Chamomile herbal extract health benefit, side effects and safety
Herbal tea for sleep, allergy review


Dried flowers of chamomile herb (Matricaria chamomilla L.) are largely used to provide sedative as well as spasmolytic effects. Chamomile contains several flavonoids, including apigenin. Flavonoids have anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory properties.

Chamomile tea benefit
Chamomile tea is a gentle way to relax, but the effects are very mild. If you are used to stronger sleep inducers, you may not notice mild chamomile benefits. Dried flowers of chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) are largely used to provide sedative as well as spasmolytic effects. Chamomile herb contains several flavonoids, including apigenin. Flavonoids have anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory properties.
  
Dosage for chamomile tea is 1 teaspoon per cup of water; steep for a few minutes. The longer chamomile steeps, the more powerful its calming effects. Chamomile helps digestion, sooths stomach irritations and may slightly ease symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.

Nature's Way Chamomile herb supplement

Among the most popular herbal supplements in Europe, Chamomile extract is commonly used for its soothing effects and ability to support normal tone in the digestive tract. Chamomile has long been used as an after-meal and bedtime drink. Now you can have the health benefits of chamomile in a convenient concentrated extract. Standardized to: 1.2% Apigenin

Nature's Way Standardized Extracts are technically and scientifically advanced herbal products. Standardization of an extract assures specific measurable levels of the important compounds that give the products their beneficial activity in the body.
 

 

Click here buy Chamomile supplement, Good Night Rx with chamomile herb, or sign up to a FREE newsletter

Allergy
Allergic reactions to chamomile pollens, including hives, contact dermatitis, and allergic conjunctivitis from contact with the eye, can occur. Allergic reactions to chamomile occur more often in those who have a predisposition to pollen allergy, or allergies in general.

Chamomile herb for ADHD
Observational study: Matricaria chamomilla may improve some symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Phytomedicine. 2008 Dec 19. Niederhofer H. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Regional Hospital Bozen, Via Guncina 54/A, 39100 Bolzano, Italy.
Noradrenaline and serotonin reuptake inhibitors have been proven to be effective in some cases of ADHD. In this open trial, chamomile, a serotonin and noradrealine reuptake inhibitor, actually used as an antidepressant, has been checked for this indication. Three 14-16-year-old male psychiatric outpatients, diagnosed with attention-deficit disorder (ADHD) have been rated at baseline and while taking chamomile to determine its efficacy as a treatment for ADHD. Improvement was valuated using comparisons of Conners' parent ratings. Patients' mean scores improved for Conners' hyperactivity, inattention and immaturity factors. Although the sample size is very small and therefore generalization is very difficult, this observation indicates that chamomile herb might be a slightly effective treatment also for ADHD.

Chamomile herb as anti-inflammatory
Chamomile herb has anti-inflammatory properties perhaps due to a substance called azulen. Azulen is believed to be a major component of the herb's blue essential oil.

IBS treatment
Chamomile herb is found in a product for IBS called Iberogast.

Benefit for sleep
Chamomile is sometimes used for sleep, but other herbs are more potent. This supplement can help with sleep and mood balance.

Safety and side effects
Except for rare case of allergy, chamomile herb and extracts are very safe and have no major side effects.

Chamomile herb Research study
Proof of efficacy of Kamillosan(R) cream in atopic eczema.

Patzelt-Wenczler R, Ponce-Poschl E.
ASTA Medica AG, Weismullerstr. 45, D-60314 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Eur J Med Res. 2000 Apr 19;5(4):171-5.
Kamillosan cream contains chamomile extract as active principle manufactured from the chamomile sort Manzana which is rich in active principles and has been proved not to exhibit a chamomile-related allergen potential. For this reason Kamillosan cream is suited for local therapy of atopic eczema. In a partially double-blind, randomized study carried out as a half-side comparison, Kamillosan cream was tested vs. 0.5% hydrocortisone cream and the vehicle cream as placebo in patients suffering from medium-degree atopic eczema. After a 2-week treatment Kamillosan cream showed a mild superiority towards 0.5% hydrocortisone and a marginal difference as compared to placebo.

Chamomile tea and supplements inquiries
Q. Would drinking chamomile tea reverse the alertness caused by
tongkat ali herb?
   A. Chamomile herb is weak in its ability to cause sleepiness and is not able to counteract strong stimulant herbs.
 

Q. I find chamomile tea not very helpful with sleep even a friend of mine thinks it is. What do you recommend for sleep problems?
   A. Chamomile is very weak as a relaxant, and there are more effective herbs for sleep.

Q. I would like to try Good Night Rx. Is there a version of this supplement without chamomile (matricaria recutita) flower. I am allergic to chamomile and I am having a hard time finding sleeping supplements without it. I understand that this is much more common than is generally believed. I have even tried taking a homeopatic allergy pill with it, but the pill wears off before the chamomile. And my goodness chamomile (matricaria recutita) flower is in so many things.
   A. Good Night Rx comes in only one formula, the amount of chamomile in the product is very small.

Which is more potent for sleep, chamomile pill as a supplement or chamomile tea?
    It depends on the products, but as a general rule the supplement is likely to be more potent particularly if it is an extract.

Can you tell me the various health benefits of chamomile, including its ability to soothe nerves, calm the digestive system, ease inflammation when used topically and help heal mouth and throat tissues. I have also read that it's effective for some menopausal symptoms.
     Chamomile is an herb that has mild soothing properties in terms of minor digestive symptoms and mild relaxation. However, we are not aware of any extensive human trials testing chamomile tea or a chamomile supplement in terms of treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, as an anti-anxiety herb, or for the treatment of menopausal symptoms. There are many other herbs that are more potent as a remedy or treatment for these conditions.

Would chamomile tea counteract the energy provided from taking herbal sexual enhancing herbs such as tribulus terrestris extract?
    
Chamomile benefits in terms of sleep induction are very mild and are not likely to counteract the stimulation that comes from energizing adaptogens such as ginseng or other similar herbs.