Chamomile Flowers

About Chamomile

Chamaemelum nobile, customarily known as Chamomile, is an evergreen perennial that possesses white-colored flowers that remind us of daisies. Chamomile belongs to the family Asteraceae and can attain of 1 foot. Also, it has distinctively alternate, bipinnate, and highly glabrous leaves.

Chamomile is a Greek word that means ‘Earth’s apple’, due to its pleasant apple-like smell. Historically, chamomile was employed to protect the meat from spoiling, as incense, and in bears. But contemporarily, chamomile is used in cooking, perfumes, medicine, and cosmetics.

Chamomile is used as a sleeping agent to treat stress-related insomnia. Also, chamomile is good at soothing the menstrual cramps, treating asthma, digestive system, headache, and compromised urinary tract and liver. Moreover, chamomile flower is a reputable part of many types of mouthwashes, sunscreen, cleansers, and insect repellents.

The chief active constituents that aid in achieving a good night’s sleep are chamazulene, apigenin, and bisabolol. Other than that, chamomile contains n-butyl angelate, isoamyl angelate, and bitter sesquiterpene lactones (germacranolides) to encounter other nuisances.

A diverse variety of myths are associated with chamomile that adds spice to its saga. Some folks advise to keep dried chamomile flowers in the pocket to seek fortune. Others suggest sprinkling the chamomile flowers around the house to seek protection from the lightning. Furthermore, burned smoke of chamomile flowers is said to keep the nightmares at bay.

Growing

Chamomile plant grows healthily in both indoor and outdoor frames. It requires full sun exposure and well-drained, light sandy soil to prosper.

Chamomile thrives when its seeds are sown in spring. The seeds of chamomile are sown in pots or trays that are preliminary loaded with the soil and compost mixture. The seedlings are then transferred to the garden bed when they reach the length of 3 to 4 inches and all the dangers of frost have surpassed.

The key to prolongation of the flowering period is watering the chamomile plant regularly throughout the spring and summer. However, chamomile plants can invade the garden over-aggressively when it is provided with optimum conditions. It is considered to take care of the plant by pruning the invasive chunks.

Chamomile plant blooms throughout the summer and ends in early fall. During this time, the chamomile flowers welcome bees, beneficial insects, and other pollinators to help with the process of pollination.

The process of pollination dives into fertilization which results in the formation of seeds. These seeds hold the promise of the further perpetuation of the life cycle of the chamomile plant.

Harvesting

The chamomile flower heads are harvested when their petals are fully flat or incline back from the center. They are preferably harvested on a bright sunny day, in the morning hours to avoid the reminiscence of dew.

Chamomile flowers are usually what people anticipate to harvest. They can simply be just snipped off to prepare the tea that everyone talks about.

Chamomile flowers are dried in a well-ventilated area, out of the sunlight. They are then stored in an airtight jar to last for a year.

Usage

Chamomile flowers are being used frequently by mortals to experience the never-ending perks.

Tea- Dried chamomile flowers are soaked in hot boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes and strained to be consumed for a peaceful sleep.

Tincture - Fresh or dried chamomile flowers infuse in grain alcohol for 4 to 6 weeks. Strain the liquid and place it in a dark and dry place.
Decoction - Dried chamomile flowers are simmered in water for an hour. The plant material is strained and the decocted liquid is used.
Salve - Chamomile oil is used to make a soothing salve.
Syrup - Dried chamomile flowers are combined with sugar solution and lemon peel to form the syrup.
Infused oil - Dried chamomile flowers infuse in oil for up to 4 weeks to make chamomile infused oil.