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This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition.
Roman chamomile exerts its sedative effects through volatile oil esters, specifically angelic and tiglic acid, alongside flavonoids. These compounds bind to benzodiazepine receptors in the central nervous system, modulating GABA activity to reduce neural excitability (Evidence Level B). This mechanism provides a mild anxiolytic effect and muscle relaxation, supporting its traditional use for mild anxiety and digestive spasms.
Does Roman chamomile interact with blood thinners?
Yes, Roman chamomile may interact with anticoagulant medications like warfarin. The herb contains coumarin derivatives that can theoretically increase bleeding risk when combined with pharmaceutical blood thinners (Evidence Level C). Due to this potential interaction, individuals taking anticoagulants or preparing for surgery should avoid medicinal doses of Roman chamomile unless supervised by a healthcare provider.
Is Roman chamomile safe during pregnancy?
Roman chamomile is considered unsafe during pregnancy due to its emmenagogue properties, which can stimulate uterine contractions and menstrual blood flow (Evidence Level D/Traditional). High doses pose a potential risk of miscarriage. While small amounts in food are generally tolerated, medicinal preparations should be strictly avoided during pregnancy. Always consult a qualified midwife or doctor before use.
What is the correct dosage for Roman chamomile tea?
The standard adult dosage for Roman chamomile is 2-4 grams of dried flowers steeped as a tea, taken up to three times daily (Evidence Level B/Traditional). For topical applications, creams or infused oils can be applied to the skin as needed for inflammation. Dosage for children should be proportionally lower based on weight and age.
Can Roman chamomile cause allergic reactions?
Yes, allergic reactions are the most common side effect of Roman chamomile, particularly contact dermatitis. Individuals with known allergies to the Asteraceae family (ragweed, marigolds, daisies) are at higher risk (Evidence Level B). While rare, severe anaphylactic reactions have been reported. A patch test is recommended for topical use, and the herb should be discontinued if skin irritation occurs.
PubMed-compiled information sheet
This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 28 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Chamomile is an ancient medicinal herb used for its anti-inflammatory, sedative, and antioxidant properties [PMID:36297396, PMID:21132119].
Background
Chamomile is a member of the Asteraceae/Compositae family, primarily represented by two varieties: German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L. or Matricaria recutita) and Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile L. or Anthemis nobilis) [PMID:36297396, PMID:21132119, PMID:31643492].
Traditional uses
Traditionally used as a sedative, mild analgesic, sleep medication, and for gastrointestinal conditions [PMID:31643492]. It has been used for hay fever, inflammation, muscle spasms, menstrual disorders, insomnia, ulcers, wounds, rheumatic pain, and hemorrhoids [PMID:21132119].
Active compounds
Key components include flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin, quercetin, patuletin), terpenoids (alpha-bisabolol, farnesene), sesquiterpenelactones (chamazulene, matricin), and coumarins [PMID:36297396, PMID:31643492, PMID:16628544].
Mechanism of action
Chamomile exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities [PMID:36297396, PMID:16628544]. In animal models, chamazulene has shown interactions with stress-related targets including IFN-γ, IL-6, caspase-3, BDNF, and GLUT-1 [PMID:41351710].
Clinical evidence
Evidence AGeneralized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Significant improvement in GAD symptoms was observed after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment [PMID:31006899]; one trial showed a significantly greater reduction in HAM-A scores compared to placebo [PMID:19593179].
Evidence BDiabetic Neuropathy
Topical chamomile oil was evaluated as a therapeutic intervention to improve neuropathy indices [PMID:40440968].
Evidence BDepression, Anxiety, and Stress (Older Adults)
Inhalation aromatherapy using lavender and chamomile essential oils resulted in statistically significant improvement [PMID:33454232].
Evidence CPremenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
Chamomile is used for PMS relief due to its anti-inflammatory effects [PMID:31970017].
Evidence AInsomnia and Sleep Quality
A meta-analysis of one RCT found no significant change in insomnia severity index [PMID:31006899].
Evidence DSARS-CoV-2
Safety & adverse effects
Chamomile has not been implicated in causing clinically apparent liver injury or serum enzyme elevations [PMID:31643492]. Some species in the Compositae family are suspected of causing allergic contact dermatitis, though sensitization occurs rarely with German chamomile [PMID:12492516]. Roman chamomile ingredients used in cosmetics are generally not irritating or sensitizing [PMID:28553737].
