Chamomile is the perfect choice to create a calm evening. Alexandra Stoddard, an interior decorator and prolific author of lifestyle books, was once filmed for an episode of the Oprah television show sitting on her bed sipping a cup of chamomile tea. Chamomile’s pretty white flowers with yellow centers make a mild, relaxing beverage and are good in baths for sleepless adults and fussy babies.

The scent of chamomile tea is reminiscent of apple orchards. The herb has a relaxing effect on the nervous system, as it contains a compound that affects the same brain receptors as antianxiety drugs.

In addition to being a sleep aid, this wonderful herb relaxes the digestive system and has traditionally been used to treat stomachaches, ulcers, and cramps. A cup of chamomile tea may soothe evening heartburn and indigestion. Remember Peter Rabbit? In the children’s book, Peter’s mother served him a cup of chamomile tea after his escape from My.McGregor’s garden. Many herbalists also recommend this herb as a colic remedy for children.

In her delightful bath book Water Magic Mary Muryn describes how sharing an evening with chamomile just calls you to sleep. Following a chamomile steam facial, put wet chamomile tea bags over your closed eyes while you lie in a tub of chamomile infused water sip a steaming cup of this twilight tea.

When this is accompanied by a scented candle, soothing music, and an aromatic sleep pillow lightly scented with chamomile, almost anyone can be relaxed enough to fall asleep. (Wait until you are out of the bath and comfortably in bed, though!)

Brewing chamomile tea
For a pleasant tasting tea, steep chamomile for no longer than five minutes, since it becomes bitter if it’s steeped too long.

Chamomile Caution
As with al herb use, individual reactions may differ. Although the PDR for Herbal Medicines reports that chamomile has “a very weak potential for sensitization,” some people, especially those with hay fever or other ragweed allergies, may experience an allergic reaction to the plant. The U.S Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lists chamomile as “generally regarded as safe”

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 24th, 2008 at 7:18 pm and is filed under Insomnia. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.