How we rate
“Strong” = several concordant meta-analyses or systematic reviews. “Moderate” = one synthesis, or several controlled trials. “Limited” = early trials only. The rating is about the quality of the studies, not about how useful the supplement is.
Chamomile
The most widely drunk herbal tea in the world for mild anxiety and sleep. But the bulk of the available scientific literature focuses on its composition, not on human trials.
Benefits
- In 57 patients suffering from mild to moderate generalized anxiety disorder, an oral chamomile extract significantly reduces anxiety symptoms more than the placebo over 8 weeks — the only controlled clinical trial available for this use
Precautions
Allergic reactions are possible in people sensitive to plants of the Asteraceae family (daisy, ragweed, arnica). Good to know as well: a chamomile mouthwash showed no difference compared to a placebo in preventing chemotherapy-related oral inflammation in 164 patients — one of the few large-scale controlled trials on the plant, and it is negative. Most available syntheses are reviews of traditional literature and chemical composition, not clinical trials; the sedative effect often attributed to chamomile has not yet been demonstrated by a robust human trial, according to the reference review on the subject.
Recommended dosage
The trial on anxiety uses a standardized oral extract over 8 weeks; traditional consumption as an herbal tea has no fixed dose in the available studies.
Did you know?
One study showed that drinking chamomile tea for just 2 weeks alters the chemical composition of urine, and this effect persists for up to 2 weeks after stopping consumption.
What the studies say
Cet essai clinique randomisé en double aveugle a testé un extrait de camomille par voie orale chez 57 patients souffrant de trouble d'anxiété généralisée légère à modérée, sur une durée de 8 semaines. Les résultats montrent une réduction significativement plus importante des symptômes d'anxiété avec la camomille par rapport au placebo, avec une tolérance comparable entre les deux groupes. Cette étude constitue le premier essai clinique contrôlé suggérant un effet anxiolytique modeste de la camomille chez l'humain, bien que des recherches supplémentaires soient nécessaires pour confirmer ces résultats.
Amsterdam JD, Li Y, Soeller I, Rockwell K, Mao JJ, Shults J. — Journal of clinical psychopharmacology (2009) — View the source study
For information only: not a substitute for medical advice. Dietary supplements are not a replacement for a varied, balanced diet. Learn more