I’ve just discovered the beneficial qualities of chamomile tea. This was quite by accident. I suspect I might be developing an allergy to food, specifically tomatoes or onions or spicy foods containing these ingredients. I only know that for weeks I’ve been subjected to frequent stomach and intestinal upsets and so I began to search for tried and true methods of relief. As a Janeite I asked: “What would Jane have done?”
Women during the Georgian era, including the Austen women, made their own medicinal remedies for all sorts of ailments. Many recipes were handed down in the family over the generations, others were acquired in Cookery Books.
Thumbnail image from Cup & Leaf
One common easy-to-make remedy for an assortment of ills was herbal tea or tisane. I looked up information online, found teas that aided digestion, then checked my tea shelf and found four of the suggested herbal teas for indigestion: chamomile tea, green tea, ginger tea, and hibiscus tea. (There are more.)
I chose the chamomile as being a likely candidate, for I like the taste. After a few days my indigestion largely calmed down. According to the Dictionary of 18th Century Herb Usage from Chadds Ford Historical Society,
Chamomile [is] infused as a tea for indigestion, gas, and stomach aches. Also used as a strewing herb and insect repellent.” Link to Dictionary of 18th Century Herb Usage PDF doc
In European records, medicinal use of Chamomile was practiced for centuries.
Ancient physicians prescribed herbal teas regularly to aid in digestion and help relieve symptoms of the common cold and flu. Before the advent of cold medicines and antibiotics, herbal teas were often the only way to treat illnesses.” – Greek Mountain Tea, Chamomile, and Fennel
Chamomile tea is commonly infused from a plant known as Matricaria recutita. The tea is made from the dried flower, not the stems and leaves. The brew is delicate and yellowish and has a lovely floral or fruity aroma. It is often flavored with mint leaves or shaved fresh ginger, but I like it plain. Three cups a day did the trick.
A product description for “Compassion for Mrs. Bennet’s Nerves” on Bingley’s Teas can be seen on my large monitor screen. Chamomile flowers screenshot sits on my laptop (love my standing desk). Sitting on the top ledge are my favorite tea pot/cup and an annotated edition of Pride and Prejudice (I recommend the DK Illustrated Classic edition for newcomers to the Jane Austen oeuvre, like my sister-in-law). Image by Vic Sanborn.
The tea’s success in reducing my symptoms prompted me to research 18th century recipes. So far I’ve had no success, but that means nothing (there should be references that a dedicated researcher would find). I also looked up to see if Jane Austen mentioned the brew in her letters, but found no references. Still, the flower, which looks like a daisy, is common in Europe and easy to grow in an herb garden. One cannot help but surmise that Mrs. Austen and her two daughters knew exactly how to make a cuppa with freshly harvested chamomile flowers.
Hugh Thompson illustration
While I could not find references to Jane’s having made chamomile tea (its properties, aside from soothing intestinal ailments include reducing anxiety, tension, and headaches and promoting sleep), I did find this delightful product description by Bingley’s Teas for a modern tea named “Compassion for Mrs. Bennet’s Nerves.”
At last there is compassion for what poor Mrs. Bennet suffers with her nerves! A tisane of chamomile, peppermint, passion flower, rosehips, and lavender, sooth the most agitated of moments in a delicious cup. We recommend a touch of local honey for added bliss!”
As for chamomile tea’s efficacy,
The National Institutes of Health funded a study at the University of Pennsylvania on people with generalized anxiety disorder where the anxiety interferes with their lives. Chamomile was shown to to have promising results in reducing the participants’ anxiety.” – The Tea Maestro
Sources:
- Greek Mountain Tea, Chamomile, and Fennel, October 4, 2016, The National Herald, click on this link.
- Introduction to chamomile, PDF document from abc.herbalgram.org. Click on this link.
- Tea Time at Reverie: Compassion For Mrs. Bennet’s Nerves Herbal Tea from Bingley’s Teas, pA bibliophile’s Reverie. Click on this link.
- The Health Benefits of Chamomile Tea, The Tea Maestro. Click on this link.
- How to Make Chamomile Tea: 5 Recipes From Simple Tea to a Hot Toddy, Cup & Leaf. Click on this link.
- Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with bright future, Janmejai K Srivastava, Eswar Shankar,and Sanjay Gupta, U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, 11-1-2010. Click on this link.
Jane Austen's World 
Sorry, but *camellia sinensis* is the botanic name of the plant that provides the leaves for black & green teas, not the herb that provides camomile. German camomile is most often used in herbal teas & is the plant *Matricaria recutita*. The two plants are not at all similar.
Thank you. I will make the change. One of my sources mentioned this form of the plant. I appreciate your input. Vic
My dear German grandmother grew chamomile flowers in her garden. Whenever we had a tummy ache, she would make us tea with the flowers and we always felt better. The smell still makes me happy as it reminds me of her. I always have some in my tea chest. I am sure Jane Austen drank it as well.
I love chamomile tea
denise
you don’t need a recipe for chamomile tea, you just harvest and sun dry the flowers as with any herb and make an infusion as and when you need it. Or use the infusion to rinse your hair to make it blonder and to help reduce grease gently. Note, this is the tall chamomile not the lawn chamomile, which is pleasant to wall on but the active ingredients aren’t as strong
I will try this. I just purchased the dry flowers at this lovely Asian grocery store, which had a wealth of teas and dried flowers.
I’ve not tried the hair brightening one; apparently you can use marigold flowers similarly to redden the hair a little.
I LOVE chamomile tea and have for a long time. I used to grow German chamomile and harvest the flowers. i could get two harvests per year. It tastes so much better than the store bought bags of chamomile tea and the smell of the drying flowers always brings a smile to my face.
Wonderful post, Vic, and applicable to me, as I have similar digestive problems! I unfortunately dislike the taste of chamomile tea, but am picking up on your hint about green tea. Thanks!
Thank you Vic, another enjoyable post. I like growing herbs and making tea from them (chocolate mint is a favourite), but I’m very glad not to be reliant on early 19th century medicine when I’m really ill.
After a few really bad decisions by my doctor and having mostly recovered from medicine which stripped my immune system and left me suicidal, Ive gone back to my great gran’s book of gypsy remedies and herbalism generally.
My wise mom taught me to seek natural remedies first. I also look to natural remedies for house cleaning tips (baking soda and vinegar to clear drains), salt between brick or pavement cracks to prevent weeds, etc. But I do appreciate vaccinations, antibiotics (moderately used), and antihistamines to control my asthma.
Have you read The Camomile Lawn by Mary Wesley? It is set in Cornwall. It was made into a TV series over here.I must admit I have never tried camomile tea but maybe one day. It is such a nice word to say, camomile. All the best, Tony
No, Tony, although I’ve heard of it. I might have more time for fun reading now! LOL.
I’ve been using chamomile tea (the actual flower, not the tea bags) to cure colds for years and it’s very effective. I’ve also noticed that, as many natural medicines, it has a cummulative power, which means, the more you use it, the more efficient it becomes.
I’m so glad, Vic, that you and so many of your readers have found relief by using chamomile tea. I know most people do. After lots of testing, I found that I’m allergic to chamomile: not only doesn’t it offer relief it makes me even sicker and does quite a job on my gastrointestinal system. I guess different strokes for different folks.
About botanical medicine – Diana Gabaldon’s Outlandish Companion Two has an entire chapter correlating botanical concoctions from the late 1700’s and early 1800’s to herbs and plants used in today’s medicine. Willow bark, for example, is used for fevers and pain, and is related to our aspirin. (I’m not a chemist, so don’t hold me to the specifics.) Valerian has come back into use, as has St. John’s wort, used to treat depression. If course there were also what we would call quack remedies. Anyone remember Mrs. Pinkham’s vegetable compound, which was 20% alcohol?
willow bark contains both acetate of salicylic acid, the active ingredient in aspirin, and a substance similar enough to quinine to make it antifebrile. St John’s wort can react very badly with certain prescribed meds so be aware. Valerian is safe enough but it can give you the runs.
This was a very timely post. My wife has been having similar symptoms with some foods lately. We never thought of chamomile tea as a possible help until your post here. We looked into it a little further and she has been trying it and, along with peppermint oil, has been having good results. Thanks!