Allspice is one of the herbs that when you open it the smell will send your memories back to holiday dinners and sweet treats. My Great Grandmother would place it in dishes of potpourris and put it in the room where someone was ill to speed they're healing.
The scent will help to when there is tension between people, its scent sooths and relaxes
people who were in the same room where you place a dish of the Allspice.
Allspice is easily found in grocery stores and any herb shop. It can be used both whole and powdered.
Folk names: All Spice, Allspice, Jamaica pepper, Myrtle pepper, Pimento, or Newspice
Magickal Power;
Healing, Fortune, and Luck.
To bring on healing mix with honey and lemon and put into teas and tonics.
Place inside the room of someone sick to help speed their recovery and clam frayed nerves.
Allspice can be used as incense in magickal work and spells by adding it to your burning coals or incense.
Placed in a small bag of green cloth that has been passed through the smoke from burning Allspice, will bring money when carried.
Having Allspice in your home is also to bring luck to your home.
Medical Uses;
Chills, Stop Flatulence and Hair Growth.
Allspice is used in tonics and given to those who are sick and having chills because of its warming affect on the body.
Remarkable when used in teas or taken it will easy and stop (flatulence) , Gas and Gas pains.
Because of its sweet scent, some think is has a scent like carnations, it is used in the making of perfumes to this day.
Made and mixed with a mustard plaster of bay oil, rum, (yes the stuff
you drink) and powdered mustard. It is a scalp stimulant and believed
to speed and return the growth of hair.
Other;
The leaves from the tree of Allspice are distilled to make Bay Oil.
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Peter Rabbit's mother gave him chamomile tea when he was feeling ill, and maybe your mother brewed you a cup of this soothing herbal remedy to help ease your tummy troubles too. Chamomile is, indeed, an excellent choice for stomachaches. Chamomile is a calming herbal
remedy for upset stomach,
cramps and the stomach flu. Several different plants are called chamomile but not all belong to the Matricaria genus. English or Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile, formerly called Anthemis nobilis), for example, is a different species, yet it shares many of German chamomile's chemical constituents and, therefore, many of its actions. Though they may have very different Latin names, if the plants have the same taste, color, and aroma as Matricaria chamomilla, they likely have a similar action.
Uses of Chamomile
The genus Matricaria is derived from the Latin matrix, meaning "womb," most likely because chamomile is widely used to treat such gynecologic complaints as menstrual cramps and sleep disorders related to premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Chamomile has been found to contain fairly strong antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory constituents and is particularly effective in treating stomach and intestinal cramps.
Chamomile, or more specifically, typically the tops gathered in the early stages of flowering, reduces cramping and spastic pain in the bowels and also relieves excessive gas and bloating in the intestines. It is often used to relieve irritable bowel syndrome, nausea, and gastroenteritis (what we usually call stomach flu). Chamomile is also an excellent calming agent, well suited for irritable babies and restless children. Moreover, most children tolerate its taste.
Chamomile also can help a child fall asleep. Chamomile is calming to adults as well, but don't hesitate to sip it throughout the day -- its relaxing effects do not interfere with activities such as driving a car or completing difficult tasks, as is the case with prescription sedatives. Chamomile is an ideal choice for those with ulcers or other stomach problems aggravated by anxiety. Muscle pain that results from stress and worry is another indication for chamomile. Twitching and tics in muscles may respond to chamomile tea or other chamomile medications.
Chamomile is valued as an antimicrobial agent. A German study found that the herb inactivates bacterial toxins. Small quantities of chamomile oil inhibit staphylococcal and streptococcal strains of bacteria. You can drink chamomile tea combined with other antimicrobials, such as thyme, echinacea, and goldenseal, for internal infections. You can use chamomile topically, too, to treat infections and inflammations.
In the next section, you will learn how to prepare chamomile for herbal remedies and some of the potentially dangerous side effects.
**warnings: Do not take chamomile without first talking to your doctor if you are taking warfarin (Coumadin) or another blood thinner. You may not be able to take chamomile, or you may require special monitoring during treatment if you are taking a blood thinner.
Chamomile Recipes
Tea of Cheer and Joy
1/2 cup dried chamomile flowers
1/2 cup dried calendula petals
2 tablespoons grated lemon peel
1/4 cup dried peppermint
1 tablespoon whole cloves
honey to taste
Combine all ingredients and store in an airtight container. To brew
use 1 1/2 tsp. of tea with 1 cup (8 ounces) boiling water. Steep for
3-5 minutes. Strain and sweeten with honey to taste.
Winter Afternoon Tea
1 tsp. dried chamomile
1 tsp. dried mint
1 tsp. dried lavender
honey
Combine the herbs in your warmed tea pot and add 2 cups boiling
water. Steep for 5 minutes and strain. Add 1 tsp. of honey to each
cup of tea.
Notes: I put together this simple mellow tea one winter afternoon. I
like it with the honey, but lemon would be fine too. This makes 2
cups of tea, but it can easily be doubled and tripled.
Makes 4 cups
Chamomile Shampoo
2 tsp.. dried chamomile
1/4 cup boiling water
1/4 cup baby shampoo (or another mild variety)
Pour the boiling water over the chamomile and steep for 30 minutes,
strain, then mix into the shampoo and use as usual.
