Name:
Chamomile/Camomile
Chamaemelum nobile or
Anthemis nobilis

How many plants for average family:
One or two plants for pots or
one plant every 45cm (1.5 ft) for lawns

Type of plant:
Annual or perennial

Best Varieties:
Roman chamomile is best used for ground cover. 'Treneague' is a non-flowering species ideally used for chamomile lawns.
German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) is an upright form better suited to border planting.

Sowing:
Sow seeds in Spring, prick out and transplant at seedling stage. Try cuttings especially if using 'Treneague' or detach rooted segments along the stems of the mother plant.

Growing Habit:
Chamomile is a dense, spongy plant with bright green leaves and small white flowers with yellow centres appearing in summer. The ground covering habit makes it ideal for traditional chamomile lawns. The plants can be mown like grass and will rejuvenate quickly. The plant also tolerates being trodden on, releasing the apple-like smell of the herb as you pass by.

Growing Conditions:
Chamomile is tolerant of most conditions yet needs to be heavily mulched to protect it from frost to survive cold winters. It grows best in warm dry conditions.
Soil should be manured and levelled before planting. Chamomile likes slightly alkaline soil so add some lime. A liquid regular feed during the growing season should keep it lush. Flowers are harvested as they open.

Companions:
Cabbage, cucumber, onions and wheat.
Do not plant near mint.

Problems:
Frost sensitive.
Regular weeding needs to be done to keep a good lawn effect.
It can be difficult to keep a chamomile lawn in good condition so try replanting areas regularly.

Uses:
Chamomile tea is infused from the flowers and is said to relieve insomnia and mild respiratory infections.
The anti-fungal qualities of cold diluted chamomile tea make it useful as an organic fungicide against black spot on roses and damping-off on seedlings.
Planting chamomile within the garden helps with general insect control and health of some surrounding plants.

Chamomile Oil
 by: Sharon Hopkins

Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils to maintain health and well being. Chamomile oil is one of the commonly used essential oils in aromatherapy. It has relaxing and sedative benefits and smells of fruity apple and straw. It is prepared through steam distillation of the flower.

Benefits of using chamomile oil

Mental - Calms the mind and eases fear, anxiety, anger, worries and tension during times of physical and emotional stress. Brings peace and patience and enhances overall feelings of calmness and relaxation. Chamomile herb, taken in the form of tea, helps in treating insomnia.

Physical - Provides a nervine action, relieving pain associated with the nerves such as neuralgia, headaches, toothache, and earache. A gentle relaxant for menopause and menstrual cramps and pains. Chamomile is a good remedy for gastrointestinal problems. Provides relief to those suffering from gastritis, diarrhea, colitis, peptic ulcers, flatulence, and inflammation of the bowels. Also useful for genito-urinary tract problems. Possibly useful for liver problems such as jaundice. Has mild effect on children facing teething problems and earache.

Skin - Chamomile is also used in treating skin problems, providing soothing calming and cleansing action -- useful for burns, blisters, inflamed wounds, ulcers, boils, dermatitis, eczema, rashes, wounds, and hypersensitive skin problems. Also used for dry, itchy skin, puffiness and allegeric conditions in general. Reportedly smoothens out broken capillaries, blisters -- improving elasticity and tissue strength. It can also be used to lighten fair hair.

Using Chamomile oil

• For bath or massage, add 10 drops to a warm bath for relaxation. Diluted with a carrier oil, it can be massaged in, and used as a compress for headaches.

• It is also an excellent household disinfectant.

• A calming massage of Roman Chamomile diluted with a carrier oil relaxes sore overworked muscles or inflamed joints.

• Diffuse fragrant Roman Chamomile in a Crystal Diffuser to ease headaches and nervous tension.

About The Author

Sharon Hopkins manages aromatherapies sites like http://www.aromatherapies.net that provides information on aromatherapy essential oils. They concentrated extracts of plants and their roots, stems, flowers and fruits. Further they can be classified as carrier oils, massage oils, cooking and baking oils.