What is chamomile? 

The use  of chamomile  in cultural  and traditional settings may differ from concepts accepted by current Western medicine. When considering  the use of herbal supplements, consultation with a primary health care professional  is advisable. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained  in the uses  of herbal/health supplements may be beneficial, and coordination of treatment among all  health care providers involved  may be advantageous. 

Two plants each provide the product known as chamomile. Matricaria chamomilla  is also known  as German chamomile, Hungarian chamomile, pin heads, chamomilla, wild  chamomile, sweet false chamomile, and genuine  chamomile. Anthemis nobilis is also known as English  or Roman chamomile, ground apple, whig plant,  and common chamomile. 

Chamomile has been used orally  to reduce flatulence and/or diarrhea due to a nervous stomach, to reduce stomach upset, to treat travel sickness, to produce mild sedation, to reduce restlessness and irritability, to treat the  common cold,  to treat fevers, to  reduce cough,  for liver and gallbladder complaints, and to increase appetite. Chamomile  has also been used topically to reduce inflammation  of the skin, mouth,  and throat;  to reduce nasal inflammation and discharge; and to treat wounds and burns. 

Chamomile has not been evaluated by the FDA  for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages  of chamomile may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. There  have been instances where herbal/health supplements  have been sold which were contaminated  with toxic metals  or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements  should be purchased from  a reliable source to minimize  the risk of contamination. 

Chamomile may also have uses other than those listed  in this product guide. 

What  is the most important information I should know about chamomile? 

Do not take  chamomile without first talking to your doctor if you are taking warfarin (Coumadin) or another blood thinner. You may  not be able  to take chamomile,  or you may require special monitoring during treatment if you are taking a blood thinner. 

Talk  to your doctor before taking or using chamomile if you have any other medical conditions, allergies (especially to ragweed, asters, chrysanthemums, celery, or other plants), or if you take other medicines. Chamomile may not be recommended in some situations. 

Chamomile has not been evaluated by the FDA  for safety, effectiveness,  or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of chamomile may not be known. Additionally, there  are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. There  have been instances where herbal/health supplements  have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements  should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination. 

Who should not take chamomile? 

Do not take chamomile without first talking to your doctor if you  are taking warfarin (Coumadin)  or another blood thinner. You  may not be able to take chamomile, or you  may require special monitoring during treatment if you are taking  a blood thinner. 

Talk  to your doctor before taking chamomile if you  have any other medical conditions, allergies (especially  to ragweed, asters, chrysanthemums, celery, or other plants), or if you take other medicines or herbal/health supplements. Chamomile may not be recommended  in some situations. 

Do not take chamomile without first talking  to your doctor if you are pregnant  or could become pregnant. It  is not known whether  chamomile will harm an unborn baby. Do not take  chamomile without first talking  to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. It is also not known whether  chamomile will harm  a nursing infant.  There is no information  available regarding  the use of chamomile by  children. Do  not give any herbal/health supplement to  a child without first talking  to the child's doctor.