Chamomile

(Matricaria recutita)

Welcome back to my garden. My witchy garden. My tea garden. My herb garden. Whatever you want to call it, I’ve been adding plants to it for years. One day we’ll settle down and commit it to soil.

Is Chamomile not the sunniest, happiest little plant face that you’ve ever seen? Just looking at these little flowers makes my heart happy. Can you picture it? Feathery foliage and smiling faces nodding in the breeze, spilling out over garden edges, attracting bees and butterflies and sun kissed children with berry smeared faces.

Of course I don’t intend to grow chamomile just for its sunny disposition. Chamomile has a long and treasured history of being both a witch’s and a mother’s friend.

There are two varieties of chamomile that you will run across and want to stock your apothecary with. Roman chamomile (Chamaemilum nobile) is a low growing perennial that makes a wonderful ground cover. German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) is a taller growing annual. Both share feathery foliage, white petals, and an apple-like fragrance. They are similar enough in characteristics and properties to be used almost interchangeably.

Most of us grew up with chamomile as our first introduction to herbs because even Mother Rabbit knew how amazing this flower is at calming both upset tummies and scared little bunnies.

“Peter was not very well during the evening. His mother put him to bed, and made some chamomile tea: “One table-spoonful to be taken at bedtime.”

― Beatrix Potter, The Tale of Peter Rabbit

We often use chamomile in a blend of herbs that we call Sleepy Balm. It’s funny actually because the same herbs can be used to make a delicious tea that the girls will ask for after especially hectic moving or emotional days. Four girls in one camper makes for a lot of emotional days. Both tea and balm seem to ease the rumbles of discontent though so I make sure to keep them on hand. I’ll try to get the recipe up soon.

This romantic herb brings to mind the folk lore of the Middle Ages. The benefits are widely known and have been used for millennia. The first use was by the Egyptians, and even today, it is the most popular flavor of herbal tea in the world. The name in Greek literally means ground apple, because of the nice apple-like scent it gives.

Medical Properties

Holistic Uses

Dosage

Up to ¼ cup fresh flower heads (4-6 g dried flower heads) infused into a tea. 10-15 drops liquid extract per 100 ml warm water as a mouth wash. 1-4 ml tincture. Dosages given are based on an average adult. Adjust as needed.

Contraindications, Additional Effects, and Interactions

Caution should be taken if you are allergic to other members of the Asteraceae/Compositae families, including ragweed, marigolds, chrysanthemum, and daisies. Chamomile should not be used by people who are already using blood thinners because some constituents may have anticoagulant action.

Household Use

• Chamomile added to the bath is very relaxing. It is especially good for fretful babies.
• Chamomile tea is an excellent rinse for brightening blonde hair.
• The dried flowers are excellent in potpourri.
• Infuse chamomile flowers in milk for a soothing skin cleanser that both fights acne and moisturizes. Use within one week.
• Chamomile planted near sick or delicate plants will help them return to or maintain their health.
• Water young plants with chamomile tea to prevent “damping off”. (Source)

Magickal Correspondences and Associations

Gender: Masculine
Element Correspondences: Water
Planetary Correspondences: Sun (but sometimes the Moon, Venus and Mercury)
Zodiac Correspondences: Leo
Gods and Goddesses: Apollo, Ra, Cernunnos, Lugh

Magickal Properties of Chamomile

Simple Spells

• Wash door and window frames with chamomile tea to keep unwanted energies and entities from passing through.
• Sprinkle flowers or herbal water around yourself to remove spells cast against you.
• Sprinkle flowers or herbal water around your home to prevent fires and lightning strikes.
• Use it in a ritual bath to increase your attractiveness.
• Use it as a wash to release feelings of pain, loss, and anger.
• Use it in a ritual bath to let go of a loved one.
• Wash your hands in chamomile water before gambling to increase your luck.
• Add to charms for luck and money.
• Carry chamomile in your wallet to attract money.
• Include in a sweet dreams charm.

Disclaimer: Please note that I am a not medical professional and everything written here is a product of my own research. Don’t take any advice given here over that of a trained doctor. If you ingest any herbs, always make sure that you’re 100% sure that they’re safe. If you’re pregnant or giving to a child, always consult a doctor before ingesting herbs and plant you aren’t familiar with. Magickal instruction and spells are for personal entertainment purposes only. The desired result/outcome cannot be guaranteed as a result of using any magickal item, and should not be used as a replacement for medical/professional assistance.