Chamomile: A Tea for the Ages

Getting to Know Chamomile

I was introduced to chamomile in college. After senior seminar (anthropological theories), several of us gathered at our friend’s house for a cup of herbal tea, toast and talk. Steve’s bamboo filter held delicate dried flowers that released an earthy, sweet smell when he rubbed them between his fingers.  While we discussed Clifford Geertz, the chamomile flowers steeped in hot water, creating an aromatic steam. Steve added a bit of honey and voila! – the brew was transformed into a golden elixir. Our relaxed conversation led to a better understanding of complex theories and a deep appreciation of one another. That afternoon tea proved to be a pivotal point in my life. I pursued graduate studies in anthropology and was fortunate enough to attend a lecture presented by Clifford Geertz.  Chamomile tea soothed my jangled nerves after exams and all-night study sessions. Calm nerves foster clear thoughts. 

To make your own chamomile tea (infusion), use 1 tablespoon dried chamomile flowers for each cup of tea. After the water has boiled, steep in hot water for 7 – 10 minutes. (Do not boil chamomile tea.) Strain and add honey if desired.

Later I learned to diffuse chamomile, creating a soft, sweet smell and calm ambience in my home. Steaming herbs freshens stale air like a summer breeze. I also added chamomile essential oil and dried flowers to my bath and homemade soaps and lotions. When we put our house on the market, I added chamomile and lemon to my floor cleaner to elevate the mood of potential buyers (and us). To this day, I keep dried chamomile in a little bowl in our guest room for a good night’s sleep. To freshen the dried herbs, I periodically add a few drops of chamomile essential oil.

Understanding Chamomile

Chamomile plants are native to Western Europe and Northern Africa. Today it is grown all around the world in temperate regions. Chamomile is primarily cultivated in England, France, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Egypt, and Argentina.

Chamomile, a member of the Aster Family (Asteraeae) is a sweet, delicate flower with white florets and yellow centers – like small happy faces. The scent is reminiscent of apple or pineapple. Chamomile is derived from the Greek words kamai (on the ground) and melon (apple). There are many varieties; the most widely used are German (Matricaria recutita) and Roman (Chamaemelum nobile).

Roman Chamomile is a low-growing perennial that grows to approximately 10 inches high. It has one flower on each hairy stem.

German Chamomile is an annual that grows up to 24 inches with fern-like foliage and branching stems with several flowers on each stem.

Both varieties are used interchangeably, although there are subtle differences in taste and action. Some claim that Roman Chamomile is milder, making it more suitable for those that have more sensitive skin or easily upset digestive systems. German Chamomile is more commonly used in herbal teas. Many products containing chamomile use a combination of both varieties.

Chamomile was cultivated in ancient Egypt where it was used both medicinally and cosmetically. Egyptian noblewomen crushed chamomile flowers and applied them to their skin to maintain a youthful glow. Offerings of the flower were made to the powerful sun god Ra and the plant’s oil was used to anoint the dead. Just as we do, the ancient Greeks and Romans drank chamomile tea and used the herb to treat skin conditions and other ailments.

In the 10^th century, the Anglo-Saxons recorded 200 treatments in Lacnunga (Remedies). This precious document is still housed in the British Library! They held nine herbs to be most sacred: mugwort, plantain, watercress, chamomile, nettle, crab apple, chervil and fennel. To create a salve, all nine herbs were powdered, mixed with old soap, made into a paste with lye, and mixed with boiled fennel. The sterile salve was used to treat geblæd, a skin infection or inflammation.

To this day, people around the globe value chamomile for its therapeutic properties. Chamomile promotes restful sleep, relieves pain and elevates one’s mood. It is gentle enough for babies, yet strong enough for adults. It is one of the more popular herbal teas; people drink over a million cups of chamomile tea a day, often in the evenings before bed. Because of its popularity and uses in traditional medicine, chamomile has been studied more than other herbs. According to Janmejai K. Srivastava and Sanjay Gupta, the dry flower of chamomile contains approximately 120 secondary metabolites, comprising terpenoids and flavonoids, which contribute to its medicinal properties.

Benefits of Chamomile

Over the centuries, chamomile has been a popular home remedy and recent studies have reaffirmed its efficacy for a number of common ailments. Follow the links below to learn more.

