Is Chamomile safe?

Introduction

Chamomile, a traditional medicinal herb, is widely used for its therapeutic properties, including anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anxiolytic effects. It is commonly consumed as tea and used in various forms such as extracts and oils. Given its widespread use, understanding the safety profile of chamomile is crucial.

Key Insights

General Safety and Adverse Events:
- Chamomile is generally considered safe with low adverse event rates reported in clinical trials .
- Mild adverse events were reported in some studies, but no severe side effects were noted .
Specific Safety Concerns:
- High concentrations of certain chamomile constituents, such as Bisabololoxide A, can induce apoptosis in rat thymocytes, suggesting potential cytotoxic effects at high doses.
- Chamomile extracts showed cytotoxic effects at high concentrations in human colonocytes, indicating that high doses may not be safe.
Long-term Use:
- Long-term use of chamomile for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) was found to be safe, with no significant adverse effects reported over a 26-week period.
- Safety evaluations in mice showed no significant changes in body weight or histopathological abnormalities in organs after long-term supplementation.
Topical Use:
- Topical application of chamomile oil for knee osteoarthritis was found to be safe, with no adverse events reported by patients.
Phytochemical Variability:
- The chemical composition of chamomile extracts can vary significantly, which may impact their safety and efficacy. Therefore, standardization of chamomile products is important for ensuring consistent safety profiles.
Metal Accumulation:
- Chamomile plants can accumulate metals, but the levels of toxic metals were found to be low, indicating that chamomile is generally safe from a heavy metal contamination perspective.

Conclusion

Chamomile is generally safe for use in various forms, including oral, topical, and long-term applications. Mild adverse events may occur, but severe side effects are rare. However, high doses of certain chamomile constituents can be cytotoxic, and the variability in phytochemical composition necessitates standardization of chamomile products to ensure safety. Overall, chamomile is a safe herbal remedy when used appropriately.

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Is Chamomile safe?

Summary

Consensus Meter

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

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

Chamomile appears to be efficacious and safe for improving sleep quality and generalized anxiety disorder, but little evidence exists to show its effect on anxiety and insomnia.

Comparative Analysis of Phenolic Composition of Six Commercially Available Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) Extracts: Potential Biological Implications

Chamomile extracts show heterogeneity in chemical composition and antioxidant effects, with some showing cytotoxic effects at high concentrations, suggesting herbal medicine is not always safe.

Long-term chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) treatment for generalized anxiety disorder: A randomized clinical trial.

Long-term chamomile treatment is safe and significantly reduces moderate-to-severe GAD symptoms, but does not significantly reduce relapse rates.

The effects of chamomile extract on sleep quality among elderly people: A clinical trial.

Chamomile extract significantly improves sleep quality in elderly people, making it a safe and effective modality for promoting their sleep.

Bisabololoxide A, one of the main constituents in German chamomile extract, induces apoptosis in rat thymocytes

Bisabololoxide A, a main constituent in German chamomile, induces apoptosis in rat thymocytes at concentrations of 30 M or more, but is generally considered safe when used conventionally.

Efficacy and safety of topical Matricaria chamomilla L. (chamomile) oil for knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

Topical chamomile oil significantly reduced the need for acetaminophen in patients with knee osteoarthritis and may show beneficial effects on physical function and stiffness without causing adverse events.

Antiproliferative potential and phenolic compounds of infusions and essential oil of chamomile cultivated with homeopathy.

Homeopathy-cultivated chamomile infusions and essential oil show no genotoxic effects and exhibit antiproliferative activity on the cell cycle of Allium cepa, promoting sustainable cultivation and safe use of this medicinal species.

Accumulation of metals and selected nutritional parameters in the field-grown chamomile anthodia

Increased ploidy levels in chamomile plants reduce toxic metal accumulation and amino acid accumulation, while enhancing phenolic metabolite accumulation, making them safer for pharmaceutical purposes.

Abstract #926: Pharmacokinetics and safety evaluation of chamomile

Chamomile shows promising anticancer efficacy and minimal toxicity, making it a promising candidate for clinical development as an anticancer agent.

Chamomile: A Herbal Agent for Treatment of Diseases of the Elderly

Chamomile has shown promising effects in treating various diseases of old age, making it a safe and clinically useful herbal agent for elderly health promotion.

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