Content
- How to recognize Real Chamomile
- Collecting chamomile
- The right harvest time
- Characteristics of the real chamomile
- Tips & Tricks
How to recognize Real Chamomile
The real chamomile is one of the oldest medicinal plants used by man ever, its application is already proven for the early Stone Age. The herb can be used very versatile, but above all it helps internally and externally for inflammation and problems of the gastrointestinal tract. There are many different types of chamomile, which are very similar externally but have no healing properties. Learn how to recognize the Real Camomile.
Collecting chamomile
The chamomile is widespread throughout Europe and grows in mountainous heights up to 1,600 meters as well as in the North German lowlands. You will find the quickly proliferating herb in sunny and warm locations on field ridges, roadsides, meadows and fields, on walls, fallow land and rubble. However, it is important not to collect wild-picked chamomile carelessly, because many fields and meadows are treated with pesticides and other harmful chemicals. Chamomile treated in this way can not be used as a medicinal plant, as well as waking plants close to busy roads.
The right harvest time
From about May to September, the flowering time of the chamomile continues, where you should collect the flower heads as early as June / July - the content of the precious essential oils is highest when the flowers had already some time to mature, but also not yet overripe. The best time to recognize the fact that about two-thirds of a chamomile population is already blooming, a few buds are still closed.
Characteristics of the real chamomile
You can distinguish the real chamomile from the following typical features of other camomile species:
The most important distinction is the following: Use a sharp knife to cut through a flower top from top to bottom. he should be more or less hollow inside. Both the false chamomile and the dog chamomile have rather flat, filled flower bottoms.
Tips & Tricks
To prevent confusion and to avoid contamination with pesticides and Co., you grow the real chamomile in your own garden. You can also just collect mature flower heads in nature and just let them fall in the garden - it sows itself almost by itself.
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