tuneTypical Dose
Standardized oral extract up to 1500 mg daily was used in the main generalized-anxiety trial
Botanical
Chamomile
Matricaria chamomilla
Evidence TierCWADA NOT PROHIBITED
watchEffect Window
Some people notice acute calming effects, but trial-based changes generally emerge over days to weeks.
check_circleCompliance
WADA NOT PROHIBITED
Overview
Clinical Summary
Chamomile may modestly improve subjective sleep quality, mild anxiety symptoms, and selected mucositis outcomes, but it is not a proven insomnia treatment or strong anxiolytic.
Chamomile is widely used as a calming herb, but the human evidence is modest and narrower than the cultural reputation. The best support is for small improvements in subjective sleep quality and possibly mild generalized anxiety symptoms. A newer pooled RCT signal also supports selected oral-mucositis outcomes, especially severity and pain. The evidence is still weaker for clinically meaningful insomnia treatment, and the digestive-comfort reputation is much less supported by modern randomized data. That makes chamomile a low-risk option for mild symptoms and selected supportive-care contexts, not a strong therapeutic tool.
Chamomile is usually discussed in relation to apigenin and other flavonoids that may affect GABAergic signaling and relaxation. The human evidence is consistent with mild calming or sleep-quality effects, but not with strong sedative efficacy.
Outcomes
What This Is Expected To Influence
Primary Outcomes
- Modest improvement in subjective sleep quality
Secondary Outcomes
- Possible modest reduction in mild anxiety symptoms
- Weak evidence for treating clinical insomnia directly
Safety
Contraindications and Interactions
Contraindications
- Ragweed or Asteraceae allergy
Side effects
- Mild sedation
- GI upset
Interactions
- Sedatives or alcohol
Avoid if
- You are relying on it to treat significant insomnia or anxiety without proper care
- You have known chamomile or ragweed-family allergy
Evidence
Study-level References
cha-SRC-001Systematic review and meta-analysis
Sourceopen_in_newSeifrabie MA, Sikaroudi MK, Asbaghi O, et al. Effects of chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) on sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials. Complement Ther Med. 2024;84:103071. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2024.103071. PMID:39106912.
Population: Adults from clinical trials evaluating chamomile for sleep-related outcomes.
Dose protocol: Mixed chamomile formulations across clinical trials
Key findings: Improved subjective sleep quality, but not a clear insomnia-severity effect.
Notes: Best modern sleep overview.
Paper content
This is the best modern overview for chamomile and sleep. The pooled evidence suggests some improvement in subjective sleep quality, but not a robust or consistent insomnia-treatment effect. That supports narrow language around sleep quality rather than broad claims about treating insomnia.
cha-SRC-002Systematic review and meta-analysis
Sourceopen_in_newKeefe JR, Mao JJ, Soeller I, Li QS, Amsterdam JD. 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. J Affect Disord. 2019;246:274-286. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2019.04.011. PMID:31006899.
Population: Adults across randomized and quasi-randomized trials of chamomile for anxiety and sleep outcomes.
Dose protocol: Trial specific across sleep and anxiety studies
Key findings: Small favorable effects for sleep quality and mild anxiety outcomes.
Notes: Best cross-domain overview for sleep and anxiety.
Paper content
This review supports cautious chamomile use for mild anxiety and sleep-quality improvement, but not strong claims for diagnosed insomnia treatment. The evidence base is small and heterogeneous, with many trials using different forms of chamomile and varying populations.
cha-SRC-003Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial
Sourceopen_in_newAmsterdam 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;29(4):378-382. doi:10.1097/JCP.0b013e3181ac935c. PMID:19593179.
Population: Adults with mild to moderate generalized anxiety disorder
Dose protocol: Standardized extract with flexible dosing up to 1500 mg daily over 8 weeks
Key findings: Modest improvement in GAD symptom scores versus placebo.
Notes: Best direct anxiety RCT.
Paper content
This placebo-controlled 8-week trial in 57 adults with mild to moderate generalized anxiety disorder found a statistically greater reduction in Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale scores with chamomile extract than with placebo. The product was a whole chamomile extract standardized to contain apigenin, so it provides indirect rather than isolated-apigenin evidence.
cha-SRC-004Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.
Sourceopen_in_newValmy, Greenfield, Shindo, Kawai, Cervantes, Hong. Anti-inflammatory effect of chamomile from randomized clinical trials: a systematic review and meta-analyses. Pharm Biol. 2025;63(1):490-502. doi:10.1080/13880209.2025.2530995. PMID:40665590.
Population: Patients from 11 randomized clinical trials evaluating chamomile for anti-inflammatory outcomes.
Dose protocol: Mixed chamomile formulations (extract and mouthrinse) across 11 RCTs
Key findings: Significant pooled reductions in mucositis severity (MD -0.70) and pain (MD -0.61). Antimicrobial effects not significant.
Notes: Best modern meta-analysis for anti-inflammatory chamomile effects.
Paper content
This systematic review and meta-analysis pooled data from 11 RCTs evaluating chamomile for anti-inflammatory outcomes. Chamomile produced statistically significant reductions in mucositis severity and pain levels. Pain severity showed a pooled mean difference of -0.61 (95% CI -0.76 to -0.46) and mucosal inflammation showed a pooled mean difference of -0.70 (95% CI -1.25 to -0.15). Antimicrobial effects were not statistically significant. The authors concluded that chamomile has potential as a natural anti-inflammatory agent, but larger studies are needed to confirm clinical utility.