• Promotes sleep and reduces stress, depression and anxiety.
• Eases digestive issues, including indigestion, diarrhea, nausea and gas.
• Heals wounds including ulcers and sores.
• Relieves pain related to osteoporosis, arthritis, headaches, back pain and neuralgia.
• Modulates inflammation.
• Soothes skin irritation and promotes skin health.
• Reduces symptoms of common cold.
• Promotes oral health.

Beyond Tea

Chamomile can be used as a bulk dried or fresh herb, essential oil, dry powder, tincture, bath or massage oil. It is used commercially in soaps, lotions, shampoos and more. According to a recent New York Times Style Magazine article, chamomile is more popular than ever and for an even wider variety of uses –  from wedding cake decorations to cocktails and mocktails to savory and sweet dishes to natural dyes. Chamomile’s delicate flowers and fern-like foliage are favored in whimsical, nostalgic bouquets.  

The flower heads of chamomile are steam distilled into a concentrated essential oil with a pleasant, sweet yet warm odor. Roman Chamomile oil has a very pleasant, soothing, apple-like aroma and is milder than German Chamomile. German Chamomile has a high content of azulene, the active organic compound of chamomile, which creates an inky blue color with a strong sweet and warm fragrance. Both Roman and German Chamomile essential oils blend well with geranium, lavender, rose, bergamot, jasmine and clary sage.

When you purchase chamomile essential oil, check the Latin name to make sure you are buying the type you want. You can learn by buying a small amount of each or sample them at an herbal store. Check for purity standards and make sure they are stored in dark bottles. Because essential oils are concentrated, use with a carrier oil (olive, coconut, almond, etc.).

Enjoy making your own products like my recipe below:

Chamie’s Kisses Facial Toner

Combine ¾ cup aloe vera gel, ¾ cup ground chamomile flowers infused in apricot oil then strained, essential oils of chamomile & grapefruit to make a nourishing and refreshing facial toner. Dab a bit on your face with a cotton ball.

To learn more about essential oils, read my post, Ayurvedic Aromatherapy.

Please note: Chamomile is not for everyone. Some people who are sensitive to the Aster Family will also be sensitive to chamomile. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Chamomile in the Garden

Chamomile is a lovely addition to any garden. As companion plants, chamomile can prevent fungal and bacterial infections in the plants around them. They also repel many insect pests. I have grown German Chamomile for a number of years. This variety grows three feet tall so is lovely in a wildflower meadow. The delicate leaves are fern-like light green, and the cheerful flowers make a lovely bouquet in my planter. Today I picked some fresh flowers for a smell test. I think they smell earthy yet fruity; my husband smelled the fresh air of the ocean.

Roman Chamomile is the best choice for an eco-friendly lawn substitute. It grows in zones 4 – 9 and blooms from June to September. Plant it after all danger of frost has passed and ensure the area is weed-free. The seeds have a slow germination period, so are best started indoors then transplanted outside.

Roman Chamomile can flourish in full sun or dappled shade in well-drained or sandy soil. It is moderately drought tolerant with a low risk of disease or pests. This perennial grows 3 – 6 inches tall with thicker, flatter leaves. Each plant spreads to 12 inches wide. Imagine walking barefoot and releasing the flowers’ sweet aroma with every step?! For that very reason, chamomile was planted along garden paths as a strewing herb in the Middle Ages. (Avoid walking on your flower lawn until the plants are well-established.)

A chamomile lawn is low maintenance, it only requires dead heading the flowers in late summer. That can be down with a mower on the highest setting. You can buy Treneague, a nonflowering cultivar of Roman Chamomile. It won’t require as much trimming as flowering varieties. Young plants need 1 inch of water every week. As they mature, they require less water. Chamomile not only creates a lovely lawn, but it also controls erosion..

Around our yard in sandy, disturbed soil Wild Chamomile or Mayweed (Matricaria discoidea) grows in the spaces between gravel. In an attempt to create a wild groundcover, I have been moving plants one by one with mixed success. Wild Chamomile has a small yellow flower head but lacks white petals. To me, it smells like pineapple.

Caution: avoid planting too much chamomile where dogs and cats can munch on it, since in excess it can be toxic.

Roses: Petals of the Heart

Roses evoke feelings of love, passion, romance, friendship, optimism (rose-colored glasses) and prosperity (a bed of roses). Close your eyes and think of roses. What do you sense? A rose garden? A wild bramble of delicate flowers on a country road? A meadow of wild flowers? A bouquet of roses on Valentine’s Day? Do you hear a favorite love song or poem? Smell the scent of rose oil (liquid gold)? Feel the soft, velvety petals?

