Chamomile is sometimes known as "the plant doctor", because it is thought to help the growth and health of many other plants, especially ones that produce essential oils. It is thought to increase production of those oils, making certain herbs, like mints (spearmint, sage, oregano) and basil taste stronger in scent and flavor.
Chamomile tea is also thought to be useful to suppress fungal growth, for example, misting it over seedlings may prevent damping off.
Chamomile is frequently an invasive species in agricultural fields. Farmers often must control chamomile's spread to maintain productivity of their fields.
My grandma use chamomile for solve many problems and chamomile always was in her home.
Matricaria recutita or German chamomile, also spelled camomile, is an annual plant of the sunflower family Asteraceae. Synonyms are: Chamomilla chamomilla, Chamomilla recutita (accepted name according to the Flora Europaea), Matricaria chamomilla, and Matricaria suaveolens.
It usually grows near populated areas all over Europe and temperate Asia. It is widely introduced in temperate North America and Australia. As the seeds need open soil to survive, it often grows near roads, around landfills and in cultivated fields as a weed.
Other names include blue chamomile, wild chamomile, Hungarian chamomile, and scented mayweed.
The branched stem is erect and smooth and grows to a height of 15-60 cm. The long and narrow leaves are bipinnate or tripinnate.
The flowers are borne in paniculate capitula. The white ray florets are furnished with a ligule, while the disc florets are yellow. The hollow receptacle is swollen and lacks scales. This property distinguished German Chamomile from Corn Chamomile (Anthemis arvensis), which has a receptacle with scales. The flowers have a strong, aromatic smell, and bloom in early to mid summer.
This calendula balm is great for those summertime bites, stings, burns and other inflammatory skin problems.
You will need: 1/2 cup dried calendula petals , 1 ounce beeswax, 1/2 cup olive oil, a sterile tin to hold your finished project.
Place the petals and oil into an oven proof dish. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Place the oil and herbs into the oven, then turn it off. Leave for 3-4 hours, then remove from the oven. It may need to cool for an hour or two on the counter. Once it is cool, strain out the herbs with cheesecloth. Add the beeswax to the remaining oil and put back into the oven (or you can use a microwave for this part) Heat just until the beeswax is almost melted. Then you can take it out and stir until it is all melted and combined. Pour into your prepared tins and let sit 15-20 minutes until cool.
Soothe and smooth your skin with this gentle cream.
I found this recipe not easy due its components, but maybe it will be useful for you.
4 ounces butter
2 tablespoons dried (or fresh) calendula flowers
800 IU vitamin E oil
3 drops rose otto essential oil
30 drops lavender essential oil
10 drops tincture of benzoin, optional (as a natural preservative)
Melt butter in the top of a double boiler; add calendula flowers and heat on medium setting for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour mixture through a strainer to remove calendula flowers. Add essential oils and vitamin E oil. Pour into jar (best if the cream fills the jar); once mixture is cool, close with lid.
For a dried herb tincture, you will need 1 part Calendula flowers to 2 parts distilled water and 8 parts grain alcohol (190 proof corn grain alcohol). The first step is to grind the dried flowers into a powder with a mortar and pestle. Mix the water and alcohol together and pour over the pulverized flowers in a glass jar. Seal and shake twice a day for two weeks. Wait one day without shaking before pouring off the tincture so that particles can settle to the bottom. When they are settled, gently pour the liquid into another jar. Take the leftover material and scoop into a cheese cloth. Squeeze out all the alcohol (like you would a tea bag) into the newly strained tincture. Lastly, funnel the tincture into medicine dropper bottles.
Being a cleansing and detoxifying herb, Calendula works great for stimulating and purifying the liver.
The correct dosage is 1 to 2 mL three to four times a day.
It is also a great tonic for stomach ulcers and digestive disorders, and a gargle for canker sores in the mouth and throat.
Calendula oil
This oil has always been a grandmother. It's great for bug bites, stings, cuts, burns.
2 tablespoons dried calendula flowers & petals 16 tablespoons olive oil - any brand, clear.
In an old pot or pan place the calendula flowers and cover with the olive oil. Using the double boiler method, simmer for an hour. Repeat once or twice a day for 3 days. Let cool completely and strain the infused oil through cheesecloth. Collect the infused oil and store it in an amber or dark bottle, in a cool place.
The simplest use of calendula flowers - it's just weld Calendula as tea.
Pour one cup of boiling water over one to two teaspoons of dried calendula petals. Steep for ten minutes, then strain. By drinking two to three cups daily there will be a great improvement in blood circulation.
To help in the healing of skin wounds:
Soak a compress in Calendula Tea, and apply to the wound for 30 minutes twice daily.
Calendula can also be used to treat sore throat. Gargle with warm tea several times a day. This will help relieve the inflammation caused from the common cold.