Ease Your Anxiety With Chamomile

By: Gretchen Jones, Contributing Writer

German chamomile is an abundant, daisy-like flower that was used widely in ancient Egypt, Rome, and Greece. Today it is used for many things, mainly for sleep or anxiety-related issues. It can also aid in an upset stomach or gas. The flowering tops of the chamomile plant are what is often used in teas, capsules, liquid extracts, or tablets. This herb can also be used as a skin cream or ointment.

Chamomile is a widely used herb not only because of its abundance and effectiveness, but also the general safety of the flower; however, it is always a good idea to consult your primary care provider before taking any herb, especially when on certain medications.

In a recent double-blind and placebo controlled study, the effects of chamomile on patients with generalized anxiety disorder was conducted (see references). During this study, patients were given either a placebo or a capsule containing 220mg of chamomile over a period of eight weeks. In the end the study had concluded that compared to placebo, chamomile showed greater results over time for patients who took anxiety-measuring tests, such as the Hamilton Anxiety Rating (HAM-A).

References
NIH. (2009). Study shows chamomile capsules ease anxiety symptoms. Retrieved from
https://nccih.nih.gov/research/results/spotlight/040310.htm

NIH. (2016). Chamomile. Retrieved from
https://nccih.nih.gov/health/chamomile/ataglance.htm