On your grocery store shelf rests a little box brimming with compassion. Consider packing some chamomile tea along with your vacation clothes as you compress "summer fun" into every available sun-filled moment. The "compassionate composite" is what Herbalist Sally King calls chamomile. "We live such full lives; how wonderful to have an herb that helps us to digest and integrate our life experiences." Feeling rather fragmented myself, I breathed in its sweet scent as I sipped my chamomile tea. Best known for its relaxing, sleep-inducing qualities, chamomile is also a great tonic for the digestive system. In addition, its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties make it an excellent eye remedy and an effective wash for wound and skin care.

Two common varieties: The annual, German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) and the perennial, Roman Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis) are both from the Aster family (Asteracae).* Chamomile, named from the Greek for "ground-apple," has a sweet, apple-like aroma. Its flowers are similar to daisies, with conical, golden centers surrounded by little white petals. The perennial creates a ground cover that spreads on creeping rootstock, reaching a height of about 8 - 10 inches. The annual grows in clumps of up to two feet, making a nice border. Harvest the annual frequently by plucking off the flowering head — the more you pick, the more it produces. Dry the flowers for year-round use. Chamomile is high in nerve-soothing niacin, magnesium, phosphorus, riboflavin and sodium. It also provides calcium, iron, manganese, potassium, silicon and vitamin C. Rich in volatile oils, chamomile's healing properties are easily extracted into water. It is most commonly taken as a tea.

Digest this: Chamomile's slightly bitter aftertaste identifies it as a digestive herb, which stimulates the appetite and signals related organs to get moving. In many cultures, dinner begins with a bitter beer or salad (see "Dandelions," issue #6). Try some chamomile tea or tincture before or after a meal. It helps ease an array of digestive disorders our hectic lives can induce, ranging from indigestion to irritable bowel syndrome. Its antispasmodic properties relax intestinal cramps, and its antiseptic qualities help to soothe and heal inflamed and ulcerated tissues. Chamomile is considered one of the safest and best remedies for infants' ailments such as colic and constipation. It also increases appetite in the ill or elderly.

Chamomile calms: Soothing chamomile is an excellent herb for nervous-system support or relief from stress of any kind. It relaxes the mind and promotes a gentle entry to sleep, even for over-tired or hyperactive kids. If tea is not their favorite drink, try warm rice milk with a dose of chamomile tincture or introduce a "sleep pillow" (see box). Herbalist M. Grieves calls it the sole certain remedy for nightmares. Chamomile is also an accepted fever tea for infants.

Bright eyes, clear skin: Chamomile contains antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving qualities that have earned it the reputation as one of the best eye washes. It soothes and heals all kinds of eye irritations, from dry, red, irritated eyes to sties or conjunctivitis (pink eye). A chamomile tea bag makes a perfect compress: Steep tea bags, let them cool, then lay them directly on closed eyes. Use chamomile compresses only once. They will contain impurities; reuse may re-infect. Many herbalists recommend using chamomile topically as a wash for general skin care. It's a great remedy for diaper rash, applied as an infused oil or infused in water for a sitz bath. The infused herb also makes an effective wash for newborn navel care and general wound treatment. Bitter foods help our bodies absorb nutrients; drinking the tea on a regular basis clears skin from the inside out. (See Chamomile Recipes.)

Daily tea: Sally puts a pinch of chamomile in her daily teas, for its physical properties and as a symbolic choice: "What part of my life feels really stuck right now, that I need to take time to digest? If we aren't awake, we live trapped in a world of our own thinking — without questioning or digesting. Chamomile helps us gently wake up."

*Note: In this article, Roman and German varieties can be used interchangeably and are referred to as "chamomile."

Sally King, currently on sabbatical as the Director of RavenCroft Garden in Monroe, Washington, is dedicated to connecting people, plants and the earth: 360-794-2938 or www.ravencroftgarden.com.

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