Chamomile Hair Conditioner
1/3 cup chamomile flowers
1/3 cup olive, safflower or sunflower oil
Clean jar with lid
Combine the chamomile and oil in a jar with a lid. Place on a sunny
windowsill and shake the jar at once a day. After two weeks, strain
out the herbs. To apply, use about 2-4 teaspoons, depending on the
length of your hair. Brush out your hair and apply to the hair ends,
avoiding the scalp. Leave on about ten minutes, then shampoo out.
Chamomile Hair Rinse
1 cup boiling water
1 tsp. chamomile flowers
Pour the water over the chamomile; steep until it cools to lukewarm.
Strain out the flowers. This will soothe your scalp. To use pour over
your hair as a rinse after shampooing.
Herbal Foot Soak
2 ounces mixed fresh herbs-peppermint, rosemary, chamomile
4 cups boiling water
1 tablespoon borax
1 tablespoon Epsom salts
Roughly chop the herbs. Put in a bowl, pour in boiling water. Let
stand 1 hour; strain. Place the "tea" water into a tub or bowl large
enough to hold both feet and another 6-7 cups of warm water. Stir in
borax and Epsom salts.
Soak feet 15 to 20 minutes. Add hot water if needed to keep the
temperature as warm as desired. Afterwards use a good lotion and
place cotton socks on your feet for the evening!
Benefits of Chamomile tea:
For Skin
To Treat Burns and Scrapes:For scrapes and burns brew a strong mixture by adding 3 tea bags to one cup of boiling water. Dip a cloth into the water, after it cools, use it as a compress on the wounded area.
Lightening Skin:
For lightening the skin tone, Chamomile has been found to be beneficial. Bring two quarts of water to boil with 2 chamomile tea bags in it. Then place the face above the steaming pot of chamomile tea. By taking bath in water, mix with chamomile tea also works.
For Skin Ailments:
Apply cool Chamomile tea on a clean bandage, this will help to soothe burn pains. For sensitive skin, Chamomile tea and powdered milk can be used in the form of an exfoliating paste. Skin irritations, hives and allergies can also be cured by consuming this tea.
Skin irritations and acne:
Chamomile tea, in its unsweetened form, can be used to soothe skin irritations and bee stings. It is also applied on the skin to treat acne.
For Hair
Hair Brightening:Blond hair rinsed in Chamomile tea gets brightened naturally. If mixed with henna and then applied, natural highlights are formed in dark hair.
To Lighten Hair:
Steep a cup of chamomile flowers in three cups of boiling water. Use the liquid as a final rinse. This will add bright golden lights to brown hair and with continued use, it gradually lightens hair.
For dandruff and irritated scalp:
Chamomile can be used to prevent dandruff and soothe an irritated scalp. Add two tablespoons of a strong herbal decoction to mild baby shampoo. To make a chamomile decoction, simmer one ounce of dried chamomile in two and half cups of distilled water for about 30 minutes. Strain, cool and add to a bottle of shampoo or use as a hair rinse.
Reduce Dark Circles Around Eyes:
Eye fatigue and dark circles are relieved by Chamomile tea. Dip 2 chamomile tea bags in warm water. Remove the tea bags from the water after 5 minutes and let them cool to room temperature. Then place them on the eyes at night as a compress.
Tired Eyes:
Reduce eye strain and eye inflammation. Soak 2 tea bags in warm water for 2 – 3 minutes. Place the tea bag on the eyes for ten minutes or more.
Under-eye Swelling and Puffiness:
Soak the tea bags in cool water. Place the tea bags over the eyes until the eye looks less puffy. People who have known sensitivities to ragweed may experience reactions to chamomile and should use caution.
Other benefits:
- Drinking chamomile tea is advantageous for people with intestinal uneasiness.
- Drinking chamomile tea activates anti-bacterial activity within the body, which increase the immune system and helps us to fight various diseases.
- It is also beneficial for children as it helps in easing intestinal pains. It can also help in comforting a teething baby.
- To treat various respiratory ailments including asthma and sinus infections the steam of chamomile tea can be used. Chamomile tea turns out to be a great digestive drink with a hint of peppermint, which can help to soothe various digestion problems.
- The soothing beverage, with a hint of lemongrass, tends to relax the nerves and relieve unnecessary stress.
- Drinking a cup chamomile tea daily can help in relieving various intestinal problems, including irritable bowel syndrome.
- It is also rich in amino acids which help in tackling muscle spasms, and it is considered to be beneficial for people suffering from muscle spasms or menstrual cramps.
- Chamomile tea is analgesic that helps in relieving pain by reducing nerve excitability.
- To tackle migraines drinking chamomile tea is one of the easiest ways, and should be consumed as soon as one notices migraine symptoms in order to avoid severe headaches.
- Chamomile is wonderful remedy for sleep disorders such as insomnia. Simply make a chamomile tea 30 to 45 minutes before going to bed to treat sleeplessness.
- Some of the possible side effects of chamomile include drowsiness, so it should be used with caution while driving or operating machinery.
- High doses of chamomile can cause vomiting and skin reactions.
- It is not recommended to use chamomile during pregnancy, since it is considered to be an abortifacient.
- Chamomile is also not recommended for the people who are currently taking blood thinners, as it contains a substance called coumarin.
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