Profile For Chamomile Floral water
Latin Name: Chamaemelum nobile Aroma: A fruity, honeylike aroma. With more apple overtones than the oil has but softer, more delicate.
Stability and Shelf Life: Very stable, lasts for two years or more.
Properties and Applications: One of the best all-purpose waters, along with lavender and melissa. Roman chamomile is the number-one choice for baby care. It can safely be used right from birth, in the bath water and as a soothing mist for bedding. Mothers can use it diluted to wash the breast area, and in sddition to helping prevent cracked and sore nipples, its calming properties will make feeding time even more relaxing. When child care is required, the handover is easier if the caregiver uses chamomile as well, as the child will feel that Mother is near. Nappy-rash redness and pain can be soothed with dilute chamomile, or use neat applications of 50:50 blend of Roman chamomil and lavender waters to compress the tender skin. New mothers can use it in a compress or a sitz bath for postpartum relief. Homemade wet wipes for babies and young children should always include chamomile. When teething starts, add two or three drops to a bottle of water to help calm diarrhea and stomach upset. Rub the gums with diluted chamomile frequently to reduce inflammation, swelling, and pain and help to sooth the associated crankiness. Children adore the flavor of sweet chamomile and will soon recognize the relief it brings. Spritzing a light mist over the blankets or in the air of the child's room will help children sleep. Because of its effect on the nervous system, chamomile is a useful aid in stress reduction, depression, relaxation, insomnia, and aggravation. Combine it with melissa or one of the tree waters if alertness is required and to help calm road rage. It can be midly euphoric, instilling a feeling of well-being. Use as a bedtime tea or bath for reducing stress, for physical relaxation, and for restful night. Chamomile is wonderful for skin care, for burns and sunburns, skin cleanser, and toner. Combined with neroli it is good for acneic conditions and oily skin; combine it with witch hazel for very dry skin and with lavender or geranium for very dry skin. Pets, like babies, can derive great benefits from chamomile, which can reduce stress before travel, after a flight, during a storm, or even when visiting the vet. Teething, especially in puppies, can be as much of an ordeal for owners as for pets; use the same treatment for teething babies. Basically, Roman chamomile is a must have hydrosol.
Floral Waters General Information
Today, most common essential oils, such as lavender, peppermint, and eucalyptus, are distilled. Raw plant material, consisting of the flowers, leaves, wood, bark, roots, seeds, or peel, is put into an alembic (distillation apparatus) over water. As the water is heated the steam passes through the plant material, vaporizing the volatile compounds. The vapors flow through a coil where they condense back to liquid, which is then collected in the receiving vessel.
Most oils are distilled in a single process. One exception is Ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata), which takes 22 hours to complete through a fractional distillation.
The water recondensed from the distillation process is referred to as a hydrosol, hydrolat, herbal distillate or floral water. Popular hydrosols are rose otto water, lavender water, chamomile, lemon balm, clary sage, tea tree, peppermint and orange flower/blossom floral water.
How To Use Floral Waters
Hydrosols are valuable therapeutic materials in their own right and can be used alongside essential oils or in place of them especially in cosmetic applications and for treating skin disorders. They can be applied to the skin direct, without further dilution and are particularly useful where a non-oily or water-soluble treatment medium is needed, for example in some forms of eczema where oils or oily creams seen to make the condition worse. Chamomile hydrosol would be particulary appropriate here. because of there gentleness, in comparison with the equivalent essential oil, hydrosols are particulary well suited to use for children, the elderly and people who are debilitated by illness. We have listed some popular ways to use floral waters, mentioned below. It is not an exhaustive list and you may well know, or you may discover, other methods.
Compresses
Compresses can be either hot or cold depending on the condition that is being treated. It is well-known and frequently used treatment method for sports injuries in particular, though its uses are much wider than this and can be very effective for pain, swelling and inflammation.
How To Use: The method is the same whether hot or cold. Add up to three to five tablespoons of hydrosol in one liter of water.For children dilute two to three teaspoons of hydrosol per liter of water to a basin or bowl of hot or icy cold water. Use a face-cloth, lined pad, cotton wool or other absorbent fabric and dip this into water. Wring out the excess and place the pad on the affected area. Once the compress has achieved body temperature, renew it and continue as required. A hot compress can be held in place with crepe bandage on joints or with cling-film on larger areas, for example the lower back.
Benefits: Most conditions characterized by 'aches', for example earache, backache, etc, should be treated with hot compresses, while sprains, fevers, inflammations and headaches should be treated with cold compresses. Sprains and varicose veins respond very well to the 'hot/cold' treatment, ie start with a cold compress then alternate between hot and cold compresses over the next few days, finishing with a cold one.
