What is Chamomile?
Chamomile tea is likely the healthiest of the herbal teas commonly available at coffee shops and restaurants.
Chamomile, or Matricaria chamomilla, is an herb renowned for its numerous health benefits. It's native to Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa but is now cultivated worldwide for its medicinal properties. Chamomile has been used in traditional medicines globally for centuries.
Chamomile features delicate, daisy-like flowers with white petals and yellow centers. The plant has feathery, fern-like leaves and grows to a height of about 15-20 inches.
Common Chamomile versus German Chamomile
Most of us refer to chamomile as the common or Roman variety – Chamaemelum nobile. This species is also considered English chamomile.
Another species altogether is German chamomile – or Matricaria chamomilla.
Both of these species are used in chamomile tea – but they are different plants. Yes, they do have similar properties and have been used similarly. But the German variety has been used in traditional medicine for nerve pain in addition to other effects of chamomile.
Among commercial brands we might find either – or even a combination of both of these species.
Primary Compounds in Chamomile
The primary compounds found in chamomile include phenolic flavonoids (such as apigenin and luteolin), terpenoids (including chamazulene), coumarins, and volatile oils (such as bisabolol and chamazulene).
One study found Chamomile contained ten different phenolic compounds.
Traditional Uses
According to traditional texts, Common or Roman chamomile, as well as German chamomile, was used to treat gastrointestinal issues, inflammation, headaches, toothaches, earaches and a general tonic for aches and pains.
It was commonly used as a poultice – where it was applied to local injuries and inflammation. The oil derived from the flowers were applied to hard swellings and cramps. The tea was used to calm children down and tinctures were given to hypersensitivity.
A syrup from the stem and flower juice was also utilized in jaundice and dropsy – a traditional word used for edema – the swelling of the legs that can occur from heart conditions.
The effects of chamomile have also been defined traditionally as anti-spasmodic, soothing, healing, tonic, carminative, anti-allergic among others.
European Traditional Medicine: Chamomile has been a staple in European herbal medicine for centuries, used to treat digestive issues, insomnia, anxiety, and skin ailments.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): In TCM, chamomile is utilized for its calming properties and to alleviate digestive discomfort and inflammation.
Ayurveda: Chamomile is valued in Ayurvedic medicine for its cooling and soothing effects, used to balance the doshas and treat conditions like insomnia, indigestion, and skin irritations.
Health Benefits of Chamomile
1. Relaxation and Sleep Aid: Chamomile is well-known for its calming effects, promoting relaxation and aiding in sleep when consumed as a tea or through aromatherapy.
2. Digestive Health: It possesses anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe gastrointestinal discomfort, reduce gas, and alleviate symptoms of indigestion and bloating.
3. Anti-inflammatory: Chamomile contains compounds that help reduce inflammation, making it beneficial for conditions like arthritis, skin irritations, and inflammatory bowel diseases.
4. Antioxidant: It is rich in antioxidants, such as flavonoids and polyphenols, which help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals and support overall health.
5. Skin Health: Chamomile has soothing and healing properties when applied topically, making it useful for treating skin conditions like eczema, dermatitis, and minor wounds.
Long-term chamomile use reduces anxiety
In a 2016 study, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania investigated long-term chamomile use for generalized anxiety disorder. This particular form of anxiety is the most prevalent form of anxiety treated by doctors.
The researchers treated 93 anxiety patients between 2010 and 2015. Of these, 47 were given a placebo and 46 were given the chamomile. The researchers found that the chamomile group had over 40 percent fewer anxiety relapses during the treatment period. Also, anxiety relapses occurred an average of every 6.3 weeks for the placebo group and 11.4 weeks for the chamomile group. The risk of relapse was nearly half for the chamomile group compared to the placebo group.
Long-term chamomile use was also safe. Indeed, the chamomile group showed significant weight loss compared to the placebo group. The chamomile group also had lower blood pressure than the placebo group.
Short-term Chamomile use also effective
In a 2013 study from the UK’s University of Nottingham Medical School, researchers found that chamomile significantly relaxed blood vessels and smooth muscle fibers. This effect was indicated specifically with the application of three of chamomile’s central constituents, apigenin, luteolin and bisabolol – all hydroxylates.
This effect of chamomile to soothe and calm the system was also showed in a 2012 study from the Eulji University Hospital in South Korea. Here 56 patients undergoing coronary treatment and surgery were given aromatherapy with a combination of lavender, chamomile and neroli. A control group was given only nursing care.
The researchers found that the aromatherapy group had significantly lower anxiety and improved sleep compared to the control group.
Chamomile anti-anxiety, anti-depressive qualities confirmed
The fact that chamomile is an anti-anxiety and anti-depression herb was confirmed by a clinical study at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. This study was done in 2009, but its data and findings were re-investigated and confirmed last year.
The researchers enlisted 19 people diagnosed with anxiety with depression, along with 16 people who were diagnosed as having a history of anxiety and depression. These groups were studied along with a control group of 22 people who had no anxiety or depression – past or present.
The study was randomized, double-blind and placebo controlled. The researchers gave the subjects either 220 milligrams of chamomile extract (standardized to 1.2% apigenin) or a placebo study, both in capsules.
The treatment period spanned eight weeks. During the first week the subjects were given one capsule a day, and for those receiving less benefit on their anxiety scores, this was increased (if needed) to two capsules the second week, three capsules the third week, four the fourth week and five for the remainder of the eight weeks.
The primary means for judging the success of the treatment was the Hamilton Anxiety Rating (HAM-A) scoring system – which utilizes questionnaires to determine one's level of anxiety. The researchers also used the Beck Anxiety Inventory system and the Psychological Well Being system, as well as the Clinical Global Impression Severity system to confirm their findings.
