Chamomile is one of the few herb plants that is not used in cooking. It offers many other rewards, though, than just its delicate yellow flowers and ground covering capabilities.
Pick the dried flowers, and blend them together in some boiling water to make an infusion. This concoction can be used as a skin tonic and a cleanser. Just apply it to the face with a cotton ball.
The following recipe is a cool, refreshing cleanser for oily skin. Only make as much as you can use for two or three days, because it is made with milk.
Ingredients:
Directions:
Place the flowers in the milk until the milk is warm and let them infuse until the milk smells like chamomile. The best way to do this is to use a double boiler. Heat the water in the bottom pan, and remove it from the heat. Place the milk and flower mixture in a bowl over the water and allow it to sit. Occasionally, stir gently - you want to keep the flowers intact. When the milk is scented, strain it to remove the flowers, and pour the milk into a jar or bottle, keeping it covered. Store in a cool place for no more than three days - refrigerating is good. This is a refreshing cleanser for hot days!
By Patti McKenna