Room Burner (oil burner; lamp ring; diffuser; vaporiser)
Room burners are specifically made for use with essential oils, and can also be used with floral waters. You can buy them in many different shapes, sizes, designs and patterns. They can be electric, radiator fragrancer, candle powered or a ceramic light bulb ring that is heated by a light bulb, but most are ceramic oil burners warmed by a small candle. Also remember that a glazed ceramic oil burner will not crack, burn or stain, and is easy to keep clean. Always try to use good quality night lights with a good quality wick so that it will not smell when alight or smoke when blown out.
How to use: Place a small amount of floral water of your choice in the bowl, enough to fill it but leaving some space for water expansion. Place the candle in the chamber, light it and leave in a safe place. Use for 25-30 minutes this will, of course, depend on the size of the room or house etc.
Benefits: Psychological conditions can be treated very effectively with a room burner. Headaches respond well to this method and all respiratory problems can be treated in this way. A major use of the room burner is to scent and purify the air, clear germs and create a 'therapeutic atmosphere'.
Lotions And Creams
Floral waters can be added to fragrance-free lotions or creams, but make sure that you use a very good quality product that if preferably lanolin free (some people are sensitive to lanolin).
How to use: Add the floral water to a dark amber glass jar to help preserve the cream or lotion and prevent it from reacting with a plastic bottle. The recommended dosage is approximately 10 percent. It is usually safe to add at least 10 percent hydrosol, although in some cases the gels will take up to 50 percent to your chosen cream or lotions. Even 5 percent will have an effect and will add a distinct note of luxury, try a batch test first . Apply lotion to the skin and rub until completely absorbed. Cream should be applied to the skin and gently rubbed in. Leave the rest to sit on the surface of the skin and gradually release the oil into the body and the aroma into the nose.
Benefits: This is a particularly good way of treating most skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, which will benefit greatly. A lotion is an excellent way to get essential oils rapidly into the bloodstream and is therefore useful for treating conditions such as circulation problems. Lotions and creams can be effectively used for headaches, while creams are a good way of treating respiratory conditions. Both are an essential medium for general body and skin care.
Room Sprays
Make a home-made room spray using a sprayer that has been thoroughly cleaned, to provide your favorite aromas to freshen your home. It is perfectly possible to make a room spray using floral water. This will mean that every time you use it you will have to make sure you shake it vigorously to disperse the oils in the water.
Bath
For babies up to six months old add one teaspoon of hydrosol to an infant-size bath of water or two teaspoons to an adult bath filled to baby depth. For children up to twelve years, add to the bath one teaspoon of hydrosol per year of age, up to a maximum of eight teaspoons. Adults can use frm 30ml to 250ml per bath; the amount is dependent on personal taste, whether the bath is therapeutic of for pleasure, and the size of the bath.
Makeup Remover
Roman chamomile, and geranium are the most effective, in that order. Use as you would any makeuo remover by applying the hydrosol to a cotton pad and gently wiping it over the skin, moving up the face. Chamomile will even remove some waterproof types of mascara, although not all of them. Follow with a splash of fresh water or water-hydrosol blend.
Steam
Perform this treatment by boiling water, then diluting it up to 50 percent with hydrosol and pouring the hot liquid into a bowl. Now tent a towel over your head and sit with your face over the steaming vapors. This is an excellent method for deep-cleaning pores and removing stubborn impurities without damaging the tissue. Follow with a cold water-hydrosol rinse to close the pores afterwards. Diluting the boiling water with room-temperature hydrosol means that the steam won't burn. Steam for a maximum of ten minutes only.
Moisture Mist Spray
Any time your face feels the ravages of the elements-dryness, humidity, stress, smoking, fatigue, climate-controlled air, a hydrosol mist can bring relief. Applied in a fine spray it will not ruin makeup, and you will feel and look better for it.
Gargle & Mouth Wash
Combine one part hydrosol with four parts water for a general-purpose mouthwash that will help maintain oral hygiene and sweet breath. For children over three years, dilute one part hydrosol in ten parts water. If you are dealing with specific mouth or gum conditions in adults, such as cankers, ulcers, gingivitis, sore throat, or infections, use neat hydrosol, twenty milliliters at a time, and hold it in your mouth around the sore spot. For a gargle, using a total of thirty milliliters of hydrosol, gargle with fifteen milliliters twice; spit out the hydrosol, don't swallowit. Repeat two or three times daily.
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