The Chamomile plant, especially in chamomile tea, is an age-old home remedy for settling the mind and improving the body. The leaves of the German Chamomile and Roman Chamomile plants have long been one of the world's favorite herbal teas and garden herbs for home health care.
Studies continue to find that chamomile has a calming effect upon the mind and body alike, but such studies are limited in scope and number.
Chamomile is a member of the Asteraceae-Compositae family. It has two common varieties, German Chamomile (Chamomilla Recutita) and Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum Nobile).
The dried flowers of chamomile contain many terpenoids and flavonoids, which contribute to its medicinal properties. Flavonoids are a kind of nutrient that exists in many plants. They play a significant role in chamomile's medicinal properties.
Chamomile Tea is found to be excellent for anxiety and is a general anti-inflammatory that can reduce pain and improve overall metabolic function. The plant likewise offers mild antiseptic qualities, and as such, a poultice of the leaves can help in wound care.
Chamomile's calming and antispasmodic effects have provided relief to those suffering from intestinal disorders such as Crohn's Disease and IBS.
Chamomile, used both internally and externally, has been used to treat the following conditions:
A few studies have shown that chamomile tea can reduce the severity of menstrual cramps. In one 2010 study, researchers found that drinking chamomile tea for one month could reduce menstrual cramps' pain. The participants also reported feeling less anxiety and menstrual pain.
A 2008 animal study found that regular consumption of chamomile tea might prevent blood sugar from increasing. The study found that this effect could, therefore, reduce the long-term risk of complications from diabetes.
Osteoporosis, which is the progressive loss of bone density, is most common among post-menopausal women and possibly due to estrogen effects.
A 2004 study found that chamomile helped promote bone density, and might have anti-estrogenic effects.
One study in human volunteers demonstrated that chamomile essential oils and flavonoids penetrate below the skin's surface into the deeper skin layers. This is important for chamomile's use as topical anti-inflammatory agents.
Studies on pre-clinical models of skin, prostate, breast, and ovarian cancer, chamomile has shown promising growth inhibitory effects.
In one study, chamomile extracts were demonstrated to show significant reductions in cell viability in various human cancer cell lines, but minimal growth inhibitory effects on healthy cells. Chamomile exposure induced a form of programmed cell death called apoptosis in cancer cells, but not in healthy cells at similar doses.
Chamomile has used as a traditional remedy for its calming effect for hundreds of years.
A small 2016 study in the journal Phytomedicine found that long-term chamomile use significantly reduced moderate to severe symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder
In another two-part randomized, controlled, blinded study, Chamomile extract therapy showed both anxiolytic and antidepressive effects. (1)
Mild side effects are possible, as chamomile contains a small amount of coumarin and as the plant is related to ragweed.
The more potent the chamomile tea is, the more likely it is to cause side effects in sensitive people. Therefore, it is safest to start slowly with a low amount and work your way up to larger doses.
Continue reading below for feedback from Earth Clinic readers who have used chamomile and let us know how chamomile tea helped you!
