Chamomile is one of the most well-known herbs, and one I’m never without, especially with small children.
It is widely available in tea form, but can also be made into capsules, tinctures, or used in cosmetic applications.
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Chamomile flowers are mildly sedative, making them wonderful for improving sleep quality and relaxation. I use chamomile in place of Tylenol for teething or colicky babies, and on my own stomach after giving birth to help ease the after pains.
I’ve also heard of natural doctors using a strong chamomile tincture as a nervine to reduce cravings in patients who are stopping smoking or drug use. It is a good herbal source of Magnesium, which is one of the top supplements I recommend.
Ways to Use Chamomile
- As an herbal tea before bedtime to help improve relaxation and sleep
- As a tincture (internally or externally) for muscle pain or for teething children (on the gums)
- As a tincture for children who have trouble sleeping or who are emotionally upset
- As a strong brewed tea in the hair to naturally lighten blonde tones
- To help relax during emotional or physical distress (I use the tincture internally during labor to help ease contractions and help me relax)
- Internally and externally for headache relief
- As a tincture to help calm hyper children
- For pink eye: Pour a small amount of boiling water over a chamomile tea bag and soak on the eye for about 15 minutes a few times a day (wait until its cool) OR make a strong tea with it and use a soaked cotton ball to wipe the eye every hour throughout the day and infection should be gone within 24-36 hours. Can also sleep with a cotton ball “patch” on the eye to help remove the infection.
Where to Get Chamomile
- As with most herbs, I buy in bulk from Starwest Botanicals as this is the cheapest way to order and I am confident in the quality of their herbs.
- I highly recommend making a chamomile tincture (instructions here) as the flowers can easily lose their natural oils, which make them effective. You can also buy a pre-made tincture if you’d prefer not to make your own.
- There are also capsules available, though I would not suggest a concentrated dose like this for children, and this would be more effective when stopping a tobacco or drug addiction as overseen by a natural doctor.
- You can also, of course, get Chamomile tea bags, which is the most widely available form of chamomile.
Notes: Chamomile is generally considered a safe herb for anyone, including during pregnancy, but in very rare cases it can cause an allergic reaction in those with ragweed allergies, so use caution if you have these types of allergies.
Do you use chamomile? What is your favorite use? Share below!
My 3 year old daughter appears to have conjunctivitis. I went to get the chamomile tea, but I’m all out. Do you think lemon balm tea would help until I get to the store tomorrow?
Hi! I love your site! I am just venturing into the world of all natural living now that I have s baby of my own, but i’m having a tough time getting things to work for me. My daughter has pink eye and I made the chamomile tea and have been wiping her eyes with it every hour. It’s now been over 24 hours and the discharge is going down a little bit but her eyes are still red and puffy. Do you have any suggestions or is there something I can do better?
My favourite use of Chamomile is crushed, with rose petals, lavender and oatmeal to make a milk bath!
Tea before bed, and in bath salt and oils with the essential oil. Roman chamomile and English chamomile are the ones you want to use. I have tried cape chamomile before. It is more rare and has a more sweeter, tangy aroma.
Hi Katie! I love your website and info!
My 6 month old is teething, I believe. I am going to use the Chamomile tincture on his gums. He is also having cold like symptoms (runny/stuffy nose and light cough). What can I do to help him with those symptoms and get rid of them?
Can’t wait to hear from you! Thank you!
Here is my post on cold remedies: https://wellnessmama.com/1499/natural-remedies-for-illness/
I just bought a bottle of Chamomile Calm. The label on the back show other herbs that are mixed in with Chamomile: Woods Betony, Fennel seeds, Hops strobiles and Catnip. Are these herbs safe to give to my 3 year old toddler?
I have a container with the dried flowers given to me by a friend. How much should I use when making tea, in both strengths, for kids and adults? Thanks
Up to a tablespoon for adults and a teaspoon for kids, but steep covered to keep the beneficial oils from evaporating…
Where can I buy a chamomile plant?
How do you specifically use the chamomile for a teething 9 month old? I got some from mountain rose herbs, but am not sure if I make a tea with it and give it to him orally. If so, how much? Thanks!
I make a tea and give them a small amount before bed and also make a tincture to put directly on the gums: https://wellnessmama.com/2395/chamomile-tincture/
I am intrigued by the use during and after labor. I had a drug free labor that was just about beyond my ability to cope with the intensity and hope to find ways to ease the experience for next time around. You said you use it internally? Does that mean you are taking it orally by tincture, or using a form of it vaginally? Thanks for the info!
I just kept the tincture with me and put a dropperful in my mouth during the really rough contractions. I know what you mean about almost being beyond your ability to cope, and it really helped me a lot 🙂
I was curious about Chamomile for labor and was debating on putting some herbs, along with some lavender EO, in a crock pot with rags for labor.
But now I think I wanna do the tincture as well. Did you bring it to the hospital with you?
I learn so much from your site; I makes my brain go wild with how I can redo my whole household even more with homemade stuff for my kids.
How do you find the time to this all?
Just planted a big pot of it! Grows great in containers.
And don’t forget you can grow it! It is fairly easy to grow and looks like a softly scruffy mountain daisy bush. 🙂
There are quite a few chamomile options on the Mountain Rose Herbs page. I’m a newbie as far as herbs go, and I was wondering the specific item you purchase from MRH. I am wanting to make a tincture as well as teas. Thank you!
I’m intrigued to try making a tincture now!
As far as a magnesium supplement, do you know approximately how much you would need to take? And in what form?
Thanks. Love the work you do!
Here’s my full info on magnesium https://wellnessmama.com/3610/low-magnesium/ . I wouldn’t suggest using chamomile as your only magnesium supplement, but 1-2 capsules a day, or a couple cups of tea will help boost magnesium levels when used with magnesium oil or a magnesium supplement. Thanks for reading 🙂
Can you make this with Chamomile essential oil?