Calming Chamomile

The tiny, golden-centered flowers of chamomile ( Matricaria Recutita) have a delicous apple scent and flavor, making chamomile teaan herbal favorite. Much more than just a tasty beverage, chamomile easeas indigestion, insomnia and emotional tension. At the same time, chamomile is gentle enough to soothe a colicky baby.

Widely used in topical skin-care products, chamomile contains bisabolol, a coumpound that relieves inflamation, calms skin irritation and fights problem-causing bacteria. Chamomile flowers also are rich in apigenin, a potent antioxidant that reduces inflammation, protects skin from free radicaldamage and helps repair injured skin cells. In German studies, chamomile cream was found to be as effective as hydrocortisone cream and more effective than nontorcisone prescription creams for treating eczema-type skin problems.

Recipes :

HERBAL DIGESTIVE TEA

2 cups boiling water
2 tsp dried chomomile flowers
1tsp dried spearmint leaves
1 tsp crushed fennel seed

Pour Boiling water over herbs in a teapot. Cover and steep for 10 minutes. Strain, sweeten if desired and sip slowly after meal.