GERMAN CHAMOMILE
Blue Chamomile, Camomèle, Camomilla, Camomille, Camomille Allemande, Camomille Sauvage, Camomille Tronquée, Camomille Vraie, Chamomile, Chamomilla recutita, Echte Kamille, Feldkamille, Fleur de Camomile, Hungarian Chamomile, Kamillen, Kleine Kamille, Manzanilla, Manzanilla Alemana, Matricaire, Matricaire Camomille, Matricaria chamomilla, Matricaria recutita, Matricariae Flos, Œil du Soleil, Petite Camomille, Pin Heads, Sweet False Chamomile, True Chamomile, Wild Chamomile.<br/><br/>
Uses & Effectiveness
Possibly Effective for
- Anxiety. Research suggests that taking 220-1110 mg of German chamomile daily for 8 weeks reduces anxiety and depression in adults with anxiety disorder.
- Colic. Research shows that a specific product containing 164 mg of fennel, 97 mg of lemon balm, and 178 mg of German chamomile (ColiMil, Milte Italia SPA) taken twice daily for a week seems to reduce crying in breast-fed infants with colic.
- Diarrhea. Taking a product containing apple pectin and German chamomile for 1-3 days seems to reduce diarrhea in children.
- Upset stomach (dyspepsia). Taking a specific product containing German chamomile plus peppermint leaf, clown's mustard plant, caraway, licorice, milk thistle, celandine, angelica, and lemon balm (Iberogast, Medical Futures, Inc) seems to relieve upset stomach. Taking this product three times daily for 4 weeks seems to reduce the severity of acid reflux, stomach pain, cramping, nausea, and vomiting.
- Swelling and deterioration of the mouth lining (oral mucositis). Using a German chamomile mouth rinse (Kamillosan Liquidum) might help prevent or treat swelling or deterioration of the mouth lining caused by radiation therapy and some types of chemotherapy.
Possibly Ineffective for
- Skin irritation (dermatitis). Applying German chamomile cream to the skin does not seem to prevent skin irritation caused by cancer radiation therapy.
- Gingivitis. Research shows that using a toothpaste containing German chamomile (Colgate) for 30 days reduces gingivitis, but not more than using toothpaste alone. Other research shows that using a mouthwash (Matrica) containing German chamomile does not reduce bacteria in the mouth.
- Insomnia. Research shows that taking 270 mg of German chamomile twice daily for 28 days does not improve sleep time or quality in people with insomnia.
Insufficient Evidence for
- Common cold. Early research suggests that inhaling a German chamomile product (Kneipp-Kamillen-Konzentrat) as steam with hot water for 10 minutes reduces common cold symptoms.
- Inflamed or irritated skin (eczema). Some research shows that applying a cream containing a German chamomile extract to the skin improves inflamed or irritated skin. However, other research shows that it does not improve skin.
- Hemorrhoids. Early research shows that applying German chamomile ointment (Kamilloson) together with standard treatment improves bleeding, itching, and burning in people with hemorrhoids.
- Skin breakdown around colostomy appliances. Early research shows that applying a German chamomile compress to areas of skin breakdown around colostomy appliances decreases the amount of time needed for skin lesions to heal.
- Vaginal infection (vaginitis). Early research shows that flushing the vagina with a German chamomile extract in water reduces symptoms in women with vaginal infections.
- Wound healing. Research shows that applying a German chamomile product (Kamile Spitzner) to wounds for 14 days reduces wound size after 4 days of treatment but does not affect wound healing approximately 3 weeks after tattoo removal.
- Intestinal gas.
- Travel sickness.
- Nasal swelling (inflammation).
- Hay fever.
- Restlessness.
- Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
- Fibromyalgia.
- Stomach and intestinal disorders.
- Menstrual cramps.
- Other conditions.
Side Effects & Safety
German chamomile is LIKELY SAFE when taken in amounts found in food. In fact, it has “Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS)” status in the U.S. German chamomile is POSSIBLY SAFE for adults and children when taken by mouth for short periods of time as medicine. German chamomile has also been applied to the skin of adults for short periods of time. The long-term safety of German chamomile is unknown.German chamomile can cause allergic reactions in some people. It is in the same plant family as ragweed, marigolds, daisies, and other related herbs.
When applied to the skin, German chamomile can cause allergic skin reactions. When applied near the eyes, German chamomile may cause eye irritation.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of German chamomile during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.Allergies to ragweed or related plants: German chamomile may cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to the Asteraceae/Compositae family of plants. Members of this family include ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies, and many other herbs.
Hormone-sensitive condition such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids: German chamomile might act like estrogen in the body. If you have any condition that might be made worse by exposure to estrogen, don’t use German chamomile.
