Chamomile Extract

• Ancient Egypt: Used for its calming and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Greek and Roman Medicine: Widely used as a tonic for digestive health and to reduce fever.
• Traditional European Medicine: Popular remedy for insomnia, stress, and gastrointestinal disorders.
• Modern Herbal Medicine: Known for its sedative, anti-inflammatory, and spasmolytic properties.

• Volatile Oils: Chamazulene, alpha-bisabolol, matricin
• Flavonoids: Apigenin, luteolin, quercetin
• Coumarins: Umbelliferone, herniarin
• Polyphenols: Chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid
• Other Compounds: Tannins, polysaccharides

• Sedative and Anxiolytic: Promotes relaxation and reduces anxiety.
• Anti-inflammatory: Modulates inflammatory responses, particularly in the skin and digestive tract.
• Antispasmodic: Relieves smooth muscle spasms in the gastrointestinal and respiratory systems.
• Antioxidant: Protects cells from oxidative stress.
• Antimicrobial: Effective against certain bacteria and fungi.
• Digestive Aid: Alleviates bloating, gas, and upset stomach.

1. Promotes Relaxation and Sleep:

• Effect: Reduces anxiety and improves sleep quality.

2. Digestive Health:

• Use: Treats indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and colic.
• Supporting Research: Chamomile has demonstrated efficacy in reducing gastrointestinal spasms.

3. Skin Health:

• Effect: Soothes eczema, dermatitis, and minor wounds.
• Evidence: Proven to reduce redness and irritation in topical formulations.

4. Anti-inflammatory Effects:

• Use: Reduces inflammation in conditions like arthritis and gastrointestinal disorders.
• Research Insight: Chamomile's anti-inflammatory effects are attributed to chamazulene and alpha-bisabolol.

5. Antimicrobial Activity:

• Mechanism: Inhibits the growth of bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and fungi like Candida albicans.

• Allergy to plants in the Asteraceae family (e.g., ragweed, daisies, marigolds).
• Pregnancy (use cautiously due to potential uterine-stimulating effects).
• Hormone-sensitive conditions (may interact with estrogen receptors).

• Mild allergic reactions (e.g., skin rash, itching).
• Rare cases of drowsiness or dizziness.
• Nausea or vomiting if consumed in excessive amounts.

• Sedatives: May enhance the effects of CNS depressants like benzodiazepines.
• Anticoagulants: Chamomile may increase bleeding risk when combined with blood thinners (e.g., warfarin).
• Hormonal Therapies: May interact with estrogen-based therapies due to mild phytoestrogenic effects.
• Antimicrobials: Avoid combining with herbs or drugs with overlapping antibacterial properties without medical advice.

1. Anxiety and Sleep: Chamomile for generalized anxiety disorder
2. Anti-inflammatory Effects: Chamomile's efficacy in reducing inflammation
3. Digestive Health: Studies support its spasmolytic and digestive-relieving effects

Additional Studies:

• An integrative approach to eczema (atopic dermatitis)
• A plant extract and its modified preparation in functional dyspepsia. Results of a double-blind placebo-controlled comparative study.
• A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of oral Matricaria recutita (chamomile) extract therapy for generalized anxiety disorder
• Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) may provide antidepressant activity in anxious, depressed humans: An exploratory study

Chamomile extract is a well-researched herbal remedy with a broad range of therapeutic applications, including stress reduction, digestive health, and skin care. Its mild sedative, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties make it a valuable addition to holistic medicine. However, caution is advised for individuals with plant allergies or those on blood-thinning medications.