be aware that the herb may cause an allergic reaction in users who suffer from ragweed allergies.

Chamomiles contain a substance which has anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties when brewed into teas. It is also useful for treating diarrhea. The blossoms have shown to deter fleas from a dog's bed by adding them in dried form into pet pillows.

Chamomile & Honey Mask

The following is how to make a chamomile and honey mask, which smoothes and softens skin:

Ingredients

1 tablespoon dried chamomile flower

¾ cup boiling water

2 tablespoons bran

1 teaspoon warmed honey

1. Pour boiling water over dried flowers. Let stand for half an hour. Then strain the mixture and discard blossoms.

2. Mix 3 tablespoons of the liquid with honey and bran. Rub the mixture over your entire face. Leave the mask on ten minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Uses

This popular herb has a wide range of uses. Refreshing Chamomile tea aids digestion and is used as a mild sedative to promote sleep. Popular since early Egyptian times, the traditional strewing was often used by Arabs in oil form.

To shrink puffiness around your eyes: soak cotton balls in a mix of distilled water, a few drops of chamomile oil, and vitamin E oil. Apply the soaked cotton balls to closed eyelids and leave on for twenty minutes. The solution refreshes the eye area and curtails swelling.

chamomile tea

Growing Chamomile in a healing garden is an essential ingredient in chamomile tea benefit which is good for settling anxiousness, cleansing the blood, and increasing appetite. Additionally, it is made into herb beer, hair rinses, shampoos, scented soaps, make-up, and perfume.

For a hair rinse: use several tablespoons of dried flowers to a pint of water. Boil thirty minutes and strain the mixture when cooled. Shampoo your hair first then use rinse. It leaves your hair smelling sweet like clover! Oils from the plant are said to revive cut flowers. The point you need to remember when growing chamomile is that the plants are often cultivated as herbal lawns.

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