The information on this website is not a substitute for diagnosis and treatment by a qualified, licensed professional. Numerous medical drugs are available to treat anxiety, such as the benzodiazepine drug, Valium, but these medications can be costly, and are often accompanied by undesirable side effects. Long-term safety and the possibility of addiction are additional concerns. A recent study investigated the calming effect of several flavonoids found in the chamomile flower. One, apigenin, was shown to have clear anti-anxiety activity, without the sedation or muscle relaxing effects found with benzodiazepine drugs.
Chamomile appears to be generally safe, and can be used during pregnancy and lactation.
Allergies attributable to chamomile are uncommon, but persons with a history of allergies to the daisy family should use caution. There are more than 90 licensed preparations of chamomile available in Germany, attesting to its popularity in that country. Those receiving 100 milligrams of kava extract three times daily experienced a significant reduction in anxiety symptoms after only one week of treatment. No adverse reactions were observed. The researchers concluded that kava is beneficial for treating anxiety, tension and over-excitement.