The Calming Effect of Chamomile

Chamomile has long been used for a nervous stomach, motion sickness, nasal congestion, restlessness, anxiety, insomnia, and to soothe teething babies.

Although the use of chamomile in the form of tea, extract, or aromatherapy as a sleep aid is common, few human studies exist to prove its effectiveness. A study on sleep disturbed rats showed that the rats treated with 300 mg/kg of chamomile extract fell asleep faster, with the chamomile having a benzodiazepine-like effect. Benzodiazepine is used to treat anxiety. Similar results were shown in rats who inhaled chamomile vapor when they were put under restriction stress. Overall, chamomile seems to have a tranquilizing effects in rats.

I would absolutely recommend chamomile to someone who is experiencing trouble falling asleep. Even if chamomile did not have the same tranquilizing effect in humans as in rats, its proven reduction in anxiety and depression. is enough to warrant recommendation.

Amsterdam, J., Li, Y., Soeller, I., Rockwell, K., Mao, J., & Shults, J. (2009). A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Oral Matricaria recutita (Chamomile) Extract Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Journal Of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 29(4), 378-382. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/jcp.0b013e3181ac935c

Shinomiya, K., Inoue, T., Utsu, Y., Tokunaga, S., Masuoka, T., Ohmori, A., & Kamei, C. (2005). Hypnotic Activities of Chamomile and Passiflora Extracts in Sleep-Disturbed Rats. Biol. Pharm. Bull., 28(5), 808-810. http://dx.doi.org/10.1248/bpb.28.808

YAMADA, K., MIURA, T., MIMAKI, Y., & SASHIDA, Y. (1996). Effect of Inhalation of Chamomile Oil Vapour on Plasma ACTH Level in Ovariectomized-Rat Under Restriction Stress. Biol. Pharm. Bull., 19(9), 1244-1246. http://dx.doi.org/10.1248/bpb.19.1244