Chamomile

Plant Name: Chamomile
Botanical Name: Anthemis nobilis, Matricaria chamomilla Common Names: Camomyle, Earth Apple, Ground Apple, Manzanilla (Spanish). Maythen, Whig Plant

Gender: Masculine

Element: Water

Planet: Sun, Mercury

Deities: Cernunnos, Karnayna, Mercury, Oshun, Ra, St. Anne, Sun Gods

Magickal Properties: Sleep, meditation, money, love, purification, luck

While known in Latin as Anthemis Nobilis, Chamomile actually gets its name from the Greek words kamai, which means on the ground, and melon, which is the word for an apple. When trod upon, it frequently produces a strong, pleasant aroma that wafts around those who step upon it, and reminds many of apples. For this purpose it was often put to use in the medieval periods for use in green garden paths, so that as one strolled from one place to another one would be accompanied by a lovely, sweet smell. In the past, herbalists and gardeners also saw Chamomile as a healing plant that would help those plants it grew next to flourish when otherwise they might begin to fail. It spiritual uses Chamomile was also frequently used in finding good luck with marriage proposals, gambling, prosperity and good fortune, and was even thought to aid in preventing lightning strikes.

In the world today, Chamomile is perhaps most famous as a component in tea that is not only smells lovely and is pleasantly flavorful, but is widely known for helping to soothe stomachs and ease indigestion as well as help you fall to sleep. It is also well known for being a soothing sedative that aids with pain and discomfort.