Chamomile's therapeutic uses
Chamomile, derived from two primary species—German and Roman chamomile—has been traditionally employed for various therapeutic purposes. Commonly consumed as tea, it is believed to promote relaxation and alleviate stress, with over a million cups enjoyed daily. Historically, chamomile was utilized by ancient cultures, including Egyptians and Greeks, for treating ailments such as fevers and headaches. In modern applications, chamomile cream is recognized for its effectiveness in treating skin conditions like eczema and inflammation from radiation therapy. Additionally, chamomile may aid in digestive issues, mouth sores from chemotherapy, anxiety relief, wound healing, and menstrual cramps, although scientific evidence supporting these uses varies. While generally considered safe, chamomile can cause allergic reactions in individuals sensitive to ragweed, and caution is advised for those on blood thinners or with specific health conditions. Exploring chamomile's potential benefits offers valuable insights for individuals seeking natural remedies for various health concerns.
Chamomile's therapeutic uses
DEFINITION: Natural plant product used to treat specific health conditions.
PRINCIPAL PROPOSED USES: Skin inflammation (eczema, skin inflammation caused by radiation therapy), stress, relaxation
OTHER PROPOSED USES: Digestive upset, mouth sores caused by chemotherapy, anxiety, wound healing, menstrual cramps
Overview
Two distinct plants known as chamomile are used interchangeably: German and Roman chamomile. Although distantly related botanically, they both look like miniature daisies and are traditionally thought to possess similar medicinal benefits.
More than one million cups of chamomile tea are drunk daily, testifying, at least, to its good taste. Chamomile was used by early Egyptian physicians for fevers and by ancient Greeks, Romans, and Indians for headaches and disorders of the kidneys, liver, and bladder.
The modern use of chamomile dates back to 1921, when a German firm introduced a topical form. This cream became a popular treatment for various skin disorders, including eczema, bedsores, skin inflammation caused by radiation therapy, and contact dermatitis (from poison ivy). In the twenty-first century, chamomile is often an ingredient in teas that promote relaxation.
Therapeutic Dosages
Chamomile cream is applied to the affected area one to four times daily. Chamomile tea can be made by pouring boiling water over 2 to 3 heaping teaspoons of flowers and steeping for ten minutes. Chamomile tinctures and pills should be taken according to the directions on the label. Alcoholic tincture may be the most potent form for internal use.
Therapeutic Uses
Germany’s Commission E authorizes the use of topical chamomile preparations for a variety of skin and mouth diseases. Chamomile tea is also said to reduce mild tension and stress and to aid indigestion. Its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties may also help wound healing. Its antispasmodic effects may aid in the treatment of menstrual cramps.
Scientific Evidence
There is emerging evidence that chamomile is effective for the treatment of some health conditions, while scientific studies have failed to back other claims.
Skin diseases. A controlled study of 161 individuals found chamomile cream just as effective as 0.25 percent hydrocortisone cream for the treatment of eczema. However, this study did not use a placebo group and does not appear to have been double-blind. For this reason, the results are not reliable. A study of seventy-two individuals with eczema found somewhat odd results. In this trial, chamomile was not significantly more effective than placebo, but both were better than 0.5 percent hydrocortisone cream. It is difficult to interpret what these paradoxical results actually mean, but they certainly cannot be taken as proof that chamomile cream is effective.
In a double-blind study, chamomile cream proved less effective for reducing inflammation of the skin than hydrocortisone cream or witch hazel cream. Finally, in a single-blind trial, fifty women receiving radiation therapy for breast cancer were treated with either chamomile or placebo. Chamomile failed to prove superior to a placebo for preventing skin inflammation caused by the radiation therapy.
Mouth sores. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 164 individuals did not find chamomile mouthwash effective for treating the mouth sores caused by chemotherapy with the drug 5-FU.
Anxiety. A 2016 study of patients with generalized anxiety disorder found that supplementation with chamomile significantly reduced their symptoms when compared to a placebo group. Similarly, a 2020 study found that surgery patients saw a marked reduction in anxiety when given chamomile.
Other double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of the benefits of chamomile show improvements in sleep and reductions in the physical and psychological symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome. Emerging scientific evidence shows promise in chamomile’s ability to promote wound healing.
Safety Issues
Chamomile is listed on the US Food and Drug Administration’s generally recognized as safe (GRAS) list. Reports that chamomile can cause severe reactions in people allergic to ragweed have received significant media attention. However, when all the evidence is examined, it does not appear that chamomile is actually more allergenic than any other plant. The cause of these reports may be products contaminated with “dog chamomile,” a highly allergenic and bad-tasting plant of similar appearance.
Chamomile also contains naturally occurring coumarin compounds that might act as blood thinners under certain circumstances. There is one case report in which it appears that the use of chamomile combined with the anticoagulant warfarin led to excessive blood thinning, resulting in internal bleeding. Some evidence suggests that chamomile might interact with other medications as well through effects on drug metabolism, but the extent of this effect has not been fully determined.
Safety in young children, pregnant or nursing women, and those with liver or kidney disease has not been established, although there have not been any credible reports of toxicity caused by this common beverage tea.
Important Interactions
Chamomile may increase the effect of blood-thinning medications such as warfarin (Coumadin), heparin, clopidogrel (Plavix), ticlopidine (Ticlid), or pentoxifylline (Trental), potentially causing problems.
Bibliography
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