Honoring Sensitivity: Chamomile Plant Profile

I work with a lot of highly sensitive people, neurodivergent folks, and empaths in my practice and a few years back I wrote about herbs and essences to support those of us who live with extra sensitivity (and then created a course). The gentle yet effective ways of plant medicine can be a welcome path of healing for many sensitive folks working with their sensitivities instead of overwhelming them. Over the years there have been a number of herbs that I have returned to again and again to support sensitive folks and one of those plant allies is Chamomile (Matricaria recutita).

Chamomile is a beautiful herb to work with for young folks and old folks and all in-between as it supports our ability to grow into our sensitivity in ways that may not have been possible when we were younger.

If you are someone who experiences extra sensitivity in the world or work with folks who sensitive, you might be interested in my upcoming course on healing practices for highly sensitive people and empaths being published later this year - sign-up for Magick Mail to be kept in the loop.

And now let’s meet Chamomile…

image via @michaelheld

Chamomile
(Matricaria recutita)

Common + Folk Names : Mayweed, ground apple, manzanilla, German chamomile, wild chamomile, blue chamomile
Tarot Cards: The Moon, The Sun, 6 of Cups
Element : Water
Zodiac Signs : Water Signs, Leo
Planets : Venus, Moon, Sun
Moon Phase : Full Moon
Parts used : Flower
Habitat : Native to Eurasia.
Growing conditions : Sun to partial shade and makes a good and fragrant ground cover.
Collection : Collect flowers in spring.
Flavor : Sweet, bitter
Temperature : Neutral
Moisture : Moist
Tissue State : Tense/Constriction, Hot/Excitation

Constituents : Calcium, magnesium, iodine, phosphorous, potassium, vitamin B2, choline, essential oils, flavonoids, levomenol, sesquiterpene lactone, coumarins, salicylates, plant acids,

Actions : Analgesic, anodyne, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antihistamine, antioxidant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, aromatic, carminative, diaphoretic, digestive, emetic (in large doses), febrifuge, nervine, sedative, stomachic, tonic, vulnerary.

Main Uses : Chamomile has an affinity for the stomach and as such is an herb for emotional upsets that manifest in the stomach and digestive tract. Think about the person (maybe you!) who gets a nervous or upset stomach during emotionally challenging times - Chamomile is a fantastic ally. The herb is bitter and sweet which helps us to produce fluids such as bile for digestion, but also helps us to digest our emotions properly. 

Chamomile is one of my favorite herbs for all varieties of childhood complaints from upset stomach, nervousness, cold and 'flu, and invoking calm. It's a classic remedy for the colic-y child and it is a great herb for the sensitive child whose emotional disturbances and overstimulation is felt by them through their stomachs as they often complain of an upset stomach when their environment (internal and external) feels unsteady. But truthfully this describes many sensitive adults, especially those who did not have stable home and parenting environments when younger. Chamomile helps to settle an upset stomach and any accompanying digestive issues, while helping to move energy throughout the body so it doesn't just stagnate in one spot.

After helping to settle an upset stomach, Chamomile continues to work its magic, helping to support children and adults who have great emotional sensitivity to move through their feelings and the world around them. For adults, Chamomile can be especially useful in connecting with our inner child and re-parenting them if necessary. Many of us are carrying around emotional baggage from our young and formative years that can keep us floundering or stagnating in our present life. Chamomile can help us to process these difficult emotions, by gently reconnecting us with who we were before so that we can move on to who we are becoming.

Chamomile has a great ability to cool overheated conditions including excess heat and inflammation, pain, and the emotional turmoil such conditions can create including anger and irritability. One of the indications for Chamomile is oversensitivity to pain which can let us know that the nervous system is on the verge of burnout or already there. The herb is deeply relaxing, helping to alleviate tension and create a sense of calm in the body. Use for cases of anxiety, low self-esteem, and an overall belief that one cannot be properly cared for (look for signs of masking disappointment and low self-esteem with anger). Sometimes when our sensitivity is rejected as a child or we grow up in an environment that is not safe for us to be sensitive in, a shield of anger and toughness can grow over wounded places which traps heat and energy. Chamomile's cooling qualities are useful here and if you're identifying with a lot of what I've been writing about Chamomile so far, be sure to read the "Chamomile Personality" section, too.

Chamomile is a bit of a panacea meaning that it is beneficial to most common conditions that you'll come across in your family or practice including headaches (especially caused by conditions of excess heat), insomnia, heartburn, ulcers, fever, restlessness, sciatica, and so on. Another sign for sensitive folks that Chamomile might be a good ally for you is the need for touch, being held and cared for, but in very particular way as most touch feels too overstimulating or irritating and/or feeling like there is never enough reassurance (physical or otherwise) even as folks are actively reassuring you.

The herb is helpful for premenstrual tension as well as relieving cramps during menstruation. If menstruation is a time of excess sensitivity (especially when there are signs of excess anger and irritability), Chamomile can be a great ally to work with. The herb is also useful for allergies and hay fever and inflamed respiratory systems. Take as a tea daily through allergy season. Use during fire season in the same way to help protect the body from the excess heat and pollutants in the air. 

Use for all sorts of external treatments of the skin including for inflammation and burns, hives, eczema, psoriasis, insect bites, dermatitis, sunburn, acne, and wounds in general. Use in sitz baths for hemorrhoids and in baths for both children and adults to create calm in the body. The salve is great for diaper rash and a mild tea can be used for teething. Use in massage oils for pain conditions including sciatica and inflamed joints. The hydrosol or simple tea infusion makes a great toner for skin prone to redness and acne. Gargle for sore throats and infections, as well as gum and tooth pain. Use as eyewash for conjunctivitis. 

image via @yoyoqua

Magickal Uses : Use in money spells as the golden flowers resemble gold coins. Add to luck and success spells and any ritual honoring or invoking the energy of the Sun. A beautiful addition to the altar during Midsummer and Yule. The herb is a sweet addition to sleep charms as well as children's charm bundles. Place the Moon card and the Sun card from the tarot on your altar (or an image of the Sun and the Moon) and a bowl of Chamomile with your name written on a piece of paper tucked inside to help you find balance between your inner (Moon) and outer (Sun) worlds.

The Chamomile Personality : Anger can be a tool of signalling that they are in distress because it is a loud and self-protective way of letting others know something is up, but for Chamomile folks it is often overused. For one reason or another (childhood neglect, unhealed trauma) anger has become an overdeveloped muscle and Chamomile helps these folks to become open to and develop other skills of self-expression, especially when they are feeling hurt and insecure. Anger can be a tool to help protect us in acute situations, but when it becomes a chronic condition there is a need for extra mental health support. There is often some emotional trauma unhealed from childhood for Chamomile folks and Chamomile is one of the best plant allies to work with when navigating challenging experiences of our youth. The herb helps Chamomile folk to re-parent themselves and have space to be youthful and appropriately protective and loving towards their own inner child. From this place of tending to the roots of their soul, Chamomile helps folks to feel safe in knowing that they can express themselves beyond anger and be heard and held and wanted and loved always.

Contraindications : Ragweed allergies and some folks experience contact dermatitis with the fresh plant. Otherwise generally considered safe.

Drug interactions : Avoid with anticoagulant medications. 

Dosage : Standard dosage.

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I hope you enjoyed the sweet wisdom of Chamomile. If you felt resonance with the descriptions above but don’t know much about what it means to be sensitive, you might check out my new course on herbs and essences for highly sensitive people.

If you are a person living with extra sensitivity in this world, I hope that you are receiving lots of care and support so that you are able to experience your sensitivity as the gift that it is.

This post was made possible through patron support.
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