Complementary, Holistic, and Integrative Medicine: Chamomile

Paula Gardiner, MD* 1. *Division for Research and Education in Complementary and Integrative Medical Therapies, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass Chamomile is a common flowering plant and a member of the daisy family. There are two primary types: German chamomile ( Matricaria recutita ) and Roman chamomile ( Anthemis nobilis ). Most research has focused on German chamomile. Chamomile is one of the most widely used herbs in the world, especially in children. (1)(2) It is used topically for rashes, eczema, and hemorrhoids or orally as a mild sedative or for indigestion, diarrhea, and colic. (3)(4)(5)(6) ### Colic Only two clinical trials have evaluated the efficacy of chamomile for the treatment of colic in children, and both combined chamomile with other herbs. In a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 68 healthy term infants who had colic (2 to 8 weeks old) received either herbal tea (German chamomile, vervain, licorice, fennel, balm mint) or placebo tea (glucose, flavoring). (7) Each infant was offered treatment with every bout of colic, up to 150 mL/dose, no more than three times a day. After 7 days of treatment, parents reported that the tea eliminated the colic in 57% of the infants, whereas placebo was helpful in only 26% ( P <0.01). No adverse effects were noted in either group. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 93 breastfed colicky infants compared a standardized extract of …