An herbal monograph of German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) follows.
BeWell Bohemia Herbs & Things
Herbal Monograph, by Brooke Criswell
German Chamomile - Matricaria recutita
Very few people are not familiar with chamomile, since most cultures have a long standing relationship with chamomile, or, as my husband fondly refers to it, manzanilla.
Chamomile is so gentle and soothing it is known as an excellent tea for children, or to drink daily to help promote quality sleep through relaxation. Ah, darling chamomile. Allow me to spend a few paragraphs discussing this popular, powerful plant.
As the name implies, German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) is native to Europe, though naturalized through much of the world as a welcome weed [not invasive] that crops up in disturbed areas such as roadsides, sidewalks, empty lots. The scent is distinctive, so if you are walking along an array populated with stray chamomile, you may be rewarded with its lovely aroma. In addition to the lovely aroma, the small yellow flowers are cheerful and chummy. The beneficial constituents are packed into those cheerful blooms. (More about harvesting and using chamomile blooms later in the monograph.)
“Herbs for Health”, by Stephen Foster reports that a Slovakian chamomile specialist, Ivan Salamon, says, “Chamomile is the most favored and most used medicinal plant in Slovakia. Our folk saying that an individual should always bow when facing a chamomile plant. This respect results from hundreds of years experience with [chamomile].”2
So, you see, loved and revered the world over, regardless of it humble nature. Aplant to soothe the nerves, ease digestion, support restful sleep, promote wound healing, calm inflammation, and ease stress. Grow and befriend this dynamic little plant.
Growing Conditions
Grows as an annual in zones 2 - 8
Member of the Aster (Asteraceae) family
Can grow to 1 to 2 feet in height
Chamomile prefers:
- Dry, light, well-drained soil
- Not a ‘fussy’ plant
- ”rich soil produces lusher foliage, but not necessarily more flowers”.3
- Chamomile flowers are more prolific and potent in less-rich soil 3
- Prefers full sun
- Tolerates cool weather
- Gets ‘leggy’ in very hot weather
Rosemary Gladstar, in Medicinal Herbs: A Beginners Guide, shares that chamomile is recognized by gardeners as an excellent companion plant that is known to keep neighboring plants, “healthy and disease free.”3
(note to self, visit this website and add more growing information to file) http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=277347
Plant size and spacing
Chamomile does well in ground, and can be grown in containers too. Try it in a flowerpot, hanging basket, or window-box.
Parts Used
Flowers
When to Harvest
When the flowers are fully open and fragrant, use fingers to gently rake the open blooms of the flowers into a basket.
Use fresh to steep tea
Or dry spread thinly on mesh trays or baskets out of the sunlight
Place in well ventilated area to avoid mildew or mold
How to Prepare
- Chamomile flowers make an excellent tea.
- Boil water
- Place 2 tsp of fresh chamomile flowers or 1 tsp of dried chamomile leaves per 8 oz water into teapot, press, thermos, or mason jar
- Pour boiling water over blooms
- Cover (this is very important, for if uncovered the constituents will rise with the steam, and you will have a less flavorful, less potent cup of chamomile tea)
- Allow to steep for 10 minutes
- Strain and Enjoy!
You can blend chamomile with many other herbs to create delicious tea blends. Try chamomile and ginger root, chamomile and lemon balm, chamomile, peppermint, ginger. The options are many, and open to your taste and creativity.
- Chamomile can be made into tasty treats!
Katja Swift of Commonwealth Center of Holistic Herbalism, in Boston MA, has a recipe for Ginger Chamomile Cookies that she has generously allowed me to share here, and you can find the full post on the Commonwealth Herbs Blog.
Recipe:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
- Mix with a fork into a thick, doughy batter.
- 1 cup almond meal
- 1 cup shredded coconut
- ~2/3 cup coconut oil
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- Salt
- Add
- about 2/3 cup chopped candied ginger.
- chamomile – pour dried chamomile into a strainer and sift to get the tiny bits. (you can put the not-tiny bits back into the jar for tea! Katja advises)
Katja says, “I ike to candy my own ginger – I get local fresh young ginger rhizomes and chop them, then put them in a mason jar and cover them with honey. in a month or two, candied ginger! (store in the fridge.)”
3. . Mix batter again.
4. Spoon onto baking tray, or roll into a ball and flatten.
5. Bake 350 for 20-30 minutes.
Katja concludes with “They’re delicious, low-carb, gluten and dairy free, and downright good for you!”4
Cautions/Considerations
Chamomile is a very safe plant; however, some people are allergic to chamomile. If you get itchy eyes or ears, a runny nose, a scratchy throat, or other allergy signs, discontinue use of chamomile.
Bibliography
- Hartung, Tammi. Growing 101 Herbs That Heal. Storey Books, 2000.
- Foster, Stephen. Herbs for Your Health: A Handy Guide for Knowing and Using 50 Common Herbs. Interweave Press, 1996
- Gladstar, Rosemary. Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide. Storey Publishing, 2012
- Swift, Katja.”Ginger Chamomile Cookies.” Commonwealth Herbs Blog. Commonwealth Center of Holistic Herbalism. December 9, 2016. https://commonwealthherbs.com/ginger-chamomile-cookies/
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