Evidence summary
Evidence is strongest (Level A) for the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder, while evidence for insomnia is limited and non-significant. Many other claims (anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial) are supported by reviews or animal models (Level C/D) rather than large-scale human trials.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 36297396 (2022) — A Comprehensive Study of Therapeutic Applications of Chamomile. · Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
2.PMID: 31643492 (2012) — Chamomile: A Review of Its Traditional Uses, Chemical Constituents, Pharmacological Activities and Quality Control Studies. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3.PMID: 16628544 (2006) — A review of the bioactivity and potential health benefits of chamomile tea (Matricaria recutita L.). · Phytotherapy research : PTR
4.PMID: 21132119 (2010) — Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with bright future. · Molecular medicine reports
5.PMID: 33454232 (2022) — The effects of Lavender and Chamomile essential oil inhalation aromatherapy on depression, anxiety and stress in older community-dwelling people: A randomized controlled trial.
Government sources
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
In vitro results show a significant inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 by chamomile decoction [PMID:40230940].
· Explore (New York, N.Y.)
6.PMID: 27912875 (2016) — Long-term chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) treatment for generalized anxiety disorder: A randomized clinical trial. · Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
7.PMID: 31006899 (2019) — Therapeutic efficacy and safety of chamomile for state anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, insomnia, and sleep quality: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials and quasi-randomized trials. · Phytotherapy research : PTR
8.PMID: 19593179 (2009) — A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of oral Matricaria recutita (chamomile) extract therapy for generalized anxiety disorder. · Journal of clinical psychopharmacology
9.PMID: 35926778 (2022) — Anxiolytic effect of Anthemis nobilis L. (roman chamomile) and Citrus reticulata Blanco (tangerine) essential oils using the light-dark test in zebrafish (Danio rerio). · Journal of ethnopharmacology
10.PMID: 40230940 (2024) — Chamomile in combating SARS-Cov-2. · Bioinformation
11.PMID: 40374153 (2025) — Chamomile: A systematic review of adverse events. · Complementary therapies in medicine
13.PMID: 41599305 (2026) — Unlocking the Secrets of Roman Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis L.) Essential Oil: Structural Elucidation and Acute Toxicity of New Esters. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
14.PMID: 40440968 (2025) — Topical chamomile oil as a novel therapeutic intervention for diabetic neuropathy: A randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial. · Explore (New York, N.Y.)
15.PMID: 28553737 (2017) — Safety Assessment of Anthemis nobilis-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics. · International journal of toxicology
16.PMID: 40665590 (2025) — Anti-inflammatory effect of chamomile from randomized clinical trials: a systematic review and meta-analyses. · Pharmaceutical biology
17.PMID: 38240454 (2024) — Evaluation of the use of chamomile in isolation and in association with laser photobiomodulation in the healing of rats oral mucosa. · Photochemistry and photobiology
18.PMID: 37052390 (2023) — Effect of Chamomile on the Complications of Cancer: A Systematic Review. · Integrative cancer therapies
19.PMID: 41351710 (2025) — Chamomile Modulates Glucose Metabolism and Neuro-inflammation to Alleviate Stress-Induced Depression in Mice. · Molecular neurobiology
20.PMID: 34602925 (2021) — Chamomile as a potential remedy for obesity and metabolic syndrome. · EXCLI journal
21.PMID: 39836709 (2025) — Efficacy and safety of Matricaria chamomilla intervention in managing menopausal symptoms: a triple-blind clinical trial. · Menopause (New York, N.Y.)
22.PMID: 31970017 (2019) — Efficacy of Chamomile in the Treatment of Premenstrual Syndrome: A Systematic Review. · Journal of pharmacopuncture
23.PMID: 41190721 (2025) — Chemometrically-supported quality assessment of chamomile tea. · Acta pharmaceutica (Zagreb, Croatia)
24.PMID: 21156115 (2010) — [Evidence of dermatological effects of chamomile]. · Ugeskrift for laeger
25.PMID: 12492516 (2002) — Contact sensitization from Compositae-containing herbal remedies and cosmetics. · Contact dermatitis