Similarly, variety 'Trenague' , which has no flowers at all, was discovered during cultivation, and has since been propagated for use as an aromatic lawn. The monks also noticed plant's property of being beneficial when planted near ailing or sick plants, often aiding a full recovery. This has given Anthemis nobilis reputation of being 'The Plant's Physician', and studies are currently underway to investigate causes of this interesting 'virtue'.

It was during first information revolution - invention of printing press in 17th century - and increasingly wide availability of books that, confusion over precise identity of 'Chamomile' began. The spread of 'Herbals', one frequently copied from another or pieced together from other earlier herbals (Copyright is a relatively modern invention) caused simple errors to be given authority of print.

Thus it is that particular authors would refer to one or other of 'Chamomiles' (Anthemis nobilis or Matricaria recutica respectively) as 'True' chamomile and other, if mentioned at all, as an inferior or 'Wild' variety. Often it was simply whichever Chamomile happened to be grown and used in author's locality that was given name 'True'.

One of safest medicinal herbs, chamomile is a soothing, gentle relaxant that has been shown to work for a variety of complaints from stress to menstrual cramps.Chamomile has been used for centuries to help relieve infections, stomach gas, stomachaches, and menstrual pain. It is also good for insomnia and promotes healthy skin. This herb has a satisfying, applelike aroma and flavor (the name chamomile is derived from Greek kamai melon, meaning ground apple), and it's most often taken as a delicious, mild therapeutic tea. Concentrated extracts of chamomile are also added to healing creams and lotions or packaged as pills and tinctures. Every part of chamomile plant can not be used, only flowers and first three to four inches for tea and medicinal uses. Cut flowers from stems with scissors and spread them out on muslin covered racks to dry. Recipe Chamomile Cleansing Milk

Must be kept refrigerated. Good only for 2-4 days.

Place 1 cup of warm milk in a bowl. The milk must be kept warm throughout, however it must never boil and a skin must not form on milk. The easiest way to accomplish this is by placing bowl over a saucepan of hot water.

Add 3 tablespoons fresh chamomile flowers. Stir gently from time to time so as not to break up flowers. Infuse until milk smells strongly of chamomile. Strain into glass jars.

Excellent for oily skin Recipe Chamomile Refresco

This refreshing drink, made with chamomile tea, is a cooling thirst quencher on a hot summer's day. If Mexican mint marigold is not available, substitute 2 sprigs of mint and a small stalk of lemongrass cut in 2-inch pieces.

3 chamomile tea bags, or an equal amount of dried chamomile leaves 2 sprigs fresh Mexican mint marigold 2 cups boiling water 1/2 cup orange juice 1 cup pineapple juice 1/4 cup lime juice 1 cup white grape juice 2-1/2 cups chilled sparkling water 1 lime, sliced

In a bowl, pour boiling water over tea and mint marigold (or mint and lemongrass). Cover and steep for at least 10 minutes. Strain liquid into a glass pitcher. Stir in orange, pineapple, lime, and grape juices. Chill. To serve, fill chilled glasses 2/3 full with juice mixture, fill with sparkling water, and add lime slices. Makes 6 servings. PER SERVING: 61 CAL (0.1% from fat), 0.5g PROT, 15g CARB, 9mg SOD, 0mg CHOL, 0.2g FIBER Source: Veggie Life Magazine

Recipe To prepare a tea to be used as a drink or gargle to help relieve sore throats or stomach aches. You will need:

Two cups hot water Four teaspoons dried chamomile flowers

Bring water to a boil in medium saucepan. In a quart size pitcher pour flowers in, then pour water over flowers. Stir well. Let stand for ten minutes.

Recipe Chamomile Wine Two ounces dried, crushed chamomile flower heads

One quart dry wine

Pour dried flowers into quart of dry wine; let stand for ten days in a well-ventilated area. This wine can be used for digestive problems.

