Chamomile
(Matricaria recutita, Matricaria chamomilla, Chamomilla recutita)

General Info

Active Forms

Absorption

Dietary Sources

Dosage Info

Dosage Range
400 to 1600mg (standardized extract) daily, in divided doses.

Tea: Place one heaping teaspoonful in 1 cup hot water; steep 10 minutes, strain. Drink 3-4 times a day as needed.

Topically: Apply to affected area 3-4 times a day as needed.

Most Common Dosage
400mg (standardized extract), 3 times a day for stress.

Tea: Place one heaping teaspoonful in 1 cup hot water; steep 10 minutes, strain. Drink 3 times a day as needed.

Topically: Apply to affected area 3 times a day as needed.

Dosage Forms

Adult RDI

Adult ODA

Overview

Interactions

Drug/Herb Interactions
•	Sedative and hypnotic medications
•	Anti-anxiety medications
•	Warfarin

Chamomile has been used as a medicinal herb for centuries. It is most frequently used as a mild sedative for individuals with minor anxiety or nervousness.(1). It does not induce drowsiness or impair motor activity. Chamomile has also been used to soothe digestive upset and is considered a carminative (anti-gas) agent.(2) Chamomile has been used topically for various conditions such as acne, infections, burns, and wounds.(3) Chamomile also has been reportedly used as an anti-infective agent against strains of staphylococcus, streptococcus and candida.(4) Chamomile oral rinse is used in Europe for aphthous mouth ulcerations, especially associated with chemotherapy and radiation. However, one study did not show benefits when using chamomile oral rinse in treating 5-FU-induced oral mucositis.(5)

Toxicities & Precautions

Allergy
Use with caution in individuals with severe ragweed allergy or allergy to members of the daisy/chrysanthemum family (Compositae), as chamomile has been reported to cause atopic dermatitis.(6, 7, 8)

In a study evaluating allergic sensitization to tea in a tea packing facility, 10 (5.6%) of the employees tested had developed specific immunoglobulin E antibodies to black or chamomile tea, though no specific allergic sensitization was noted.(9)

Pregnancy/Breast-Feeding
Based on pharmacology, use with caution in pregnancy and lactation.

Age Limitations
Do not use in children under 2 years of age unless recommended by a physician.

Symptoms & Causes of Deficiency

Footnotes

¹ Wichtl M, in Bisset NA,ed. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals. Stuttgart: Scientific Press. 1994; 140-42.
² Kell T. More on Infant Colic. Birth Gaz. 1977;13(2):3.
³ Kell T. More on Infant Colic. Birth Gaz. 1977;13(2):3.
⁴ Grochulski A, et al. Influence of Chamomile Oil on Experimental Glomerulonephritis in Rabbits. Planta Medica. 1972;21:289-92.
⁵ Fidler P, et al. Prospective Evaluation of a Chamomile Mouthwash for Prevention of 5-FU-induced Oral Mucositis. Cancer. Feb1996;77(3):522-25.
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⁶ Newall CA, et al. Herbal Medicines: A Guide for Health Care Professionals. London: The Pharmaceutical Press;1996:69-71.
⁷ Giordano-Labadie F, Schwarze HP, Bazex J. Allergic Contact Dermatitis from Chamomile Used in Phytotherapy. Contact Dermatitis. Apr2000;42(4):247.
⁸ de la Torre Morin F, Sanchez Machin I, Garcia Robaina JC, Fernandez-Caldas E, Sanchez Trivino M. Clinical cross-reactivity between Artemisia vulgaris and Matricaria chamomilla (chamomile). J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2001;11(2):118-22.
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⁹ Abramson MJ, Sim MR, Fritschi L, Vincent T, Benke G, Rolland JM. Respiratory disorders and allergies in tea packers. Occup Med (Lond). Jun2001;51(4):259-65.
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Chamomile(Matricaria recutita, Matricaria chamomilla, Chamomilla recutita)

Chamomile
(Matricaria recutita, Matricaria chamomilla, Chamomilla recutita)