What Is Chamomile Tea Actually Good For? A Registered Dietitian Weighs In

Besides improving sleep quality, chamomile tea may also help with PMS, diabetes, depression and more.

Reviewed by Dietitian Maria Laura Haddad-Garcia

Does lounging on the couch and drinking a cup of chamomile tea sound like the epitome of relaxation for you? Besides promoting sleep, chamomile tea has some other potential health benefits that may surprise you. Think heart health, digestive health and mental health, just to name a few. Learn what the research says about the benefits and risks of chamomile tea.

Pictured Recipe: Herbal Chamomile Health Tonic

What Is Chamomile Tea?

Chamomile is a type of flower that's often dried and used in herbal tea. It has been used for centuries, with reports of its use dating as far back as ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, per the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. It's somewhat similar to a daisy, since they're both a part of the Asteraceae family. Chamomile tea has a mild, floral flavor with calming notes of honey. It's readily available at many grocery stores.

7 Health Benefits of Chamomile Tea

1. May Help You Sleep Better

One of the most widely touted benefits of chamomile is its benefits on sleep, but what does the research say? Well, a 2019 meta-analysis and systematic review in Phytotherapy Research found that chamomile did, in fact, improve sleep quality and generalized anxiety disorder. However, it didn't help with insomnia or state anxiety.

Poor sleep quality may increase state anxiety and depressive risk, per a 2022 study in BMC Medical Education, so the better sleep quality chamomile tea promotes may have longer-term effects on mental well-being.

2. May Improve Cancer-Related Health Complications

Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the U.S., per the American Cancer Society. Needless to say, the complications of cancer can be detrimental to one's quality of life.

A 2023 systematic review published in Integrative Cancer Therapies found that chamomile may be a helpful adjunct therapy to alleviate some cancer-related health complications. The study found that chamomile effectively helped reduce oral mucositis, skin complications, depression and vomiting in cancer patients. It also helped improve their appetite and quality of life. The studies in this review used various forms of chamomile, including mouthwash, topical material, tea, capsules, syrup and aromatherapy massage, so we can't say that these effects would all hold true for chamomile tea specifically.

3. May Promote Digestive Health

Globally, one of the most common uses of chamomile is to promote gastrointestinal health. A 2022 review in Life highlights various examples, from nausea relief in Spain to gastrointestinal pain relief in Turkey. It is said to soothe gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms and reduce inflammation, per Integrative Medicine. Plus, it can function as an antispasmodic, reducing gastric spasming that can cause diarrhea.

However, many studies on this topic have been done in mice or rats, so more research on humans is needed to verify chamomile's benefits for digestive health.

4. May Reduce Diabetes-Related Health Complications

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, having diabetes puts you at higher risk for other medical complications like vision loss, heart disease and chronic kidney disease. Partly because of its antioxidant profile, chamomile tea may help with diabetes-related health complications.

A 2020 systematic review in Complementary Therapies in Medicine found that chamomile helped decrease oxidative stress and renal and hepatic complications and improve glycemic control in patients with diabetes.

Chamomile is rich in phenolic compounds and terpenoids. And according to a 2022 study in the Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders, these compounds could work as an herbal treatment option for diabetes.

5. May Promote Heart Health

Another benefit of chamomile found in the 2020 review referenced above was improved lipid profiles. High cholesterol is a risk factor for heart disease, so chamomile tea may improve heart health as a result.

Furthermore, a small 2023 study in the Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association found that participants taking a saffron and chamomile tea blend twice a day for one month, in addition to their regular medications, had significantly better levels of cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and depression values compared to the control group who continued taking their regular medications but didn't have the tea. We can't say whether chamomile caused these improvements, since the tea also had saffron, but the study shows the potential for chamomile to benefit heart health.

6. Might Improve Symptoms of Depression

As we mentioned above, chamomile may improve symptoms of depression. Chamomile's positive impact on sleep quality may also reduce depressive risk, since poor sleep quality is associated with depression.