Roses are one of the world’s most ancient, ubiquitous and beloved flowers. The fragrance emitted from the flower lifts the spirits and is a primary ingredient in most perfumes and personal care products. Roses are used culinarily – most commonly in the form of rose water. And they have been used medicinally for millennia. Many varieties still grow wild while thousands of hybrids have been cultivated. The love of roses has not abated. Competitions for the perfect rose are held. Americans purchase over 1.2 billion cut roses annually and gardeners plant approximately 150 million rose plants worldwide. Explore the divine world of roses with me.

The Elusive Rose

Roses (family Rosaceae, genus Rosa) belong to one of the largest and most complex botanical families on earth. They are an ancient flower; fossil remains from 55 million years ago have been found. They are grown as erect bushes, climbing or trailing shrubs with prickles commonly known as thorns. Genus Rosa includes 150 species with new hybrids continually emerging.

Part of the confusion in understanding and categorizing roses is due to their adaptability. According to Brittanica:

Roses from different regions of the world hybridize readily, giving rise to types that overlap the parental forms, and making it difficult to determine basic species. Fewer than 10 species, mostly native to Asia, were involved in the crossbreeding that ultimately produced today’s many types of garden roses.

Specialists generally categorize roses into three groups: Wild or Species Roses, Old Garden Roses, and Modern Roses.

The Ancient World Fell in Love with Roses

Would Jove appoint some flower to reign, in matchless beauty on the plain, the Rose (mankind will all agree) The Rose the queen of flowers should be.

Sappho (630 – 570 BCE)

Wild roses spread along well-travelled trade routes. Approximately 5,000 years ago, China began cultivating roses.  Confucius wrote of growing roses in the Imperial Gardens about 500 B.C. and mentioned that the emperor’s library contained hundreds of books on the subject of roses. Cultivated roses spread westward into the Middle East and Europe.

The ancient civilizations of Persia, Greece, Egypt and Rome literally fell in love with the cultivated rose. The Persian King Nebuchadnezzar is said to have slept on a mattress filled with rose petals. Egyptian Queen, Cleopatra welcomed Marc Antony in a room filled knee deep in rose petals. Ancient Greeks and Romans associated roses with the goddess of love Aphrodite (Greek) and Venus (Roman). According to Greek legend, Aphrodite created the rose from her tears and the blood of her lover Adonis. The rose became the symbol of love and beauty. Roman nobility filled their baths with rose water and feasted while seated on carpets of rose petals. Rose petals were used as confetti at festivals and weddings. Newly married couples wore crowns of roses. Roses were used in cosmetics then as now – for their anti-aging properties and divine fragrance.

Old Garden (Antique) Roses

After the fall of Rome, Europeans continued to tend their roses – both native and cultivated hybrids. Medieval European monasteries and abbeys were centers of healing and contemplation. They grew culinary and medicinal plants, including roses. As Julia Lawless wrote in The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils:

The healing virtues of the rose have been known since antiquity and although roses are rarely used in herbal practice nowadays, up to the Middle Ages they played an essential part in the materia medica, and still fulfil an important role in Eastern medicine. They were used for a wide range of disorders, including digestive and menstrual problems, headaches and nervous tension, liver congestion, poor circulation, fever (plague), eye infections and skin complaints.  

The world’s oldest living rose bush dates to the Middle Ages and is thought to be 1000 years old. The Rose of Hildesheim is a Wild Dog Rose and continues to bloom on the wall of the Hildesheim Cathedral in Germany.

Once again, new hybrids were traded to Europe from the Middle East and Asia. According to Wikipedia:

The French Crusader Robert de Brie, who took part in the Siege of Damascus in 1148 at the second crusade, is sometimes credited for bringing the Damask rose from Syria to Europe. 

The yellow Persian rose was traded extensively and reached Vienna sometime in the 16th century. From there, it slowly gained popularity across Europe for its color and fragrance.

Antique roses all date to before 1867, the year of the introduction of the first hybrid tea rose. Since roses have been hybridized since ancient times, there are thousands of tough, long-living antique hybrids. Antique roses emit a strong-scented fragrance and bloom once per season. They are hardy and disease resistant. Understandably, Antique Roses are sometimes misidentified as Wild Roses.

