>Calming Chamomile
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Each week I intend to focus on an herb and speak to entire story of that herb and all its many uses. This week's focus is Chamomile.
Chamomile is easy to obtain. You can purchase dried chamomile at the grocery store. In my grocery its sold in the spice isle. On my walk this week in prospect park, I've noticed which I have never noticed before chamomile growing every where. So if you are lucky you may find chamomile in your yard or your neighbors. Just be sure its chamomile you're getting.
Chamomile is know for its medical and household uses. Its a sedative and safe for use with children and babies, so much so that it was referred to as the baby remedy plant. This is one of the herbs I will be teaching on in my Healthy Infants Class. Its is used to relieve anxiety and insomnia, indigestion and inflammation, it can be used as a mouthwash, a gargle for sore throat and an eyewash for sore eyes. It will also help speed wound healing and reduce swelling, gas and relaxes you.
I have used Chamomile with my babies to soothe them before putting them to sleep, calm colic and in general with skin and digestive issues.
Baby cleansing balls - These are skin soothing and work wonders to calm active babies and kids.
Place the balls in the tub as you run the bath and rub them over the skin. Not to worry since all ingredients are edible.
2 cups of finely ground oatmeal
2 tablespoons dried chamomile flowers (ground)
1 tablespoon dried milk
1 tablespoon of dried calendula flowers (if you have, if not use the chamomile alone)
1 pair clean panty hose (without holes or ladders)
Place all dry ingredients into a bowl and combine well. Cut the panty part of the hose off, leaving the two legs. Then stuff a handful of the mixture into one of the legs, pack loosely and seal with a knot. Repeat until you have 3 or 4 balls, then do the other leg. Store the balls in a lidded container in your bathroom. Drop one bag in the tub as you run a bath. Allowing the milks and sweet scents to disperse. Wash your skin with the balls as you would a washcloth. Since both the oatmeal and milk are naturally moisturizing to your skin, you may not need to add lotion after your bath.