Chamomile flower

Blooming from May well into fall, the cheerful, daisy-like chamomile flower, with its' piquant, apples-and-faint-pineapple fragrance, makes a magnificent display.

The chamomile flower is not just a flower that is pretty, it is also a great remedy for many things.

Chamomile's mission is to soothe and heal. Many gardeners claim that a sick plant will revive, if you just plant chamomile nearby. Chamomile flower is a virtual first-aid kit in a jar.

Do you have a baby in the family? If so, you’re doubtless familiar with colic, when swallowing air with liquid produces painful gas pains. A mild-strength tea of chamomile flower works like a charm, quickly changing those tears to smiles.

A teething child is a grouchy child, and the tea helps soothe the poor little sweetie! If your child is going through a stressful period, make a pitcherful. Be creative! A little fresh mint can be added to brighten the taste, adding a refreshing quality to the effect. Make a fruit smoothie with chamomile flower tea as the base liquid.

Everybody gets stressed out, at least every now and then. Do you suffer from anxiety, nervousness, or insomnia?

Try this: Put a generous handful of chamomile flower in a bag of cheesecloth, and tie it shut with a string. You can loop the end of the string around the faucet if you like. Fill the bath with hot water, perhaps two-thirds full. Let the flowers steep for ten minutes, then add cool water to suit your comfort zone. Step in, lay back, and let the herb work its magic. Your stress fades away, tired feet are soothed, and stiff muscles relax. Before you know it, you’ll be relaxed and ready for sleep. There's a bonus to the chamomile bath. It softens your skin!

Painful menstrual cramps are moderated with chamomile tea. Girls in their teens find it especially useful to stave off yeast infections, and regulate an irregular period.

A warm compress of the antiseptic chamomile flower relieves the pain of abscesses, and kills germs.

Got the flu, or a cold? Chamomile helps break a fever, soothes your sore throat, and is quite effective in dealing with sore muscles, intestinal and stomach cramps. Chamomile makes short work of a nagging headache.

The tea is a soothing compress for burns, including sunburn.

Those of us well entrenched in middle age may have age-related conditions. Oh, how this list goes on! Digestive problems, colitis, diverticulitis, rheumatism, arthritis, constipation, neuralgia and plain old backache! Chamomile flower tea has been used for centuries, with great success, for all of these problems.

Aside from these first aid applications, chamomile flower is used in cosmetics, such as lotions, soaps and facial creams. The flowers are even used to make herbal beer!

From baby Sarah to old Aunt Mary, you can help everyone in your circle of family and friends with chamomile flower in your herbal kit!