Chamomile, known scientifically as Matricaria chamomilla or Chamaemelum nobile, is an herb with a long history of use for its various health benefits. It's native to Europe and Western Asia but is now cultivated globally for its medicinal properties. Chamomile has been utilized in traditional medicines around the world for centuries.
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| Chamomile has many health benefits. |
Appearance
Chamomile plants feature delicate, daisy-like flowers with white petals and a yellow center. The leaves are feathery fern-like leaves. It is aromatic, and the plant can grow up to two feet tall.
Primary Compounds
The primary compounds found in chamomile include flavonoids such as apigenin and luteolin and terpenoids including chamazulene, bisabolol and farnesene. It also contains coumarins and volatile oils such as bisabolol.
Traditional Uses
European Traditional Medicine
Chamomile has a rich history in European herbal medicine, where it has been used for various ailments, including digestive issues, insomnia, and skin conditions. 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 used to treat conditions such as inflammation, menstrual disorders, and anxiety. 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 calming properties, often used to balance doshas and promote relaxation. 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.
Sleep Aid
Chamomile is well-known for its calming effects, promoting relaxation and reducing stress and anxiety.
It is also known for aiding in sleep when consumed as a tea or through aromatherapy.
Due to its calming effects, chamomile is often used as a natural remedy for insomnia and improving sleep quality.
Digestive Aid
It possesses anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe gastrointestinal discomfort, reduce gas, and alleviate symptoms of indigestion and bloating.
It has been used traditionally to soothe digestive discomfort, including indigestion, bloating, and gas.
Some research has also found that chamomile can help protect against high blood sugar levels.
Anti-inflammatory
Chamomile contains compounds that help reduce inflammation, making it beneficial for conditions like arthritis, skin irritations, and inflammatory bowel diseases.
Chamomile possesses anti-inflammatory properties, making it beneficial for relieving inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and skin irritation.
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.
Skin Health
Chamomile has soothing and healing properties when applied topically, making it useful for treating skin conditions like eczema, dermatitis, and minor wounds.
Chamomile is gentle on the skin and has been used topically to soothe skin irritations, including eczema, rashes, and minor wounds.
Depression and Anxiety
The research proves that chamomile can significantly decrease anxiety and depression. These effects continue with long-term use. A 2016 study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine tested long-term chamomile use for generalized anxiety disorder. They treated 93 anxiety patients between 2010 and 2015.
The chamomile group had more than 40 percent fewer anxiety relapses. And the chamomile patients' risk of relapse was about half of the placebo group.
The long-term chamomile use was safe. The chamomile group had other benefits, such as weight loss and lower blood pressure compared to the placebo group.
Another study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine tested 35 people diagnosed with anxiety with depression. These were tested alongside a control group of 22 people with no anxiety or depression.
The subjects were given either 220 milligrams of chamomile extract (standardized to 1.2% apigenin) or a placebo. Some were given higher doses of the chamomile during the eight-week course if their benefits were decreased.
The researchers found that 57% of the group using the chamomile extract had significantly reduced (greater than 50%) anxiety scores.
The researchers reviewed the data after three years and found the treatment with chamomile for the clinically anxious and clinically depressed could be considered “clinically meaningful.” They stated:
“the research team observed a significantly greater reduction over time in total HAM-D scores for chamomile versus placebo in all participants.”
Scientific References
Srivastava, J. K., Shankar, E., Gupta, S. (2010). Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with bright future. Molecular Medicine Reports, 3(6), 895-901.
Miguel, M. G. (2010). Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of essential oils: A shortreview. Molecules, 15(12), 9252-9287.
Amsterdam, J. D., Li, Y., Soeller, I., Rockwell, K., Mao, J. J., Shults, J., Drug, D. A. (2009). A randomized,double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of oral Matricaria recutita (chamomile) extract therapy for generalized anxiety disorder. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 29(4), 378-382.
Amsterdam, J. D., Shults, J. (2010). Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) may provide antidepressant activity in anxious, depressed humans: An exploratory study. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 16(4), 54-59.
Srivastava, J. K., Shankar, E., and Gupta, S. (2010). Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with bright future. Molecular Medicine Reports, 3(6), 895-901.
McKay, D. L., Blumberg, J. B. (2006). A review of the bioactivity and potential health benefits of chamomile tea (Matricaria recutita L.). Phytotherapy Research, 20(7), 519-530.
Mao JJ, Xie SX, Keefe JR, Soeller I, Li QS, Amsterdam JD. Long-term chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) treatment for generalized anxiety disorder: A randomized clinical trial. Phytomedicine. 2016 Dec 15;23(14):1735-1742. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2016.10.012.
Roberts RE, Allen S, Chang AP, Henderson H, Hobson GC, Karania B, Morgan KN, Pek AS, Raghvani K, Shee CY, Shikotra J, Street E, Abbas Z, Ellis K, Heer JK, Alexander SP. Relaxation from chamomile species in porcine isolated blood vessels. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2013 Jul 8.
Cho MY, Min ES, Hur MH, Lee MS. Effects of aromatherapy on the anxiety, vital signs, and sleep quality of percutaneous coronary intervention patients in intensive care units. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:381381.
Amsterdam JD, Shults J, Soeller I, Mao JJ, Rockwell K, Newberg AB. Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) may provide antidepressant activity in anxious, depressed humans: an exploratory study. Altern Ther Health Med. 2012 Sep-Oct;18(5):44-9.
Amsterdam JD, Li Y, Soeller I, Rockwell K, Mao JJ, Shults J. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of oral Matricaria recutita (chamomile) extract therapy for generalized anxiety disorder. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2009 Aug;29(4):378-82.