Chamomile: Magical Properties & Uses

Chamomile is primarily a herb of luck, calm, and the removal of obstacles. Its planetary association with the sun (unusual for a soothing herb) reflects the golden colour of its flowers and its long history as a solar offering. In practical magic it is used to draw money and good fortune, to wash the hands before financial decisions, and to clear away ill-luck and crossed conditions. The combination of solar energy with calming properties makes it particularly useful in workings that require patient, steady positive intention over time. It is also used in sleep and peace workings and is one of the gentler herbs for those new to working with botanicals.

Chamomile is among the most extensively used medicinal herbs in the world. Its anti-inflammatory and mildly sedative properties are well-documented: chamomile tea is a clinically supported remedy for anxiety, insomnia, and digestive upset. It is used in skin preparations for inflammation and wound healing. German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) is the more commonly used variety medicinally. Its safety profile is excellent, though those with ragweed allergies may react to it.

Cernunnos, Ra

Chamomile's Latin name Matricaria (from matrix, womb) indicates its long history as a women's herb and healer of the feminine body. The Egyptians held it sacred to the sun and used it in preparations for fever and headache; it was one of the few plants dedicated to the gods rather than being merely medicinal. The Anglo-Saxons included it among the nine sacred herbs and called it maythen. It was planted extensively in medieval monastery gardens and spread throughout northern Europe as a reliable healing plant. Its deep embeddedness in European domestic medicine is reflected by the fact that Peter Rabbit's mother's specific remedy was chamomile tea.