In the British Library in London, one of the most important and well-known libraries in the world, under a thick glass case there is a parchment written in ancient characters. Here is contained a spell that, according to legend, was given by the god Odin to men so that they could cure infections and other skin disorders. Nine herbs are the essential ingredients of this potion and among these herbs, including nettle, mugwort, plantain, fennel, apple tree there is also chamomile, or matricaria chamomilla. What a wonderful plant is chamomile, which, in shape and color, resembles the sun with its light petals that look like rays and a beautiful bright yellow center. And in fact, for the ancient Egyptians, chamomile was the gift of the god Ra, the god of the sun, to men. But chamomile is not only pleasant to admire, in fact, as the ancient text testifies, it is also a precious source of properties, used both internally, in the form of herbal tea, and externally, in the form of infused oil and essential oil. Today we will talk about how to prepare and use chamomile infused oil.
Chamomile, properties for the skin
Chamomile oil has antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and healing properties (Srivastava et al, Mol Med Report., 2010 - Zargaran et al, J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med., 2017). Not only that, chamomile oil is calming, it helps to relax and chase away stress and anxiety. But this product is also soothing thanks to the mucilage it contains, making it useful in case of eczema, dermatitis, wounds, burns and irritations (Srivastava et al, Mol Med Report., 2010). Finally, chamomile oil, thanks to its anti-inflammatory action, is helpful in case of joint pain. In fact, as shown by scientific research, chamomile oil applied with massages on knees affected by osteoarthritis three times a day for three weeks led to a reduction in pain and stiffness in the joints (Shoara et al, Complement Ther Clin Pract , 2015).
Chamomile oil, preparation and uses
Get a few handfuls of dried chamomile flowers, they can be found everywhere, both in supermarkets and herbalist's shops. Pour the flowers into a vase and fill with a vegetable oil, such as jojoba oil, until the flowers are completely covered. Close with a lid and leave in the sun for about 5-6 weeks (Zargaran et al, J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med., 2017), taking care to shake the jar once a day. After this time, filter the oil with a fine mesh strainer and pour the resulting oil into a dark glass bottle to be stored in a cool place. You can apply on damp skin with a slow massage in case of irritation, burns, scalds, inflammations caused, for example, by atmospheric agents. You can also apply on the temples, forehead and neck with slow circular movements in case of anxiety or headache. Alternatively, if you don't like DIY, you can find creams and ointments with chamomile extracts on the market.