Modern Garden Roses

Roses continued to be cultivated and revered in Asia and by 1759 the Chinese Rose (Rose chinensis) was introduced to the west. Guillot, a French rose breeder introduced the first hybrid tea rose, known as La France in 1867. Thus began the era of the Modern Garden Rose. They bloom most of the summer with elegant buds and large blooms. Modern Roses have become so popular that they dominate in most gardens. More than 10,000 hybrid teas had been bred by the late 20^th century. They are less hardy than Wild Roses and Old Garden Roses and require more care.

Stop and Smell the Roses

A bit of fragrance always clings to the hand that gives you roses.

Chinese Proverb

Roses emit a rich and deep sweet-floral and slightly spicy aroma. The smell of roses can calm your mind and boost your mood. Because of their lovely, deep aroma, roses are used extensively in aromatherapy. The Damascus Rose (Rosa damascene) is the most popular rose for the production of essential oil, fragrances and cosmetics. Aromatherapy is the art and science of utilizing naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants (flowers, herbs, trees) to balance, harmonize and promote the health of body, mind and spirit. Scent molecules in essential oils travel from the olfactory nerves directly to the brain and especially impact the amygdala, the emotional center of the brain. It takes about 5,000 pounds of rose petals to make a pound of rose essential oil. The world leader in growing Damascus Roses and producing the best rose oil is Bulgaria, particularly the Rose Valley.

Common ways to use rose essential oil includes:

• In the bath, use rose water, rose petals or bath salts made with rose essential oil. Rose blends well with many other essential oils.
• Use a room diffuser, or simply simmer plant materials in water on the stove top.
• With a carrier oil (almond, sesame, coconut, jojoba, avocado) in massage oil, lotions, soaps and other beauty and bath products.

Health Benefits of the Rose

According to Bill Laws writing in Fifty Plants That Changed the Course of History:

Then there was the pale pink hedgerow rose (R. canina). Good for treating rabid dog bites, its leaves served as a laxative, it seeds as a diuretic, and its hips were such a rich source of vitamin C, that during World War II British school children were sent out to hunt them out. (They returned with ) an annual harvest of 250 tons [226 tonnes})

The skin is an organ of absorption. Plant medicines are absorbed through the skin in oils, lotions, salves and balms. Rose oil, and rose water are recognized for their benefits to skin including:

• Moisturizing emollient that soothes skin irritations make it a great ingredient in massage oils, face creams, lotions and hair conditioners.
• Harmonizes all skin types and balances the skin’s pH – rosewater and distilled water or witch hazel make a great skin toner or astringent.
• Full of antioxidants that help regenerate skin tissue.
• Full of Vitamins A, C, D and E help minimize wrinkles and aid in collagen production.
• One of the most antiseptic essential oils. The tonic and soothing qualities make it well-suited to mature, dry or sensitive skin.

Rose water combined with witch hazel is soothing and cooling on a hot summer day. Spray rose water on your face to start your day refreshed. Rose oil makes a wonderful base for lotions and soaps. I have made rose oil and rose water, as well as potpourri, bath salts, lotions and soaps. I dry blossoms from my garden roses and infuse them in oil (rose oil) or distilled water (rose water).  So can you! I found these easy-to-follow instructions for rose oil and rose water online.

Ayurveda and the Rose

The rose is a medicinal herb according to Ayurveda. They are classified as sweet, bitter, hydrating, oily and cooling. In addition to the uses listed in the previous section, rose water is used in biryani, drinks, teas and desserts while rose petals are sipped in tea. Ingesting roses helps reduce inflammation, balance digestion, reduce stress, support heart health, and nurture skin. Roses are considered rasayana (the path of essence) and aid us on the journey towards a long and healthy life.

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Thank you Laura Kraft for the illustration of a rose trellis.

The Hawthorn Tree – A Gift for the Ages

Hawthorn in bloom on the day of our wedding.

When I think of our wedding anniversary, I think of Hawthorns – always in bloom right about now. And they are a perfect symbol of our marriage – a bit thorny, with a passionate ruby-red fruit to heal the heart; at home in an urban setting as well as the countryside; unpretentious blossoms with a mild and pleasant fragrance providing pollen for insects in the spring, feeding birds in the fall and sheltering wildlife in the winter. Traditionally the Hawthorn tree is a symbol of love and the union of marriage. The blossoms are a harbinger of spring.

This May Day, as I ambled through a local park, I came upon a young woman with a basket of hawthorn branches and flowers. I asked her what she was going to make, and she answered medicine. What type? A tincture, she replied. Tinctures are not my thing, so I plan to make a simple blossom infusion. The young and tender leaves and flowers can also be eaten in salads.

