Evidence supporting the use of: Chamomile
For the health condition: Congestion (bronchial)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla or Chamaemelum nobile) has a long history of traditional use for various respiratory ailments, including congestion and bronchial complaints. In traditional herbal medicine, chamomile is commonly prepared as a tea or inhaled as steam to help ease symptoms associated with colds, coughs, and bronchial congestion. The rationale for its use centers on its known anti-inflammatory, mild expectorant, and soothing properties, which are believed to help relax the airways and reduce irritation in the respiratory tract.

Ethnobotanical records and folk medicine texts from Europe and the Middle East frequently mention chamomile for respiratory relief, especially as a steam inhalation. Some herbalists cite its mild mucolytic effects, which may help loosen mucus, although these effects are not well quantified in scientific studies.

However, there is limited direct scientific research specifically examining chamomile’s efficacy for bronchial congestion. Most modern studies focus on its use for digestive issues, anxiety, or topical inflammation, rather than respiratory conditions. Any observed benefits for congestion are mostly anecdotal or extrapolated from its general anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic actions. Consequently, while traditional evidence supports chamomile’s use for bronchial congestion, clinical evidence is weak, and it should not replace proven medical treatments for serious respiratory issues.

More about chamomile
More about Congestion (bronchial)

Other ingredients used for Congestion (bronchial)

Allspice
Aloe vera
alpha-pinene
Waterhyssop
basil
benegut perilla (proprietary)
beta-pinene
black cumin
black currant
black pepper
Indian frankincense
bupleurum falcatum
bасора
caffeine
capsaicinoids
chamomile
chen pi
Chinese salvia root
clove
Coptis chinensis
cowage seed
turmeric
echinacea purpurea
elderberry
ethanol
forsythia
garlic bulb
ginger
grape
onion
green tea
horseradish
Indian tinospora
licorice root
lovage
mustard seed
N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
spruce
ophiopogon root
oregano
perilla
phellodendron amurense
platycodon root
pomegranate
quercetin
rosemary
scrophularia root
shiitake mushroom
spearmint leaf
Sphaeranthus indicus
thyme
vitamin C
Yellow root
squawvine
boneset
Mullein
hyssop
cardamom
atractylodes
capsicum
Mugwort
malabar nut
alpinia galangal
ferula assafoetida
inula racemosa
anise
blackboard tree
Szechuan lovage
buckthorn
fritillaria
lemongrass
Yerba santa
elecampane
coltsfoot
chrysanthemum
juniper berries
siler root
sweet flag
oriental arborvitae
Trichosanthes
zanthoxylum
eucalyptus
Menthol oil
aster root
Abies spectabilis
horehound
Sichuan pepper
cayenne pepper
soursop
Alcohol
Agastache
Anamarrhena
alpha-terpineol
Ardisia
Angelica
Allicin
Asarum heterotropoides
Aconite
asafoetida
andrographolide
Adrenergic amines
Asteraceae
Allyl sulfide
Adenophora
Allium tuberosum
Amor seco
Arisaema
Asarum sieboldii
Alantolactone
atractylone
black seed
Baikal Skullcap
Baphicacanthus cusia
Bidens pilosa
Black spruce
bicarbonate
Blepharis
balsam
bishop\'s weed
Boswellic Acid
bayleaf
black galingale
Barleria
bitter grass
bisabolene
bael
berry
Boswellia
Baccharoides anthelmintica
black salt
bee products
Bombax
Buddha\'s hand
borage
Bupleurum
balloon flower
Belamcanda
borneol
Camellia sinensis
Chinese silkvine
curry leaf
Chinese mountain ant
Clerodendrum trichotomum
Citrus
cineole
cajuput
Chinese raisintree
cowherb
curcumen
Cistus
Curcuma
calamus
cinnamaldehyde
Carthamus
culvers Root
Chondrus
dragonhead
diterpenes
Ephedra
European Elder
Eclipta
Echinacea
Elder
essential oil blend
ephedrine
fang-feng
fat liver oil
fernbush
frankincense
Gnaphalium
gamma-terpinene
Guaco
Gallesia
giant blazingstar
Gardenia jasminoides
Glycyrrhetinic acid
Galangal
Heartsease
honey
heal-all
Hedyotis
Houttuynia
Helicteres isora
Horsemint
iridoids
Isatis
long pepper
Ivy
jungli-bean
Khella
Ledebouriella
Litsea
Lomatium
lichen
Laggera pterodonta
limonene
labrador tea
Ligusticum
linalool
Lewis's monkey flower
Mountain Pepper
Mustard
Marsh Tea
mallow
Monoterpenes
Methylxanthine
Meadow sage
Mucolase
Neoandrographolides
Nigella seed
Nutmeg
Ophiopogon
Oroxylum indicum
Osha
Orris
Phellodendron
Pinellia ternata
Pluchea
prepared aconite tuber
Platycodon
Pepper
Paris polyphylla
Peucedanum
Pyrrosia
Piper retrofractum
Piper nigrum
Polygonum
Rubiaceae
ravinsara
reed herb
Sichuan Lovage
Sophora
Scoparia dulcis
Smartweed
Sesquiterpenes
Sweet Annie
Solanum indicum
Sambucus nigra
Sagebrush
Sinigrin
Sandalwood
Stereospermum
Sulfated polysaccharide
Sweet Bay
Sundew
Servicetree
Thymus
Tamaricaceae
Terpinolene
Vervain
Visnea Mocanera
Vasicine
Violet
Viola
Vladimiria souliei
Vasicinone
Wulinshen
Winter Savory
Yerba buena
Zingiberene
Zedoary
Zingerone