Warning If you suffer from allergies to plants of Compositae family (a large group including such flowers as daisies, ragweed, asters and chrysanthemums), you may wish to be cautious about using chamomile at first. While there have been isolated reports of allergic reactions, causing skin rashes and bronchial constriction, most people can use this herb with no problem. References Carle, R. And Isaac, O.: Zeitschrift fur Phytotherapie 8:67-77 (1987). Schilcher, H.: Die Kamille, Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft, Stuttgart, 1987, 152 pp. Mann, C and Staba, J.: "The Chemistry, Pharmacology, and Commercial Formulations of Chamomile," in Herbs, Spices, and Medicinal Plants: Recent Advances in Botany, Horticulture,and Pharmacology, vol. 1, L.E. Craker and J.E. Simon, eds,. Oryx Press, Phoenix, Arizona, 1986, pp 233-280. Herbs of Choice, The Therapuetic Use of Phytomedicinals, Tyler, Varro, E., Pharmaceutical Products Press, 1994 Miracle Medicine Herbs, Richard M. Lucas, Parker Publishing, 1991 A MODERN HERBAL, Mrs. M. Grieve, Dover Publications, 1971

Catsclaw a perennial, is characterized as being a 3 to 10 foot tall shrub but may develop into an upright tree 25 to 30 feet tall. It is often thicket forming and has numerous spreading, slender thorny branches. The brown, stout, "claw like" thorns are about 0.25 inch long. The bark is gray to black. Numerous creamy-yellow flowers occur in 1.25 to 2.5 inch long spikes. The stiff and papery gray-brown legume-type fruits are 2 to 5.5 inches long, 0.5 to 0.75 inch wide, curved or contorted, flattened and constricted between seeds.

Propagation:

Catsclaw acacia reproduces sexually by producing an abundance of seeds. Vegetative regeneration (sprouting) occurs following damage to above-ground portion of plant. Catclaw acacia flowers are pollinated by insects and begin to produce seed between 4 to six years of age. It has shown varying success when transplanted. Seedlings can be nursery grown in tall containers to accommodate deep root systems. In California, seed collected in field exhibited good germination without any special treatment in fall or spring.

Catsclaw acacia has flowers in yellow, cylindrical spikes. The flowers and leaves of this plant resemble mesquite, but cats claw thorns are like rose thorns, broad at base and curved backward while mesquite thorns are straight. The seed pods of catsclaw split upon maturing mesquite pods do not. Photos provided by and copyrighted to: NatureSongs

Preparation:

Gather pods when still green and dry leaves and branches over a paper as leaves often fall off while hanging. The longer distal roots, chopped into small segments while moist. The gum is gathered same way as mesquite gum and flowers are dried. The green leaves, stems, and pods are powdered for tea (standard infusion) or for topical application; roots are best used as a cold standard infusion, warmed for drinking and gargling.

Medicinal Uses: Pods are used for conjunctivitis in same manner as mesquite pods and gum, although catsclaw is harder to harvest it is used in same way as mesquite gum. The powdered pods and leaves make an excellent infused tea (2-4 ounces of standard infusion every three hours) for diarrhea and dysentery, as well as a strongly astringent hemostatic and antimicrobial wash. The straight powder will stop superficial bleeding and can also be dusted into moist, chafed body folds and dusted on infants for diaper rash. The flowers and leaves as a simple tea are good anti-inflammatory for stomach and esophagus in nausea, vomiting, and hangovers. It is distinctly sedative. The root is thick and mucilaginous as a tea and is good for sore throat and mouth inflammations as well as dry raspy coughing.

People who have used this plant: Catsclaw has been used by Native Americans for treating sore backs and flanks of their horses. There has been no specific information on cultural practices concerning catsclaw. Most sources indicate that plant has been used by many groups in southwestern United States.

Bibliography Back to Eden, by Jethro Kloss; pgs., 204-205. Indian Uses of Native Plants, by Edith Van Allen Murphey, pg., 39. The Herb Book, by John Lust, pgs., 87, 543, 575-576. Webster's New World Dictionary Third College Edition, Victoria Neufeldt, Editor in Chief, pg., 6.