Growing chamomile tea will not only benefit your health, but it will engage your senses. The scent of the tiny daisy like flowers of the chamomile plant smells like freshly picked apples. Chamomile should be a part of every basic herb garden. It is a hardy annual that adds beauty, attracts bees and butterflies due to the sweet fragrance given off by the flowers, and makes a sweet, flavorful tea. This is one of the joys of growing herbs.

One of the safest and most gentle herbs, chamomile has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes. The ancient Egyptians used the ground flowers as a drink to fight colds, calm the nerves and soothe skin irritations.

Modern science is now proving that the ancient cultures knew what they were talking about. Here are nine reasons why you should consider growing chamomile as part of your basic herb garden:

• Chamomile has proven antibacterial properties that enhance the immune system. It can be used in the vapor form for respiratory ailments such as hay fever, sinus infections, and asthma.
• It has been used to decrease inflammation. Unsweetened tea is used on the skin to combat acne, skin irritations, and bee stings.
• Chamomile has been proven to have muscle-relaxing properties. Taken as a tea, it helps with menstrual cramps and sore muscles. It can also be used in a bath to reduce muscle pain and improve skin irritations. The sweet scent of bath water will also improve your mood.
• Chamomile, when made into a tea, is known for its calming effect and is often taken before bed to aid a good night’s sleep.

more drink and grow camomile tea benefits your health

• New research studies show that the tiny daisy-like flowers may have a chemical that will decrease the complications of type 2 diabetes. This chemical has an effect that increases the ability of cells to allow sorbitol to cross the cell wall . In type 2 diabetes, sorbitol accumulates outside of nerve cells and the eyes causing pain and blindness.
• A cup of chamomile tea to rinse your hair after washing it will bring out the golden highlights in dark brown or blonde hair.
• If you are an avid gardener and start your plants indoors, sprinkling chamomile tea on your plants will prevent the seedlings from developing any type of fungus.
• Used in compost, chamomile tea is believed to increase the calcium level of the soil.
• Chamomile is safe for babies and is often brewed into a warm tea to relieve gas pains and soothe teething babies.

There is nothing more relaxing and engaging for the senses than experiencing chamomile tea made directly from the flowers in your own garden. I drink dried loose leaf chamomile tea in the winter. But, in the summer, taking the time to go outside and pick the flowers and smell the sweet scent relaxes me. As I wait for the tea to steep, I smell the refreshing aroma of freshly cut apples. As I taste my tea from the garden, it is a slightly sweet flavor that I feel does not need any added sweetener. I know that when I use the loose leaf dried chamomile tea, I often use a dash of honey or a touch of apple juice.

Drinking and growing chamomile tea not only benefits your health, but also your senses. The addition of this plant will also benefit your garden. I hope you choose to make this herb part of your basic herb garden year after year.