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Camomile

True chamomile, often referred to simply as camomile, is a plant whose flower is used to make medicine.

True chamomile is used for flatulence, motion sickness, nasal congestion, hay fever, nervous diarrhea, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), fibromyalgia, restlessness and sleep problems. It is also used for indigestion, stomach ulcers, colic and menstrual cramps. Some people apply chamomile directly to the skin for hemorrhoids, sore breasts, leg ulcers, allergic skin reactions and bacterial skin diseases, including bacterial skin diseases around the mouth and gums. Chamomile is also applied to the skin to prevent damage inside the mouth caused by chemotherapy or radiation and to treat skin damage in the area of an artificial bowel outlet. A form of true chamomile that can be inhaled is used to treat inflammation/swelling and irritation in the respiratory tract.

Chamomile is used as a flavoring agent in food and beverages. In addition, true chamomile is used as an ingredient in cosmetics, soap and mouthwashes. True chamomile should not be confused with Roman chamomile.

How does true chamomile work?

True chamomile contains chemicals that appear to promote relaxation and reduce inflammatory swelling. However, scientists are not sure which chemicals contained in true chamomile have a relaxing effect. True chamomile may reduce swelling by slowing the production of chemicals called prostaglandins, leukotrienes and histamines. These chemicals are usually released to cause a swelling reaction in the body.

How effective is true chamomile?

True chamomile is potentially effective:

  • For stomach upsets when a specific product (Iberogast) is used that contains true chamomile in combination with other medicinal herbs. This combination contains bitter loop flower, angelica root, chamomile flowers, caraway fruit, milk thistle fruit, lemon balm leaves, peppermint leaves, celandine and licorice root. This product appears to reduce heartburn, stomach pain, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting, but it may take several weeks of treatment to achieve these results
  • For colic in children who are breastfed, when used in combination with other medicinal herbs. A specific product containing 164 mg of fennel, 97 mg of lemon balm and 178 mg of true chamomile appears to provide relief from colic when taken twice daily.
  • For the treatment or prevention of swelling and mucositis of the oral mucosa caused by radiation therapy or certain types of chemotherapy treatments when used in the form of a mouthwash.

True chamomile may be ineffective in preventing skin irritation caused by radiation as part of cancer treatment. There is not enough scientific data to make a statement about the effectiveness of true chamomile for flatulence, motion sickness, swollen nasal mucous membranes, hay fever, diarrhea, restlessness, insomnia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), fibromyalgia, stomach and intestinal complaints, menstrual cramps, allergic skin reactions or skin damage in the area of an artificial bowel outlet. Further scientific studies are required for this.

Safety

Chamomile can be considered safe and harmless when used in the usual quantities. Chamomile can cause allergic reactions in some people. It belongs to the same plant family as broomrape, marigold, daisy and other related plants.

When applied to the skin, true chamomile can cause allergic skin reactions. When applied near the eyes, true chamomile may cause irritation to the eyes.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Not enough is known about the safety of true chamomile during pregnancy and breastfeeding, so pregnant and breastfeeding women should err on the side of caution and avoid using true chamomile. Allergies to broomweed and related plants: True chamomile can cause allergic reactions in people who are sensitive to plants in the Asteraceae/Compositae family. Members of this plant family include broomsedge, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies and many other plants. Hormone-sensitive diseases such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer or endometriosis: true chamomile could act like oestrogen in the body. For this reason, real chamomile should not be used if you suffer from a disease that can be aggravated by oestrogen.

Interactions with medication

Care should be taken when combining real chamomile with the following medications:

Hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills):

Some birth control pills contain estrogen. True chamomile may have a similar effect to oestrogen in some areas, but not as strong as the oestrogen contained in contraceptive pills. Taking real chamomile could reduce the effectiveness of the contraceptive pill. For this reason, additional contraceptive measures such as condoms should be used while taking real chamomile.

Oestrogen preparations

Large amounts of real chamomile may have a similar effect to oestrogen in some areas, although the effect is not as strong as with oestrogen preparations. Taking true chamomile in combination with oestrogen preparations could reduce the effectiveness of these preparations.

Drugs that are broken down by the liver (cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates)

Some drugs are broken down by the liver. Chamomile can affect the rate at which the liver breaks down certain drugs. Taking true chamomile in combination with medications that are broken down by the liver can increase the side effects of some medications. For this reason, you should consult your doctor before taking real chamomile if you are taking medication that is broken down by the liver.

Sedatives (benzodiazepines and CNS suppressing drugs)

Chamomile can cause drowsiness and dizziness. Drugs that can cause drowsiness and dizziness are known as sedatives. Taking chamomile in combination with sedatives could cause excessive drowsiness.

Dosages used

The following dosages have been scientifically investigated.

Oral intake:

  • Gastric discomfort: A specific product containing true chamomile and several other medicinal herbs (Iberogast) was used at a dosage of 1 ml three times daily.
  • Damage to the mucous membranes of the mouth due to chemotherapy or radiotherapy: A mouthwash containing 10 to 15 drops of a liquid extract of true chamomile was used at a dosage of 1 ml three times a day.
  • Colic: A specific product containing 164 mg fennel, 97 mg lemon balm and 178 mg true chamomile (ColiMil) was taken twice daily for a period of one week.

Dermal (applied to the skin):

  • To treat skin damage around an artificial bowel outlet, a chamomile solution was applied to compresses that were applied to the skin twice daily for one hour. The solution consisted of 6 grams of dried chamomile flowers boiled in 150 ml of water for 10 minutes.