A Brief History of Sacred Herb: Chamomile

Chamomile. It is one of the oldest, most ancient of all herbal home remedies. For so many millennia, this beloved, medicinal herb has been favored as an herbal cure-all for all manner of ailments. It has a long and storied history that spans many millennia. The use of Chamomile as an herbal medicinal has its roots in ancient Egypt. The earliest known record is documented in the Ebers medical papyrus (1550 BC), one of the world's oldest existing medical documents. The ancient Egyptians prized the Chamomile herb as a sacred gift from Ra, the sun god, and revered it above all other herbs. It was also used to embalm the dearly departed, to prepare them for their final journey into the Land of the Dead. In fact, a chemical analysis on the mummy of the Pharaoh Ramses II (1100 BC) identified chamomile as the main herbal constituent in his embalming oil. Aside from its medicinal and religious purposes, hieroglyphic records show that chamomile was used cosmetically, particularly by Egyptian noblewomen.

The ancient Greeks and Romans were also enamored with chamomile. The Greeks gave it its name "chamomile" from the two words chamos and melos, meaning "ground apple" referring to the herb's apple-scented blooms. Dioscorides, the Greek physician and the Roman naturalist Pliny recommended chamomile for headaches as well as liver, kidney, and bladder problems. It was also prescribed for fevers and female disorders.

During Europe's Dark Ages, the Anglo-Saxons revered the chamomile herb, which they called Maythen. "Lacnunga" an ancient Anglo-Saxon manuscript, listed it as one of their 'Nine Sacred Herbs'. It was widely used in the treatment of insomnia, headaches, flatulence, indigestion, skin conditions, gout and rheumatism. The Vikings used it in shampoos to add luster to blonde hair.