A 2021 animal study on wound healing evaluated the topical application of Chamomile extract, pomegranate extract (also known for its antioxidant properties) and a combination of Chamomile and pomegranate extracts. Researchers found that both single-herb treatments accelerated healing, but the subjects who received the combination treatment had the best results. The study authors noted the complexity of wound healing and suggested that integrating plants with different and complementary properties may offer a new treatment approach.
In a randomized controlled clinical trial, participants with knee osteoarthritis were treated with topical Chamomile oil, a commonly prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory gel or a placebo three times a day for three weeks. The data showed that, compared to those who were given diclofenac or a placebo, individuals treated with Chamomile exhibited a significantly reduced need for the pain reliever acetaminophen.
According to one double-blind randomized clinical trial, Chamomile may be a more effective treatment for the effects of exercise-induced delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) than over-the-counter pain relievers. Study participants with DOMS were given ibuprofen, Chamomile extract or a combination of ibuprofen and Chamomile extract. Researchers found that individuals who were given just Chamomile scored better in nearly every category.
In a single-blind randomized control trial, participants over age 60 living in a nursing facility were prescribed capsules containing Chamomile extract twice a day while a control group was given wheat flour capsules. At baseline, both groups recorded similarly low sleep-quality scores. However, at the conclusion of the 28-day study, participants who ingested Chamomile extract reported better sleep quality than those who received a placebo.
Another randomized control trial studied the effects of Chamomile extract on sleep disorders among postmenopausal women. For four weeks, an experimental group ingested 30 drops of Chamomile extract mixed with water, while the control group was given a placebo. The study authors found that the women who took the Chamomile drops experienced significantly better improvements in sleep latency, total sleep time, number of awakenings, and time of waking after sleep onset than those in the control group.
According to a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, Chamomile may help alleviate symptoms of anxiety. Over the course of eight weeks, outpatients with mild to moderate generalized anxiety disorder consumed Chamomile extract orally. Members of a control group with the same diagnosis were given a placebo. Using a clinical scale for measuring anxiety, researchers found that participants who took Chamomile had significantly reduced scores, while those who received the placebo did not.
A small, randomized control trial conducted among patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy suggests that Chamomile may have therapeutic effects on the gastrointestinal system. One hour before surgery, the experimental group ingested Chamomile extract while the control group took a placebo. Post-op, researchers found that those who took Chamomile experienced significantly less flatulence than the control group.
