Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla or Chamaemelum nobile) has a long tradition of use as a calming herb for anxiety and insomnia, and its use is supported by both historical and scientific evidence. Several small clinical trials have investigated chamomile's efficacy in treating anxiety, particularly generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). A notable randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in Phytomedicine (2009) found that standardized chamomile extract reduced symptoms of mild to moderate GAD compared to placebo. Follow-up studies, including one published in Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology (2016), showed continued symptom reduction and low adverse effects over longer-term use.

The proposed mechanisms include chamomile's flavonoids (such as apigenin), which may bind to benzodiazepine receptors in the brain, exerting anxiolytic effects. Despite these findings, the number of high-quality, large-scale clinical trials remains limited, and meta-analyses have called for more robust evidence before chamomile can be recommended as a first-line treatment. Nevertheless, chamomile is generally considered safe and is widely used as a complementary therapy for anxiety. In summary, while scientific evidence supports some benefit, the strength of the evidence is moderate, and further research is warranted to fully establish chamomile's efficacy for anxiety.

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