Calming Chamomile
Thoughts of chamomile conjure up images of soothing, steamy hot tea and sweet dreams. This sweet, ancient herb has been revered for thousands of years as a sleep aid, and has been used in traditional and naturalist medicines throughout the world to calm anxiety and aid in digestion.
Scores of people enjoy a cup of chamomile herbal tea daily. There’s much to learn about this ancient and most beloved herb.
What is Chamomile?
A white flower with a yellow, cone-shaped center, chamomile is a member of the daisy family of plants called Asteraceae. With an herbaceous flavor boasting hints of apple, using chamomile for hot tea produces a silken mouthfeel. The flowers are safe to eat straight from the farm, as well. Ancient medical writings documented the use of chamomile, and civilizations like the Egyptians, Romans, and Ancient Greeks revered the herb. The Egyptians of old called the plants sacred and revered them as a gift from the Sun God.
The name derives from two Greek words: khami, which means “on the ground”, and melon, the world for “apple”. There are two types of chamomile in common use today, German and Roman. In the 19th century, a botanist found some chamomile growing in the vicinity of the Roman Colosseum, and bestowed the name chamomile on the flower. Roman chamomile is a bit more tangy and bitter when steeped as a tea compared to its sweeter German counterpart, but Roman chamomile grows year round, while German is an annual.
What are Chamomile’s Uses and Benefits?
Chamomile is a potent herb with a wide array of uses and benefits. The National Center for Contemporary and Integrative Health indicates that chamomile is used by naturalists today to help stave off the sniffles and the common cold, and potentially reduce inflammation. This can be done as an herbal tincture, tea, or try using chamomile in a steam bath.
This superherb packs a lot in its little flowers, with active ingredients apigenin and chrysin. Chamomile has long been used to reduce anxiety and depression, aid in sleeping, and is good for quieting gastrointestinal issues. It is also used to reduce mouth sores that can occur during cancer treatment and speed up healing of burns, scrapes, and wounds.
Enjoying Chamomile
Chamomile can be applied to the skin as a salve or poultice. It can also be used as an herbal tea, or a tincture and inhaled in a steam bath or in a diffuser. One way to do both simultaneously is to cover the tea while it steeps, and then inhale the steam as you also drink your tea. This will help with seasonal and common colds and induce a peaceful sleep.
Kitchen Uses
Professional chefs and the advanced palette know delicate, flavorful chamomile is also a delectable addition to many foods. For an appetizer or entree salad, sprinkle chamomile on top of a bed of grated Parmesan cheese, carrots, and romaine, or add to Area 2 Farms’s arugula and spinach blend. Add it to olive oil and a tiny pinch of sea salt for a versatile dressing and dip. Top crudités with crème fraîche and sprinkle fresh chamomile on top for an inviting appetizer useful for all seasons.
Foamy chamomile tea lattes are a simple way to offer an option other than the tea, or the ultra adventurous can balance out acidic espresso by adding silky fresh chamomile to the top of a traditional latte. The dog days of summer are best endured with lemon agave chamomile iced tea!
Chamomile adds a beautiful flavor to a strawberry tea cake, in shortbread cookies, or added to fluffy angelfood or red velvet cakes. If you’ve already finished the base of your dessert, buttercream icing and homemade whipped cream never had it so good with chamomile mixed in!
The Takeaway
Powerful chamomile is an advantageous herb to have in your cabinet. It will mellow out digestive issues for children and adults, help fortify your immune system, and can calm your nerves to ease you into a good night’s sleep. If you don’t feel well or simply wish for calm, there’s not much better than warm Roman chamomile. The Herbal Research Foundation has estimated that more than 1,000,000 cups of this smooth tea are consumed daily. With all these tricks up its sleeve, it’s undeniably a mighty herb worth keeping.
