Chamomile is sometimes called camomile, chamomilla, or German chamomile, and its botanical names are Matricaria recutita and Chamomilla recutita. It’s native to Germany and grows throughout Europe and other regions with high temperatures. It’s a member of the Asteraceae (Sunflower) family. It has a daisy-like, disc-shaped flower head consisting of many tinier flowers, forming a circular arrangement that creates a yellow center with white petals and small, feathery leaves (1).

Chamomile seeds are sown (scattered in the soil’s surface) in spring or fall, and the flower is gathered in the summer when it’s fully bloomed. If you plan to forage for chamomile, always harvest ethically. Never collect anything from private property without direct permission. When harvesting from public spaces, consider the impacts on native plant populations. Due to the uncertainty of surrounding plants, be careful not to disturb them as they could be an endangered or threatened species. Always be kind to the earth and only harvest what you need.

According to one of my favorite herbal resources, the Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, chamomile’s key constituents are volatile oil (proazulenes, farnesine, alpha-bisabolol, spiroether), flavonoids, bitter glycosides (anthemic acid), and coumarins. Some of its key herbal actions include:

• Antiallergic: prevents or relieves allergic reactions and their symptoms.
• Anti-inflammatory: helps the body control inflammation.
• Antispasmodic: relieves muscle spasms.
• Relaxant: Supports relaxation and reduces tension.
• Carminative: relieves digestive gas and indigestion.

Research-Backed Health Benefits of Chamomile

Most researchers study chamomile tea because it’s a popular beverage that offers various health benefits. Chamomile can be utilized via tincture, homeopathy, and even capsules to achieve benefits such as:

Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Although inflammation is a natural bodily response, chronic inflammation can lead to detrimental health effects. Chronic inflammation has been linked with many diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, asthma, and certain cancers (2). Chamomile flowers contain volatile oils like alpha-bisabolol, alpha-bisabolol oxides A & B, and matricin, which usually convert to chamazulene and other flavonoids possessing anti-inflammatory properties (3). One study found chamomile plays a critical role in regulating inflammatory responses and is an effective therapeutic anti-inflammatory agent (4).

May Promote Sleep & Relaxation

It’s said that 70 million adults in the United States experience sleep disorder symptoms; more than half of them experience insomnia, with another 10 to 15 percent being chronic (5). Thankfully, chamomile contains an antioxidant known as apigenin, also found in parsley and oregano (6). Apigenin binds to specific brain receptors and may promote sleepiness and reduce insomnia (7,8).

In animal studies, chamomile extract helped sleep-disturbed rodents fall asleep (9). Human studies found cardiovascular patients had fallen asleep shortly after consuming chamomile tea (10). Another study involving postpartum women who drank chamomile tea for two weeks reported better sleep quality and fewer symptoms of depression (often linked with sleeping problems) compared to the group that did not (11). Additionally, people who consumed 270 mg of chamomile extract twice daily for 28 days had fewer nighttime awakenings and fell asleep 15 minutes faster than those who did not (12).

May Aid in Digestion

Your diet is vital to your health, but so is being able to digest it properly. Unfortunately, digestive diseases affect approximately 60 to 70 million people in the United States (13). Thankfully, chamomile may promote better digestion by reducing the risk of certain gastrointestinal conditions. One study found chamomile to help prevent stomach ulcers in mice, as it may reduce acidity in the stomach and inhibit the growth of bacteria that contribute to ulcer development (14). Other animal studies found chamomile extract’s anti-inflammatory properties have the potential to protect against diarrhea (15,16).

May Promote Heart Health

Unfortunately, heart disease is the world’s number 1 cause of death (17). If you read my post, The Importance of Heart Health, you know that due to the incredibly complex determinants of heart disease and various possible contributions, it’s hard to pinpoint an exact way to prevent it. Still, you can at least take steps to lower your overall risk. That’s where chamomile comes in.

Chamomile tea is rich in antioxidants like flavones, which regulate proteins, transcription factors, and signaling cascades otherwise inhibited by elevated oxidative stress (18). Studies have examined flavones’ ability to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which are important markers of heart disease risk. One study found that diabetic patients who drank chamomile tea with meals had noteworthy improvements in their total cholesterol, triglyceride, and “bad” LDL cholesterol levels compared to those who drank water (21).

May Help Control Blood Sugar Levels

As of 2020, 34.2 million (1 in 10) Americans had diabetes, and another 88 million (1 in 3) Americans had prediabetes (2). On the bright side, chamomile’s anti-inflammatory properties may prevent damage to the cells of your pancreas, which occurs when your blood sugar levels are chronically elevated (7).

Animal studies suggest that chamomile tea may considerably lower fasting blood sugar levels while preventing blood sugar spikes after eating (23,24,25). The study that compared drinking chamomile tea and water in diabetic participants also found that consuming chamomile tea daily with meals for eight weeks significantly lowered average blood sugar levels (21).

May Relieve Menstrual Pain

Around 80% of women experience menstrual cramps or pain at some stage in their lifetime (26); thankfully, chamomile may help. One study found that consuming chamomile tea for a month could reduce the pain of menstrual cramps (27). Another study found chamomile was more effective than mefenamic acid, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) in reducing menstrual cramps and regulating emotions (28). Other research concluded that chamomile could effectively treat primary dysmenorrhea and reduce menstrual bleeding (29).

