Chamomile is a flowering plant in the daisy family (Asteraceae) that has been used as an herbal remedy for thousands of years. Its small, white-petaled flowers with bright yellow centers contain a concentrated mix of compounds that give it anti-inflammatory, calming, and digestive benefits. The two most common types are German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) and Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile), with German chamomile being the variety most widely used in teas, supplements, and skincare products.
What Makes Chamomile Work
Chamomile’s medicinal reputation comes from a handful of active compounds packed into its flower heads. The most studied is apigenin, a plant compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Apigenin interacts with receptors in the brain that promote relaxation and sedation, which explains why chamomile tea is so closely associated with winding down before bed. In animal studies, apigenin reduced locomotor activity within 90 to 120 minutes of ingestion, producing a mild, short-term sedative effect.
The flowers also contain bisabolol, which protects the stomach lining and reduces inflammation, and chamazulene, a blue-colored compound that forms when chamomile oil is extracted through steam distillation. Chamazulene doesn’t actually exist in the living plant. It’s created from another compound called matricin during the distillation process. Together, these constituents give chamomile oil its distinctive blue tint and its ability to calm irritated tissue, reduce muscle spasms, and support wound healing.
Chamomile for Anxiety and Sleep
Chamomile’s calming effects go beyond folk wisdom. In a clinical trial, participants with generalized anxiety disorder took 1,500 mg of pharmaceutical-grade chamomile extract daily for 12 weeks. Those who continued chamomile for an additional 26 weeks maintained significantly lower anxiety symptoms compared to those switched to a placebo. The chamomile group also took roughly twice as long to relapse (about 11 weeks versus 6 weeks for placebo), though this difference didn’t reach full statistical significance.
For sleep, chamomile appears to work through apigenin’s activity on calming receptors in the brain. This mechanism is similar in concept to how prescription sleep aids work, but the effect is much gentler. Most people drink a cup of chamomile tea 30 to 60 minutes before bed, though concentrated extracts in capsule form deliver a higher dose of active compounds.
Digestive and Stomach Benefits
Chamomile has long been called the “star among medicinal species” in European herbal medicine, and digestive relief is one of the main reasons. Its antispasmodic properties help relax smooth muscle in the digestive tract, which can ease cramping, bloating, and general stomach discomfort. The bisabolol in chamomile also has ulcer-protective effects, helping shield the stomach lining from irritation. People commonly use chamomile tea for indigestion, nausea, and mild gastrointestinal distress.
Skin and Topical Uses
Chamomile volatile oil has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and tissue-repairing properties that make it a common ingredient in creams, ointments, and skincare products. It’s been shown to be effective against staphylococcus bacteria and candida fungi. The oil also promotes granulation and re-epithelialization, which is the body’s process of rebuilding skin tissue after a wound.
Research on atopic dermatitis (eczema) in animal models has shown that chamomile volatile oil reduces skin damage, decreases epidermal thickening, and lowers levels of inflammatory markers that drive allergic skin reactions. It does this partly by rebalancing the immune response that becomes skewed in eczema-prone skin. You’ll find chamomile listed as an ingredient in products for sensitive skin, diaper rash creams, and after-sun treatments.
How to Brew Chamomile Tea
For a standard cup, steep dried chamomile flowers or a tea bag in hot water for 5 to 7 minutes. Steeping longer, up to 15 minutes, will extract more of the active compounds and produce a stronger, more bitter flavor. For iced chamomile tea, use about one teaspoon of dried flowers per cup and steep for around 30 minutes before chilling. The flowers should be near full bloom when harvested for the best concentration of beneficial compounds.
Growing Your Own Chamomile
Chamomile is one of the easier herbs to grow at home. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil but thrives even in poor soil without much fertilizer. The plants are shallow-rooted, so they need consistent moisture near the surface without being waterlogged. Aphids are the most common pest issue, but otherwise chamomile is low-maintenance. Harvest the flowers when they’re nearly in full bloom by snipping the flower head from the stem. You can dry them on a screen or tray in a warm, airy spot and store them in an airtight container for months.
Allergies and Drug Interactions
Because chamomile belongs to the Asteraceae family (the same family as ragweed, chrysanthemums, and daisies), people with allergies to those plants can have cross-reactive responses to chamomile. One study found a high degree of cross-reactivity between mugwort pollen and chamomile, meaning that a mugwort allergy could trigger a reaction to chamomile tea. Cross-reactivity has also been demonstrated with giant ragweed, celery, anise, birch pollen, and timothy grass. Chamomile is one of the most common causes of contact dermatitis among plants in this family.
On the drug interaction side, chamomile can amplify the effects of blood thinners like warfarin and increase sedation when combined with other sedatives, including alcohol. It may also interfere with tamoxifen, hormone replacement therapy, and estrogen-containing oral contraceptives. If you take any of these medications, it’s worth checking with a pharmacist before adding chamomile supplements or drinking it regularly in large amounts. Occasional cups of tea are generally well tolerated, but concentrated extracts deliver much higher doses of active compounds.