Other health conditions supported by chamomile

Abdominal Pain
Abrasions
Abscesses
Abuse and Trauma
Acid Indigestion
Acne
Addictions (general remedies for)
Adrenal Fatigue
Afterbirth Pain
Age Spots
Allergies (respiratory)
Anal Fistula or Fissure
Antibiotics (side effects of)
Anxiety
Anxiety Disorders
Appetite (deficient)
Anger (excessive)
Bedwetting
Belching
Bites and Stings
Bleeding (external)
Blisters
Bloodshot Eyes
Boils
Bruises (healing)
Bulimia
Burns and Scalds
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Canker Sores
Carbuncles
Chemotherapy (reducing side effects)
Colds (general)
Colds (prevention)
Colds (with fever)
Colic (adults)
Colic (children)
Congestion
Congestion (bronchial)
Congestion (lungs)
Congestion (sinus)
Constipation (adults)
Constipation (children)
Cuts
Depression
Dermatitis
Diarrhea
Digestion (poor)
Dysmenorrhea
Dyspepsia
Ear Infection or Earache
Eczema
Emotional Sensitivity
Enteritis
Epilepsy
Eye Infections
Eye Problems
Eyes (red or itching)
Fever
Fungal Infections
Gas and Bloating
Gastritis
Gingivitis
Halitosis
Headache (general)
Headache (sinus)
Headache (tension)
Hemorrhoids
Hiatal Hernia
Hiccups
Hysteria
Indigestion
Inflammatory Bowel Disorders
Insomnia
Irritability
Itching
Itching (rectal)
Itching Ears
Labor and Delivery
Laryngitis
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Lesions
Lupus
Measles
Morning Sickness
Nausea and Vomiting
Nose Bleeds
Perspiration (excessive)
PMS (general)
PMS Type A
PMS Type P
Poison Ivy or Oak
Post Partum Depression
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Pregnancy (herbs and supplements for)
Rashes and Hives
Restless Dreams
Rhinitis
Rhinitis, Allergic
Rosacea
Scratches and Abrasions
Seizures
Sleep (restless and disturbed)
Sore Throat
Strep Throat
Stress
Sunburn
Sweat Baths (herbs for)
Teething
Tension
Tickle in Throat
TMJ
Tonsillitis