Chamomile Flower Meaning, Symbolism & Origin

Chamomile is a common flower worldover with lots of meaning and symbolism. It’s mostly used in various herbal remedies, such as teas and tablets to help with sleep, relaxation, and stomach pains. It’s also one of the oldest known species of plant used in cultural symbolism, and bears a rich history.

Chamomile has various meanings across cultures. It was important in ancient societies as a bringer of light, rebirth, and good fortune and is still used today to represent luck and healing. Its excellent medicinal and spiritual properties echo among different cultures and religions.

But what does chamomile symbolize and represent throughout different cultures? Here is a quick history of chamomile and its importance over time. You’ll also find an overview of what it means and how it can be used in the modern day to soothe aches and pains.

What Does Chamomile Symbolize?

Chamomile is a small white flower, similar in shape and color to a daisy. It is commonly used in alternative medicine due to its calming properties and is a common ingredient in many herbal teas that aid sleep and calm anxiety.

However, chamomile has a much deeper significance than mere medicinal properties, and it’s present in many different cultures.

Chamomile Symbolism in Pagan and Wiccan Culture

Chamomile comes in two varieties, Roman and German. These two flowers differ slightly from one another, but in magic, the two are essentially interchangeable. The chamomile plant is associated with masculine energy while the water element is typically used as a protector and healer.

Chamomile is thought to bring good fortune and luck to anyone that uses it in their magic. Many people will use it in gambling, as wearing a garland of chamomile around your neck or washing your hands in chamomile water is supposed to bring you good luck.

Drinking chamomile in tea or burning it as incense during meditation will bring good luck to the consumer. Additionally, it’s often used in a new promotion or to attract a romantic partner.

Chamomile is medicinally and spiritually seen as a healing flower that encourages rest and recovery. This extends beyond humans, with the chamomile flower being called upon to heal injured animals or even wilting plants.

The flower is associated with positivity and healing due to its pure white color and the golden hue it produces when steeped in water. Consequently, drinking chamomile tea is thought to bring light and cleansing energy into the body.

Chamomile Symbolism in Ancient Greece, Egypt, and Rome

Chamomile has had an enormous impact on ancient cultures, with its earliest recorded uses based on remedies from ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt. In ancient cultures, chamomile was most commonly used for its flavor and aroma, although it did find some symbolic meaning, particularly in ancient Egypt.

In ancient Egypt, the sun god Ra revered chamomile as a sacred flower, and its use became symbolic of his power. Ra was known as one of the world’s leading creators, bringing enlightenment and new beginnings.

The chamomile flower represents such things beautifully, with its golden color and healing properties. As a result, the plant was used in many healing remedies and even during the embalmment process of mummification.

Ancient Rome and Greece did not use the chamomile plant as symbolically as the Egyptians, but its use was still a prominent part of the plant’s history. In ancient Greece, chamomile was known by the term ‘ground apple’ due to its similarity to apple blossom in taste and smell.

The Romans also used chamomile for its taste and aroma, though the ‘Roman Chamomile’ referred to in magic was discovered by the English.

Chamomile Symbolism in Anglo-Saxon Culture

Chamomile features in Anglo-Saxon history as one of the nine sacred herbs in the “Lacnunga.” This was a collection of old remedies, initially written in Latin and Old English, to help people treat ailments before modern medicine.

Unlike the Wiccan or Egyptian symbolism of the flower, the Anglo-Saxon use was more medicinal than spiritual. Chamomile successfully treated several common health conditions, including stomach concerns, menstrual pain, and sleep issues. Chamomile tea is still commonly used as a natural remedy for these issues.

Despite the proven effectiveness of the herbs in the Lacnuga, there was a spiritual significance to using these herbs that tied deeply into Christian and Pagan culture at the time. Far from being seen as scientific, these herbs were miraculous to the Anglo-Saxons and held a spiritual healing quality.

Chamomile Symbolism in Native American Culture

Chamomile is not native to the Americas and was brought over with colonization. Thus, it is hard to trace any traditional use of chamomile in Native American culture. However, the natives assigned medicinal and spiritual benefits to many of the plants on the earth, and the discovery of chamomile was no different.

