GERMAN CHAMOMILE

German chamomile ( Matricaria recutita) has been used as a medicine for centuries. The plant is well-known for its gentle healing properties (making it especially suitable for children) and has been used to treat many conditions, from fevers and feebleness to headaches, colds, menstrual cramps, mild infections, digestive disorders, liver and gallbladder complaints, and inflammation of the skin. It has antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties, but is best known as a mild sedative. For frazzled nerves, a cup of chamomile tea is just the thing.

Chamomile can be sown either directly in the garden or in trays, in spring. As the seed is tiny, simply firm them down into a moist bed and thin seedlings later to 15cm. Plants thrive in open, sunny areas, but they will also grow in light shade.

To harvest flowers for drying, snip off the fully opened flower heads and lay on a sheet of paper or drying rack in a warm spot out of direct sun.

When completely dry, store them in an airtight container. Leave a few flowers on your plants, as German chamomile self-seeds.