Additionally, while research is limited, a 2016 study in the Journal of Advanced Nursing found that after two weeks, drinking chamomile tea improved physical symptoms of sleep insufficiency and depression among postpartum women compared to the control group. The results didn't hold true at a four-week follow-up, so researchers believe the benefits are immediate and not long-lasting.

7. May Ease Menstrual Symptoms

No one likes dealing with cramps and low mood in the days leading up to their period. Luckily, chamomile may help. A 2019 review in the Journal of Pharmacopuncture concluded that chamomile might be an effective herbal treatment for premenstrual syndrome because of its anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, sedative and anti-anxiety properties.

Studies in the review used various forms of chamomile, including tea, capsules, extract and oil, so we can't be sure whether tea alone will lead to all these benefits.

Related: The 6 Best Anti-Inflammatory Teas

Who Shouldn't Drink Chamomile Tea?

While chamomile tea has several potential health benefits, certain groups should be careful about drinking it. These include:

• People with certain allergies: The NCCIH warns that those with allergies to chamomile and related plants such as ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds or daisies should avoid chamomile due to the risk of an allergic reaction. Reactions can be mild, like watery eyes and a runny nose, or severe, causing anaphylaxis. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, some signs of anaphylaxis include trouble breathing, hives or swelling and fainting. If a severe reaction occurs, it's crucial to call 911 immediately.
  

• People taking certain medications: Chamomile may interact with certain medications, including warfarin and cyclosporine, per the NCCIH. Therefore, if you are taking these medications, it's best to consult your medical provider before having chamomile tea or other chamomile products.
  

• People who are pregnant or breastfeeding: There is limited research on the safety of drinking chamomile tea while pregnant or breastfeeding, per the NCCIH. It's generally best to err on the side of caution and speak with your health care provider before drinking chamomile tea while pregnant or breastfeeding.

How Long Before Bed Should You Drink Chamomile Tea to Sleep Better?

Many people recommend drinking chamomile tea 30 to 45 minutes before bedtime to allow your body time to metabolize the nutrients and reap the benefits. However, there isn't enough research to provide specific recommendations on when and how often to drink chamomile tea for sleep benefits. If you tend to wake up in the middle of the night to urinate, you may want to drink it a little earlier in the evening to prevent added trips to the bathroom that disrupt your sleep.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does chamomile tea help detox your body?

While detoxing has become a popular trend, your liver and kidneys are amazing organs that handle detoxification naturally if they are healthy. Chamomile tea won't help detox your body, since your organs do a great job of that on their own, but it may help reduce inflammation due to its antioxidant profile.

Is it good to drink chamomile tea every day?

For most people, drinking chamomile tea is perfectly safe and might promote various facets of health, including digestive health, sleep quality and mental health. Those with allergies or taking certain medications, including warfarin and cyclosporine, should stay away from chamomile tea, since it can cause an allergic reaction or interfere with these medications. You may also want to avoid chamomile tea if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, since research on its safety in these populations is limited.

What's the best way to make chamomile tea?

There are a few different ways to make chamomile tea that are equally delicious. Chamomile tea can be purchased in a tea bag and steeped in water; this is the simplest and easiest. Chamomile can also be purchased dried or fresh and combined with other ingredients, like ginger, lavender and rosemary.

Does chamomile tea make you sleepy?

Many people rely on chamomile tea for its purported benefits on sleep. The research shows that chamomile may improve sleep quality, but it doesn't support the idea that chamomile tea helps with insomnia.

What are other healthy teas besides chamomile?

Like chamomile tea, lots of other herbal teas have health-promoting antioxidants and other potential health benefits. Some of our favorites include sage, green tea, peppermint and ginger.

The Bottom Line

Besides being relaxing, chamomile tea may also work as an adjunct therapy for various health issues, including diabetes, high cholesterol and depression. If you have an allergy or are taking certain medications, you'll want to avoid chamomile, but otherwise, it's a safe, delicious and budget-friendly tea to add to your pantry. You can steep a regular tea bag and add some honey, or make your own Lavender-Chamomile Herbal Tea using our recipe!

Related: What Happens to Your Body When You Drink Tea Every Day