Surgery: German chamomile might interact with anesthesia for surgery and should not be used 2 weeks before surgery.
Interactions
Moderate Interaction
Be cautious with this combination
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Birth control pills (Contraceptive drugs) interacts with GERMAN CHAMOMILE
Some birth control pills contain estrogen. German chamomile might have some of the same effects as estrogen. But German chamomile isn't as strong as the estrogen in birth control pills. Taking German chamomile along with birth control pills might decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills. If you take birth control pills along with German chamomile, use an additional form of birth control such as a condom.<br/><br/> Some birth control pills include ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel (Triphasil), ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone (Ortho-Novum 1/35, Ortho-Novum 7/7/7), and others.
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Estrogens interacts with GERMAN CHAMOMILE
Large amounts of German chamomile might have some of the same effects as estrogen. But large amounts of German chamomile aren't as strong as estrogen pills. Taking German chamomile along with estrogen pills might decrease the effects of estrogen pills.<br/><br/> Some estrogen pills include conjugated equine estrogens (Premarin), ethinyl estradiol, estradiol, and others.
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Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates) interacts with GERMAN CHAMOMILE
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver.<br/><br/> German chamomile might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking German chamomile along with some medications that are broken down by the liver can increase the effects and side effects of some medications. Before taking German chamomile, talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking any medications that are changed by the liver.<br/><br/> Some medications changed by the liver include lovastatin (Mevacor), ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), fexofenadine (Allegra), triazolam (Halcion), and many others.
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Sedative medications (Benzodiazepines) interacts with GERMAN CHAMOMILE
German chamomile might cause sleepiness and drowsiness. Drugs that cause sleepiness and drowsiness are called sedatives. Taking German chamomile along with sedative medications might cause too much sleepiness.<br/><br/> Some of these sedative medications include alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), midazolam (Versed), temazepam (Restoril), triazolam (Halcion), and others.
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Sedative medications (CNS depressants) interacts with GERMAN CHAMOMILE
German chamomile might cause sleepiness and drowsiness. Medications that cause sleepiness are called sedatives. Taking German chamomile along with sedative medications might cause too much sleepiness.<br/><br/> Some sedative medications include pentobarbital (Nembutal), phenobarbital (Luminal), secobarbital (Seconal), fentanyl (Duragesic, Sublimaze), morphine, zolpidem (Ambien), and others.
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Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) interacts with GERMAN CHAMOMILE
Some types of cancer are affected by hormones in the body. Estrogen-sensitive cancers are cancers that are affected by estrogen levels in the body. Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) is used to help treat and prevent these types of cancer. German chamomile seems to also affect estrogen levels in the body. By affecting estrogen in the body, German chamomile might decrease the effectiveness of tamoxifen (Nolvadex). Do not take German chamomile if you are taking tamoxifen (Nolvadex).
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Warfarin (Coumadin) interacts with GERMAN CHAMOMILE
Warfarin (Coumadin) is used to slow blood clotting. German chamomile might increase the effects of warfarin (Coumadin). Taking German chamomile and warfarin (Coumadin) together might slow blood clotting too much and cause bruising and bleeding. Be sure to have your blood checked regularly. The dose of your warfarin (Coumadin) might need to be changed.
Minor Interaction
Be watchful with this combination
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Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) substrates) interacts with GERMAN CHAMOMILE
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver.<br/><br/> German chamomile might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking German chamomile along with some medications that are broken down by the liver can increase the effects and side effects of these medications. Before taking German chamomile, talk to your healthcare provider if you take any medications that are changed by the liver.<br/><br/> Some medications that are changed by the liver include amitriptyline (Elavil), haloperidol (Haldol), ondansetron (Zofran), propranolol (Inderal), theophylline (Theo-Dur, others), verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, others), and others.
Dosing
The following doses have been studied in scientific research:
BY MOUTH:
- For upset stomach: A specific combination product containing German chamomile (Iberogast, Medical Futures, Inc) and several other herbs has been used in a dose of 1 mL three times daily.
- For damage to the inside of the mouth caused by chemotherapy or radiation treatments: A mouth rinse made with 10-15 drops of German chamomile liquid extract in 100 mL warm water three times daily.
- For colic: A specific multi-ingredient product containing 164 mg of fennel, 97 mg of lemon balm, and 178 mg of German chamomile (ColiMil, Milte Italia SPA) twice daily for a week.
- For skin breakdown around colostomy appliances, German chamomile solution has been applied on compresses for 1 hour, twice daily. The solution was prepared by steeping 6 grams of dried German chamomile flower heads in 150mL boiled water for 10 minutes.
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