May’s natural wedding veil.

Botanical Description

The Hawthorn is one of the most beautiful trees in the Rose family, native to Europe, northwest Africa, western Asia and naturalized throughout North America. The common name includes two distinctive qualities of the tree – its thorn and its fruit – the haw. The botanical name, Crataegus monogyna derives from the Greek word for strength (Kratos) in recognition of its hard wood, longevity, resilience, and healing properties.

Hawthorns are fast growing, small trees, with a dense crown. They can reach 30 feet and are commonly used in hedgerows. The young twigs are reddish with small leaves and thorns. Flowers grow in clusters, consisting of five petals. Most hawthorn blooms are creamy white, others are a lovely shade of pink. Hawthorns can live to an incredibly old age and tolerate a wide range of environments and conditions. Some claim a tree in England was planted in the 13^th century.

One of the many Hawthorns in our nearby park.

Legends of the Hawthorn

One variety of Hawthorn is known as the Glastonbury Thorn and blooms twice a year, once around the time of the Winter Solstice and again around Easter. Glastonbury Thor is believed to be the resting place of King Arthur. Legend has it that Joseph of Arimathea, the great uncle of Jesus fled Jerusalem with twelve companions and the Holy Grail after the crucifixion. Thirty years later, they found their way to Glastonbury and climbed Wearyall Hill. Before they rested for the night (Christmas Eve), Joseph planted his staff into the ground. By Christmas morning the staff had not only taken root but sprouted and bloomed into the Glastonbury Thorn Tree. Although the original tree is gone, it lives on from sprouts carefully planted on the same spot. Beginning in the early 17th century, a winter blooming branch was sent to Queen Anne. The tradition continues today. It is said the Queen decorates her breakfast table each Christmas morning with a sprig from the Glastonbury Thorn Tree.

In Ireland, the Hawthorn is known as the Wishing Tree, and on May Eve candles are lit and ribbons festooned on branches. Each color has its own meaning – red or pink for love, blue for protection, green for wealth and violet for spiritual insight.

The blooming of Hawthorn marks Beltane – halfway between the Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice. If you sit beneath a Hawthorn tree on May Eve, you just might hear the Fairy Queen horse’s bells as she rides by in the grand procession of wee folk. A Hawthorn tree stripped of its branches and crowned with flowers has been used as the center pole for many gleeful May Day dances.

The Hawthorn – a Healing Tree

The healing properties of Hawthorns have been known since time immemorial. It was believed that a great nature spirit imbued the tree with magical healing powers. Ancient healers used all parts of the tree to prepare herbal medicines. The Greek herbalist Dioscorides described its use as a heart medicine in the first century AD. Many refer to the fruit as a berry, but it is a small, oval dark red pome containing a single seed – like an apple or a pear. Haws can be eaten raw, but are more commonly made into elixirs, tinctures, jams, jellies, wines, and syrups. Writing in 1649, Nicholas Culpeper noted that the haw was used as a heart tonic and increased the muscular action of the heart.

Today, Hawthorn is a common herb in Europe, particularly in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The haw is rich in antioxidants named bioflavonoids and proanthocyanins, benefiting the heart and improving blood flow through the blood vessels. Antioxidants also boost the immune system. The fruit is also rich in fiber and aids in digestion. The flowers contain Vitamin C and are antibacterial.

Ayurveda and the Hawthorn

According to Drs. David Frawley and Vasant Lad, writing in the Yoga of Herbs, Hawthorn is sour with a heating quality. It reduces Vata and increases Pitta and Kapha if taken in excess. The fruit stimulates circulation and digestion and strengthens heart muscles. Actions in the body are stimulant, carminative, antispasmodic, and diuretic. Hawthorn can be beneficial for heart palpitations, and heart problems related to aging and sluggish digestion. Since Hawthorn promotes longevity it is classified as a rasayana herb. By promoting digestion, Hawthorn helps remove accumulated and undigested food (ama). For some, it may aggravate Pitta and create excess heat in the body.

Hawthorn can be taken with small amounts of cardamom and cinnamon in a gentle heart and digestive tonic. Precautions include pregnant and breastfeeding women and those with ulcers and colitis.

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How right it is to love flowers and the greenery of pines and ivy and hawthorn hedge;

they have been with us from the very beginning.

~ Vincent Van Gogh