Chamomile
Quick Facts
- What it is: Chamomile is a flowering herb from the Asteraceae family, most commonly used as a tea or extract derived from the dried flower heads of Matricaria chamomilla (German) or Chamaemelum nobile (Roman).
- Main uses: Widely used for anxiety relief, sleep improvement, digestive discomfort, and mild anti-inflammatory support.
- Best for: Generalized Anxiety, Insomnia, Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Active ingredients: Apigenin, Alpha-bisabolol, Chamazulene, Luteolin, Quercetin, Matricine, Caffeic acid derivatives
- Forms: Tea/infusion, Capsule, Standardized extract, Tincture, Essential oil (topical), Topical cream
- Time to effect: Acute effects (relaxation, sleep onset) within 30–60 minutes; sustained benefits for anxiety or GI conditions typically within 2–8 weeks of regular use.
- Side effects: Generally well tolerated; rare allergic reactions possible, particularly in individuals sensitive to Asteraceae/Compositae plants.
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What is Chamomile?
Chamomile refers primarily to German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), one of the oldest and most widely used medicinal herbs in the world, prepared from dried flower heads as teas, capsules, or standardized extracts. Its therapeutic properties stem from a complex mixture of flavonoids, terpenoids, and volatile oils concentrated in the flower. Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) shares similar uses but has a smaller research base than its German counterpart.
How does Chamomile work?
The primary active flavonoid, apigenin, binds with moderate affinity to GABA-A benzodiazepine receptors in the brain, producing mild anxiolytic and sedative effects without the dependence risk of pharmaceutical benzodiazepines. Alpha-bisabolol and chamazulene contribute anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic activity relevant to GI and skin applications. Quercetin and luteolin provide additional antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects through inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines and COX enzymes.
What forms does Chamomile come in?
Tea (1–3 g dried flowers per 250 mL water, steeped 5–10 minutes) is the most traditional and widely consumed form, though bioavailability of apigenin is relatively low from tea alone. Standardized capsule extracts (220–500 mg, 1.2% apigenin) provide more consistent dosing and have been used in clinical trials. Tinctures offer intermediate flexibility. Topical creams and essential oils are used for skin inflammation and wound healing but are not interchangeable with oral forms for systemic effects.
Where it comes from:
Chamomile has been used medicinally for over 5,000 years, documented in ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman traditions for fever, digestive ailments, and wound care. It remains one of the most consumed herbal teas globally and is listed in the pharmacopoeias of multiple countries including Germany, where it is formally approved for GI spasms and inflammatory skin conditions by Commission E.
If this is an emergency
Some reactions to Chamomile need urgent care. Call your local emergency number or go to an emergency department straight away — do not wait to see whether it passes.
Who should avoid Chamomile?
- Do not take chamomile if you are allergic to ragweed, daisies, marigolds or chrysanthemums, since they are all in the same plant family.
- Never use chamomile if you have had a severe allergic reaction to any plant in that family before.
- Do not take chamomile with warfarin or other blood thinners unless your doctor says it is fine.
- Don't mix chamomile with benzodiazepines, sleeping pills or other calming drugs.
- Avoid driving or using machines if chamomile makes you sleepy or slow.
- Do not drink chamomile tea if you take cyclosporine, a drug that protects a transplanted organ.
- Don't start chamomile without asking a pharmacist if you take daily prescription drugs, as it may slow how your liver clears some of them.
- Don't take chamomile with hormone therapy or birth control pills unless your doctor agrees.
- Do not use chamomile as an eye wash.
- Do not take more than 1,500 mg of extract a day, the highest amount used in studies.
- Avoid large doses of concentrated extract, which can cause nausea or vomiting.
- Stop chamomile about two weeks before planned surgery because of the bleeding risk.
When should you see a doctor?
Call 911 if your lips, tongue or throat swell after chamomile. Trouble breathing, a fast heartbeat or feeling faint also means emergency care now. Hives over much of your body need same-day help.
Call your doctor within a day if you bruise easily or your gums bleed while on a blood thinner. Book a visit if chamomile leaves you very sleepy or foggy the next morning. Stop the cream and ask if your skin turns red or itchy where you put it.
Evidence grades and traditional-use labels are explained in our methodology. Nothing here is medical advice.
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