Chamomile is a humble medicine. It is native to Europe and is a transplant to the United States just like so many humans and other herbs. In fact, chamomile is so humble that clients and healers often underestimate it’s power and benefit.
There are 4 reasons for this
Because the quality of the tea found in commerce is often subpar
Folks rarely use an effective dose
Tea brewing methods vary
Folks often don’t know all the benefits of chamomile
Tear open the tea bag sitting in your pantry. What color is the plant material? You want yellowish flowers resembling this picture. Often we get green leafy material. Or just brown old plant material.
One tea bag of chamomile tea can contain 1.5-2 grams a day. An effective dose for pain, muscle cramping, fever, gastritis and other conditions is 4-8 grams.
I recommend buying bulk chamomile from Mountain Rose Herbs or Pacific Botanicals to see and taste and smell good quality chamomile. Compare any tea bag from this bulk herb.
You can brew from the bulk herb. I recommend grinding first, then put in a tea ball and steep in hot water 15 minutes.
Chamomile has so many benefits.
It supports healthy digestion. It is an antispasmodic for intestinal cramps. It is antiinflammatory for an inflamed gut. it is an aromatic bitter and improves digestion by reducing gas and soothing bloat.
Chamomile is not just a digestive aid. It is a smooth muscle antispasmodic and could be drunk for menstrual cramps and the body aches that one experiences with a fever.
Chamomile impacts the mood and can calm anxiety and aid sleep.
It supports the vagus nerve and autonomic function. It can be a useful aid for folks that don’t feel hunger or due to nerves, lose their appetite. If you are having patients do vagal nerve exercises, Chamomile is a useful herb to use in conjunction. Drunk before meals.
I love to have patients drink it after they get their gall bladder removed. IF folks are experiencing diarrhea after cholecystectomy they can drink chamomile tea before each meal.
Chamomile is a medicine for children. When Piper was a baby, I made breastmilk chamomile tea ice cubes she could chew on from a mesh bag when she was teething. This was a blend of ½ breast milk and ½ chamomile tea, added to an ice cube tray and frozen.
Now you have a new view of this humble plant, I encourage you to experiment with it.
Rebecca Snow has been a CNS Supervisor for 10 years and a clinical nutritionist for 20. She is owner and founder of the Nutrition & Herbal Collective. As a CNS Supervisor, and nutrition mentor, Rebecca gives generously of her wisdom and experience to build up new nutritionists for success. She specializes in chronic illness and has worked in academia, group and private practice. Come meet the supervisors of our internship for nutrition students, and learn about who they are.
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