May Slow or Prevent Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a bone disease that occurs when the body loses too much bone, makes too little bone, or both, and as a result, bones become weak and may break from a fall or, in more severe cases, from sneezing or minor bumps (30). Approximately 10 million Americans have osteoporosis, and another 44 million have low bone density, placing them at increased risk (31). One study demonstrated chamomile tea helped promote bone density and considered chamomile a “functional food” to prevent osteoporosis (32).

Anticancer Properties

In 2021, there were 1,777,566 new cases of invasive cancer in the United States, with almost 10 million people who lost their battle with cancer worldwide (33,34). In other words, one out of every six deaths was cancer-related. That is a lot; however, a diagnosis or genetic predisposition doesn’t define your outcome. Genetics may load the gun, but environmental factors and lifestyle choices ultimately pull the trigger. Thankfully, chamomile may help.

Chamomile is rich in antioxidants like flavones, which can neutralize free radical damage and aid cancer prevention (35). Additionally, chamomile contains the antioxidant apigenin, which, in test-tube studies, demonstrated the ability to fight cancer cells, especially those of the breast, digestive tract, skin, prostate, and uterus (36,37,38). One study observed that participants who drank chamomile tea 2-6 times per week were significantly less likely to develop thyroid cancer than those who did not (39).

Safety Information, Contraindications & Interactions

Mainstream sources state that, given the lack of evidence about chamomile’s long-term safety, they do not recommend it while pregnant or breastfeeding. They also recommend talking to a pediatrician before giving chamomile to infants and children (40). Conversely, trusted herbalist Richard Whelan discusses the worldwide usage of chamomile and the exceptionally few reports of adverse reactions.

Richard Whelan states that chamomile is exceptionally safe for most people. However, since chamomile is part of the ragweed family, some people may have an allergy to it. When someone with this allergy has skin contact with the herb, it may cause itching or a rash, and drinking the tea may cause some moderate swelling or discomfort.

Richard Whelan also states that chamomile tincture will almost certainly not cause an allergic reaction, even in someone who cannot drink the tea. The pollen in the plant appears to be the problem, and these do not remain present in tinctures (41).

As for chamomile essential oil, aside from the precaution to never use essential oils internally or undiluted, trusted aromatherapist Wendy Robbins doesn’t indicate any special precautions when using Roman chamomile essential oil (42). She cautions that a drug interaction may occur if using drugs metabolized by CYP2D6 with German chamomile essential oil (43). Roman and German chamomile may cause dermatitis in some, so she recommends a topical dilution of 1-3% for ultimate essential oil safety. Additionally, Roman and German varieties are safe for children and while pregnant or breastfeeding.

How to Use Chamomile & Product Recommendations

When I make homemade herbal remedies, I try to buy herbs locally. When buying locally isn’t an option, I typically purchase from one of the following brands:

• Anthony’s Goods
• Frontier Co-op
• Starwest Botanicals

Looking for additional herbal suppliers? Check out my post, 3 Ways to Source Herbs.

I have yet to have the opportunity to make herbal remedies with chamomile aside from tea. Nonetheless, to my understanding, the best preparation methods when working with chamomile include the following:

• Herbal infusions – learn how to make an herbal infusion
• Herbal salves – learn how to make an herbal salve
• Herbal syrups – learn how to make an herbal syrup
• Herbal tinctures – learn how to make an herbal tincture

If making your home remedies isn’t quite your thing, I recommend a few premade herbal products, including:

• Olloïs’ Chamomilla (also available on Amazon) is a homeopathic remedy ​​traditionally used for teething, irritability, and restlessness. This plant-based, certified vegan, and organic tablet melts in the mouth, providing instant relief for tooth-related pain.
• Plant Therapy’s German Chamomile Essential Oil and Organic German Chamomile Essential Oil is an anti-inflammatory powerhouse. When diffused, German Chamomile is widely known for promoting emotions of serenity, which also may be helpful to children who have problems focusing. For issues with inflamed, congested skin or insect bites, dilute appropriately to help soothe areas of concern.
• Plant Therapy’s Roman Chamomile Essential Oil and Organic Roman Chamomile Essential Oil (or Chamaemelum nobile) have a powerful, sweet scent. They’re a favorite among essential oil users for helping children and adults sleep. This soothing and gentle oil is safe for kids when diluted properly.
• The Brother’s Apothecary’s Golden Dream is a tea formulated with bedtime in mind. Calming CBD and chamomile meet bright, refreshing spearmint, orange peel, and lemongrass. Linden leaf and hawthorn berry naturally settle, making this an ideal tea for meditation and soothing the soul.
• The Brother’s Apothecary’s Special Edition Midnight Dream is ideal for meditation and soothing the soul. This unique take on their popular bedtime tea (Golden Dream) is made with organic CBG flowers, calming chamomile, refreshing spearmint, orange peel, lemongrass, and other amazing herbs.

Product Disclaimer

Product recommendations are affiliate links. I do not own or make these products. Recommendations are selected according to ingredients at the time article was written and can change at any time. I encourage you to double-check ingredients and research each company to ensure they’re suitable for your journey.

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