Matricaria chamomilla · Daisy family (Asteraceae)
Hi, I'm Chamomile! I'm a tiny flower that makes a cosy bedtime tea.
Chamomile tea may help some people sleep better and wake up less at night.
🟡 Scientists think so
Some small tests hint that chamomile may help grown-ups who worry a lot feel more calm.
🟡 Scientists think so
People have long had chamomile tea for a puffy, crampy tummy.
🔵 Grandma's wisdom
Some people rinse their mouth with chamomile tea when it has small sores.
🔵 Grandma's wisdom
Cool chamomile is an old trick for mild sunburn and small scrapes.
🔵 Grandma's wisdom
For kids OK in normal food Pills, powders & oils: ask a grown-up first
A cup of mild chamomile tea is fine for most kids, but not for kids allergic to daisies or ragweed. Babies only with a doctor's OK.
⛔ Avoid
If daisies, ragweed or marigolds make you sneeze or itch, don't drink chamomile.
⚠️ Ask a doctor first
People taking blood-thinning medicine should ask their doctor before chamomile supplements.
⚠️ Ask a doctor first
Chamomile can change how some medicines work. Grown-ups should check with the doctor.
⚠️ Ask a doctor first
Mums expecting a baby should ask a doctor before chamomile supplements.
👀 Be careful
Babies should not get chamomile unless a doctor says so.
Natural does not always mean safe. Always ask a grown-up before trying something new, and a doctor or pharmacist before taking any supplement. Try the safety check →
Chamomile is a small plant with white petals and a yellow middle. It looks like a tiny daisy. People dry the flowers to make a mild tea.
The tea smells a bit like apples. Many families drink it at night to feel calm.
🔵 Grandma's wisdom — not proven by science
Its name comes from Greek words meaning “earth apple”, because it smells a little like apples.
Chamomile is a cousin of daisies and sunflowers.
In a famous story, Peter Rabbit's mother gives him chamomile tea after his adventure.
Answer 3 questions. Get 2 right to win this plant’s badge for your garden!
Chamomile looks like a tiny…
Chamomile and daisies are in the same plant family.
Who should NOT drink chamomile tea?
Chamomile can cause allergies in people allergic to its plant cousins.
Which part of chamomile is used for tea?
We dry the little flowers to make chamomile tea.
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Matricaria chamomilla
Sleep
Calm & worry
Tummy & digestion
🤩 Its name comes from Greek words meaning “earth apple”, because it smells a little like apples.
General information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before using any herbal supplement — especially during pregnancy or breastfeeding, for children, before surgery, or if you take medicines. Medical disclaimer
| Use | Evidence | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Sleep | 🟡 Some evidence (small human studies) | A 2024 meta-analysis of clinical trials found chamomile improved sleep quality, especially night-time awakenings, but not sleep duration, sleep efficiency or daytime functioning[3]. NCCIH notes very little research on insomnia itself[1]. |
| Calm & worry | 🟡 Some evidence (small human studies) | Preliminary studies suggest a chamomile supplement might help generalised anxiety disorder and associated depression[1]. |
| Tummy & digestion | 🔵 Traditional use (not scientifically confirmed) | The EU herbal committee recognises chamomile flower for minor digestive complaints such as bloating and minor spasms, as a traditional use[2]. |
| Mouth & teeth | 🔵 Traditional use (not scientifically confirmed) | Traditional use for minor ulcers and inflammation of the mouth and throat is recognised[2]; small studies suggest chamomile mouthwashes might help mouth irritation from cancer treatment[1]. |
| Skin | 🔵 Traditional use (not scientifically confirmed) | Traditional use is recognised for minor skin inflammation (sunburn), superficial wounds and small boils[2]. |
✅ Reviewed by sm_owner on September 26, 2026.
Last updated September 25, 2026. How we write and check our pages
Herbs
If you have too much…
Natural does not always mean safe. Always ask a grown-up before trying something new, and a doctor or pharmacist before taking any supplement. 
How people use it
In the kitchen
Traditional uses
Fun facts