The researchers found that 57% of the group using the chamomile extract had significantly reduced (greater than 50%) anxiety scores using the HAM-A system.
Three years later, the University of Pennsylvania researchers undertook another review of the data in this study to determine whether or not treatment with chamomile for the clinically anxious and clinically depressed could be considered “clinically meaningful.” This of course enables medical peers to gauge whether or not chamomile could be used as a prescriptive treatment for diagnosed patients.
After reviewing the study and research data in depth, the researchers concluded that the results were “clinically meaningful” and they pointed out:
“the research team observed a significantly greater reduction over time in total HAM-D scores for chamomile versus placebo in all participants.”
This of course means that the improvement in their HAM-D scores – taken only over an eight-week period – short for an herbal therapy – continued to increase over the period of the trial.
Chamomile used with other herbs for anxiety
Traditional herbalists will typically recommend the use of anti-anxiety herbs such as chamomile, lavender, St. John’s wort and others over a period of three months to a year in order for them to reach their full effectiveness. After that, they are often recommended to be continued at least periodically or as needed.
Several species are often described as Chamomile. The most commonly used is German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla or Matricaria recutita).
The good news about chamomile, as evidenced by this and other studies, is that it has no known adverse side effects and is non-addictive. This is in stark contrast to anti-depressant pharmaceuticals, some of which are known for being significantly addictive in addition to having numerous other adverse effects.
Chamomile extends life
Speaking of the long run, research from the University of Texas’ Medical Branch has determined that drinking Chamomile tea regularly will decrease the risk of death by nearly a third.
The researchers followed 1,677 men and women who were 65 years old and older from Texas and four other Southwestern U.S. states. Hispanic Americans were followed, as chamomile tea is a traditional tea among many Hispanic Americans.
Among the 1,677 people followed, 14 percent drank chamomile tea regularly. Over the seven-year period, the mortality among the population was calculated and reviewed along with diseases, lifestyle, diet and so on.
The study found those who regularly drank chamomile tea had an average of 29 percent reduction in deaths during the seven years compared to those who didn’t drink chamomile tea. The women alone had a 33 percent reduction in death, and after adjusting out variables related to chronic health conditions, demographics and health behaviors, this reduction remained at 28 percent.
Chamomile tea drinking among men did not have the same effect, but far fewer men in the study population drank chamomile tea. Chamomile tea is largely a traditional drink among Hispanic women.
Chamomile is antioxidant and antibiotic
One of the more important mechanisms is Chamomile’s antioxidant and antibacterial properties. A recent study found that Chamomile exhibited significant antioxidant properties along with antibacterial effects among a variety of microbes.
A study from Serbia’s University of Novi Sad found that Chamomile not only had antioxidant and antibacterial effects, but also the ability to halt cancer growth among two human cancer cell lines. Studies have shown that Chamomile may help protect the liver as well.
Chamomile’s effectiveness in extending life may also be contributed by its ability to soothe and relax the nerves. This is notable because stress has been found as common factor in many chronic disease conditions.
Many studies have illustrated Chamomile’s ability to reduce stress: For example, a recent German study found that Chamomile was effective in treating generalized anxiety disorder. We also discussed how chamomile can help treat depression and anxiety in a related article.
Beyond these uses, Chamomile has been traditionally used for insomnia, cramping, menstruation issues, ulcers, inflammation, muscle pains and digestive discomfort.
Chamomile reduces risk of thyroid conditions
The researchers, from the University of Athens, studied over 500 people, including 399 Greek patients who had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer or associated benign thyroid conditions. These included 113 people with thyroid cancer. Along with the thyroid cancer patients the researchers also tested 138 healthy subjects – who provided a control group.
The patients and healthy controls were extensively interviewed regarding their diet and other lifestyle habits. The interviews were conducted personally with trained interview technicians.
The researchers eliminated the effects of known thyroid condition associations including alcohol, smoking, coffee consumption, age and obesity.
The research – published in the European Journal of Public Health – found that drinking chamomile tea regularly over a 30-year period reduced the risk of thyroid cancer by nearly 80 percent.
More specifically, those who drank chamomile tea two to six times each week reduced their risk of any thyroid disease by 74 percent. Common thyroid disorders include hyperthyroidism, goiters and others.
Regularly drinking two other herbal teas – notably Greek mountain tea and herbal tea – also helped reduce thyroid conditions, but not nearly as much as the effect of drinking chamomile tea.
One might wonder just how many of the test subjects drank chamomile tea? Close to a third of the total subjects drank chamomile tea regularly.
The significance of these numbers was enough for the researchers to write in their conclusion:
“Our findings suggest for the first time that drinking herbal teas, especially chamomile, protects from thyroid cancer as well as other benign thyroid diseases.”
Manzanilla – traditional South American herb
The lead researcher in the study was Dr. Bret Howrey, assistant professor of family medicine at University of Texas’ Medical Branch. Dr. Howrey addressed the gender difference in Chamomile tea consumption among traditional Hispanic families:
“This difference may be due to traditional gender roles whereby women manage the day-to-day activities of the household, including family health, and may also reflect greater reliance on folk remedies such as herbs.”
The Chamomile herb is called Manzanilla in most Spanish-speaking countries. It is traditionally drank as a tea and used to calm the mind and digestive system. All around the world, outside of black and green tea (Camellia sinensis), Chamomile has remained one of the most popular herbal teas for thousands of years, and for good reason.
Tea drinkers may be looking for that no-caffeine solution that also provides outstanding healing benefits.
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