I have discovered a new respect for the old remedies and healing ways of past generations. Those of who never knew the advantages of the health providers, the modern world enjoys today. Even in some of the poorer parts of the world, traditional medicine is practiced still, using herbs and garden plants. One of those plants that achieved its own niche in the daily health of our forebears is chamomile. This little herbs history goes back to the Greeks, the Egyptians, and the early Anglo Saxons. They considered it as useful in lowering fevers, and for its calming effects.

Perhaps growing some would enable you to overcome your insomnia. Firstly it would get you out in the garden and exercising ,all that fresh air can work wonders for an overactive brain. Doing something in order to help yourself has positive spin offs for the mind as well. You have an opportunity to create new and pleasnat thoughts ,benefits of which can be very real as you lay in bed at night before dropping asleep.
Growing chamomile is easy. The plant likes growing in the full sun in a light free draining soil.
Growing it in pots or containers requires a similar soil mix. If you wish to propagate, your plants to either sell or like most gardeners, give them away. You can grow them either from seed, cuttings or division. The small beige colored seeds are sown in spring. The existing plants can be divided in springtime. Take cuttings from some of the side shoots over the summer months. Plants that are growing in pots, like most plants, need to be raised off the ground to stop the potting mix from becoming waterlogged.

There are many varieties of chamomile but the most commonly used ones are, Flore-pleno, Treneague, Matricaria recutia(German) or the Chamaemelum nobile (Roman).The low growing form of Flore-pleno has double flowers, while Treneague is used for lawns. Neither of these forms produces the flowers that are used for chamomile tea. Give plants, both in the garden and pots a liquid fertilizer drink every six weeks or so. Chamomile is a hardy plant and not too fussy about the temperatures it grows in. When chamomile is grown as a lawn or in pathway, the herb gives off a perfume similar to that of an apple.

When picking for use as an herb the leaves can be picked at any time of the day, while the flowers are picked when they are fully open and preferably in the morning after any dew has gone. Using the Nobile or the recutita make them into teas by infusion. Achieve this by pouring boiling water over the flowers and leaving them to soak for at least half an hour. This can be used for as a relaxant or sedative for both adults and children.

Drying the plant, both flowers and leaves allows you to use in pot pourri or in sachets for placing in clothing drawers, or bedding. Chamomile tea is readily available from supermarkets, health shops and pharmacies if you just want the easy way out! Try using the (squeezed) teabags for resting on closed eyelids for some eye relief. While generally an easy plant to use, be aware that if over used, it may cause dizziness or vomiting. Some people may also get dermatitis from touching the plant as well.