Chamomile: Good Things Really Do Come in Small Packages!

 

Chamomile is a pretty fernlike plant with small daisy-like flowers. Who knew that in this little package so many good things await. In a world full of stress and sleeplessness a good cup of chamomile tea is a great remedy. Fresh flowers are always best, but dried will work just as well. This tea not only helps with anxiety, but it will settle a sour stomache.

 

Chamomile Tea

2 tsp of dried flowers

1 cup of boiling water

Pour water over flowers and steep for 15 minutes. Strain and sweeten to taste with honey or sugar.

 

Lately, after my children have struggled with ulcers and colitis, I have been on a long journey to learn more about herbal medicine. When I first began learning herbal medicine way back when my children were first born, there were not many opportunities for learning, but with the advent of the internet, access to knowledge and online classes have been a great help. Many companies have been birthed selling the hard to grow herbs too.

One of the things I have learned about herbs is the affectiveness of tinctures, and how easy they are to make at home. So if you want a more powerful affect than what tea can bring, making a tincture is the next step. It also stores for years. So if tea doesn't quite work as well as you would like, try making a tincture from chamomile flowers. I have found taking a teaspoon of this tincture before eating has helped my son tremendously with his ulcers, and it is also one of the tincures I have used in a formula for my other son's colitis. Herbs cannot solve all problems, but they are wonderful for sleeplessness, anxiety, and stomache and digestion disorders. I'll write more on this later.

 

Chamomile Tincture

Fill a pint canning jar 1/2 full of fresh chamomile flowers or 1/3 full of dried flowers and then fill jar to the top with vodka. Close jar and shake. Shake each day or so for 6 weeks and then strain out flowers through an old white t-shirt. Squeeze out liquid. There is a lot of medicine still in those flowers so don't skip this step, and then pour all into a sterilized dark jar or canning jar. Label with name, date and store in a dark place.

 

Place a teaspoon in a small shot glass with a bit of water and take 3 times a day before each meal for ulcers or if anxious. 45 minutes before bedtime, brew a cup of chamomile tea and also add 1 teaspoon of the tincute to help potency.

 

Most herbs are very safe to take unlike many medicines on the market and they have little if no side affects; chamomie being one of the safest. Though tincures are powerful medicines, you can take more if the desired affect is not reached. It is best to start with 1 teaspoon and increase the dosage my 1/4 teaspoon each 15 minutes until the desired affect is reached. Unlike medication, herbal medicines are not exact, so listen to your body and record how you respond to them. They truly are a wonderful little gift to us!