Chamomile
Matricaria recutita
Studied for: Anxiety · Insomnia
Anxiety
What the research found
(Matricaria recutita): Long-term RCTs show that standardized chamomile extract can significantly reduce moderate-to-severe symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) over time.
References
Not yet listed
Insomnia
What the research found
Combined with lemon balm (Melissa officinalis). Efficacy: A 2026 systematic review identified chamomile and lemon balm as having the most consistent therapeutic signals among lesser-known herbal sedatives. They are effective at alleviating the sub-clinical anxiety and emotional tension that disrupt sleep initiation. [1] (https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.03.23.26349099v1.full-text), [2] (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/slp2.70012), [3] (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8343774/) Mechanism: Chamomile contains apigenin, a flavonoid that binds to benzodiazepine receptors in the brain to reduce central nervous system arousal
References
Not yet listed
Not medical advice
Trials are run on specific people, for specific reasons, over a set period. Your medications, conditions and bloodwork can change what is safe for you. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before starting.