Native Americans assigned hundreds of different uses to chamomile, as various tribes discovered it separately, and conversations with early settlers expanded this knowledge across America. Like other cultures, Native Americans noted the plant’s tendency to soothe the stomach and relax the body. Here, it came to represent healing and light.

Etymology of Chamomile

The word chamomile comes from multiple ancient languages that have merged to become the word we know today.

In Latin, it was known as “chamomilla” or “camomilla.” In Greek, it was “chamaimelon,” and in old French, it was “camemile.” The Greek name comes from the term “ground apple” due to its similarity to the apple blossom that grew on trees instead of the ground.

There are multiple spellings of the term chamomile. While American English has adopted the Greek etymology, British English favors an old English version of the word spelled phonetically. Because of this, you may notice that the “h” is dropped from the word in certain circumstances.

Uses of Chamomile in Modern Medicine

The use of chamomile in medicine has held up over time. In everyday use, chamomile has been found to help with all of the ailments that folklore said it did, plus a whole lot more.

Today, you can get chamomile drinks, chamomile lotions, and even chamomile pills to help with a plethora of issues. Ancient cultures were right to be fascinated by the small plant.

Chamomile for Sleep and Mental Health

The most common use of chamomile is to aid in sleep issues such as insomnia. Chamomile has a naturally calming effect that can relax the brain and help in mild cases of insomnia. The best way to use this to your advantage is by drinking a warm cup of chamomile tea an hour or so before you want to sleep.

Because of its use as a relaxant, many people also use chamomile to calm anxiety.

Chamomile has been proven to increase GABA in people—the chemical associated with relaxation—and can be used to treat mild anxiety disorders. These can be treated with chamomile tea, but some enjoy infusing their bath or incense with the plant for a calming aroma.

Chamomile for Skin Complaints

There is limited evidence that chamomile is helpful with skin complaints. Still, it is primarily believed that the use of chamomile in lotions and wound dressings soothes the skin and encourages faster healing.

Much like aloe vera, chamomile has a relaxing effect on the skin. This can prevent itching if you have a skin condition such as eczema or reduce pain if you have recently suffered a wound. Chamomile is thought to contain antimicrobial properties that help prevent infection to a significant injury and calm inflammation.

It is worth noting that there haven’t been many scientific studies on this. So if you are worried about an infection, don’t hesitate to contact your doctor about it.

Chamomile for Stomach Issues

For a long time, chamomile has been a leading remedy for stomach concerns. Whether it be a digestion issue, stomach cramping, or menstrual pains, chamomile has been there to soothe people long before modern medicine. Indeed, many people still prefer the natural approach over using medication.

The chamomile plant’s healing abilities when it comes to stomach pains contributed significantly to its symbolism. As such, it’s no wonder that many people still associate it with stomach issues. Besides, hundreds of locations across the globe have passed down the knowledge that chamomile is excellent for stomach pains, so the remedy is still prevalent in many cultures.

If you frequently suffer from menstrual cramps, chamomile provides an excellent alternative to painkillers, which can be costly and damaging if taken often. The best way to soothe cramps is by drinking chamomile tea. However, if you want an extra kick, go for chamomile-infused supplements as they allow you to take it in a higher dose.

Chamomile can also be beneficial when used alongside traditional painkillers—if you want extra help. Just check the medicine packet to ensure it is safe to take the two simultaneously.

Chamomile doesn’t interfere with many medications, but it is better to be safe than sorry. If you feel unwell after using it, see your doctor to ensure you don’t have an allergy.

Final Thoughts

Chamomile has an excellent reputation as a healer derived from its use in medicine that continues to date. Whether spiritual or medicinal, the real symbolic value of the chamomile flower is its power to revive the unwell. This is prevalent in its association with both Sun Gods in ancient cultures and good luck or fortune

The use of chamomile brings with it good health and good fortune. Therefore, it is looked upon as a miraculous remedy for any ailments, medical or otherwise.

Through the practice of modern witchcraft and herbal medicine, the significance of chamomile lives on and on.