Chamomile

Chamomile

Many people have experience with chamomile.  You can find chamomile tea easily in any grocery store.  It is a fragrant, sweet flower with mild flavors and aroma.  It has a varied history of magical and medicinal use, but not much use as a culinary flavor, as it easily becomes bitter and is a purgative, meaning is helps expel toxins from the body.

DISCLAIMER: Chamomile should not be consumed in large doses.  Brew any chamomile tea to be weak, as it can cause stomach aches.  DO NOT consume chamomile when pregnant or breastfeeding without express permission from your doctor.  Consuming chamomile in too strong a dose or too often when pregnant can cause a myriad of side effects.  As with any homeopathic remedy, you should consult your doctor before relying on them.  If you want to use chamomile essential oil for aromatherapy, make sure you dilute it with mineral oil, as with all essential oils.  It is very strong.  Always test on a patch of skin before applying it to more noticeable areas and wait an hour to see if there are any issues with skin irritation.

Some information about chamomile:

Holistically it can be used for:

• Premenstrual cramps- A weak tea made from chamomile with a little honey can do wonders, but always consume while still hot.
• Upset stomach- I like to add mint to it for a doubly effective tea.
• Headaches- Boil chamomile in a metal pot, pour into a ceramic or other non-reactive bowl.  Drape a towel over your head, and lean over.  Breath in deep.
• Nausea- Once again, consume as a tea.  Adding mint and bee balm or lemon balm can add to the effects.
• Sleeplessness- Warm chamomile milk tea is a great way to make yourself sleepy.
• Toothaches- Keep a strong infusion of chamomile in your home, refrigerated.  I suggest keeping it no longer than a week or two.  Dilute a quarter cup of the infusion with a half cup of water.  Swish half the liquid, and spit, repeat with the other half. 
• Gum pain- See Toothaches
• Teething (rubbed on the gums)- Also use a diluted infusion. 
• Anti-inflammatory- Create a poultice or salve, and apply to the area.  Drinking a weak tea will help as well when used in conjunction with the poultice or salve.
• Muscle pain- Same as anti-inflammatory/ 
• Stress- Chamomile tea works wonders on stress.
• Anxiety- Use aromatherapy oils (one or two drops of essential oil per dram of mineral oil). 
• Nerves- See anxiety
• Gas- Chamomile tea is a GREAT way to reduce gas pain and calm the digestive system when its making excess gas.
• Constipation- Drink a cup in the morning and a cup at night for two days.  If constipation persists, you should see a physician though.
• Dry scalp- Add two or three drops of essential oil to your bottle of conditioner, and let the conditioner sit on your head for a good five minutes.
• Skin irritation- Add a drop or two of essential oil to your body wash, or find soap with chamomile in it. Or, sprinkle a cup of chamomile in to a hot bath and soak until the water starts to cool.

Either as a tea, a steam, or a bath, chamomile can be used for any of these things.  For bathes, just put a couple of tablespoons into a tea bag and pop it in a warm bath. This is particularly effective for muscle pains.  For steaming, boil water and steep a tea bag of chamomile in the water.  Allow it to cool a bit, but still be hot enough to steam.  With a towel over your head, lean over the pot.  Teas are easy to make.  If you have pre-packaged bags of chamomile tea, just follow the directions on the box.  Never consume more than two coffee-cup sized cups of chamomile tea in one day, as this can cause diarrhea or stomach pains.  Chamomile tea is an excellent way to soothe premenstrual cramps and nausea, but do not consume it on an empty stomach.  

Magically it can be used for:

• Attracting money- Wash your hands in chamomile tea before you leave the house.
• Love- Carry some dried flowers in a pouch as an amulet.
• Purification- Burn the incense, crush and sprinkle the powder on doors and windows, or spray the tea around the person or space to be purified.  Make sure its weak if you spray, as it can stain.
• Prophetic dreams- Keep a few sprigs of fresh chamomile wrapped in purple cloth under your pillow.
• Chase away nightmares- Hang dried sprigs (or a satchel with the flowers) over your bed.
• Protection- Same as purification.
• Peace- Include chamomile tea as a part of any ritual for inner peace.
• Healing- See peace
• Sun rituals- Chamomile is a sun related plant, and makes a great offering during summer and sun oriented rituals.

Planting chamomile in your magical or culinary gardens invites good weather and prosperous growth.  Chamomile can be burned, the smoke is white and smells more like burning than most herbs, with only a hint of floral smell.

A spell to keep a lover safe:

What you need:

1 small satchel (pink or white)

1 rose quartz

Dried chamomile, not ground

1 small pink candle

1 small white candle

-Light the pink candle and say "For my love"

-Light the white candle and say "For protection"

-Put the stone in the satchel and say "This stone represents our love, may it always be strong and may it protect and strengthen."

-Add the chamomile and say "Flower of the Sun, Flower of the Goddess.  Male Sun, Female Divine.  May the love of the Goddess and the God shine on my love, and may our love protect them."

Meditate and repeat this as you see fit. Let the candles burn out.

Sweet Dreams tea:

Small spoon (like the kind you eat cereal with)

Mortar and Pestle

Tea bag or ball

Chamomile

Lavender

Mint

Star Anise

Use no more than 1 star anise bud and no less than 1/2.

Add the anise, 1 spoonful of lavender, 1 spoonful of mint, and two heaping spoonfuls of chamomile to the mortar and pestle.  Grind them as fine as you can.  The anise and lavender will not grind as fine, just do your best.  Place the mix in a tea bag and steep in 8-12 ounces of boiling water for 2-4 minutes.  Drink slowly, usually between dinner and bed time.  Don't take this on an empty stomach.

Most of my magical information on Chamomile comes from my personal library, specifically Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs.

Holistic information was found here:

http://www.herbalremedypro.com/chamomile.htm