Chamomile: The soothing plant extract

Want to relax? Maybe read a book, light some candles and drink a cup of tea. Chamomile tea is one of the most commonly used herbal beverages to promote relaxation and restful sleep. This article describes the benefits of chamomile extract and the new ActiNovo chamomile supplement in liquid liposomal form!

What will you learn in this article?

1. What is chamomile?

The health benefits of chamomile have been known for centuries. It is one of the oldest medicinal plants in history. Doctors and other practitioners have used this plant extract for a variety of therapeutic purposes for at least 5,000 years.

German and Roman Chamomile

There are two types of this medicinal plant. German chamomile (also known as real chamomile) and Roman chamomile are the most well-known. The two varieties are similar in their effects, but have a slightly different aroma. German chamomile has a mild aroma and taste, while Roman chamomile tastes much more bitter.

The chamomile plant can be prepared in a variety of ways. The flowers can be dried and used in powder form for teas or extracts. The essential oil of chamomile is obtained by distilling the natural fresh flowers.

Regardless of the type of preparation, the plant can be used for a variety of ailments. The plant is most commonly used for gastrointestinal complaints, inflammation, sleep disorders, menstrual pain, muscle cramps, ulcers, wound healing and general pain [1].

2. Benefits of chamomile

The chamomile flower contains many active ingredients. These include terpenes, terpenoids and flavonoids. Chamomile is used for its calming, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, wound healing and stress-relieving properties [1]. This medicinal plant can be consumed orally or applied externally.

Whether you use chamomile tea or extract for gastrointestinal complaints or in skin care products, chamomile is truly a plant with many talents!

Chamomile: relaxation and anti-anxiety

The relaxing and anti-anxiety effects of chamomile have attracted the interest of researchers and the general public. The flavonoid apigenin is largely responsible for its calming and stress-relieving properties.

Apigenin has a calming effect because it can bind to GABA receptors in the brain. GABA is a neurotransmitter known to have a calming effect. While some anti-anxiety medications have a calming effect on humans, apigenin has no such negative side effect [2].

There are studies that have investigated the use of the medicinal plant in various anxiety and depression disorders. Randomized control trials have found that oral intake of chamomile supplements reduces depression scores in patients with clinical depression [3]. Other studies have found that long-term use of supplements can significantly reduce symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) [4].

If you are experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression, we recommend that you speak to a doctor, psychologist or other healthcare professional.

Chamomile: Digestion

People often turn to chamomile tea when they suffer from gastrointestinal (GI) complaints. In particular, the plant is used for irritable bowel syndrome, intestinal inflammation, abdominal pain, gas and bloating. The theory is that the plant's anti-inflammatory properties provide relief from gastrointestinal complaints.

A randomized controlled trial involving people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome investigated the benefits of chamomile extract on the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Participants took 20 drops of the extract daily for 4 weeks. By the second week of treatment, the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome had significantly decreased. Unfortunately, after 4 weeks, the symptoms began to increase again [5].

This is a promising benefit of the medicinal plant, but it still needs to be further researched.

Chamomile: Sleep

Apigenin can contribute to more restful sleep. Older people, especially those living in nursing homes or assisted living facilities, often have difficulty sleeping. In one study, a group of older adults received 400 mg of the plant extract twice daily. After 4 weeks, the group that received the supplement had significantly better sleep quality than the placebo group [6].

Other studies have shown that chamomile tea can support restful sleep in postmenopausal women. Due to the hormonal changes that accompany menopause, many women in peri- and postmenopause suffer from sleep disorders. After taking the plant extract for 4 weeks, a significant improvement in sleep quality was observed [7].

Chamomile: menstrual cramps

Apigenin has long been known as a muscle relaxant. Because of this property, many women have found chamomile helpful in relieving pain from menstrual cramps.

Dysmenorrhea is a medical term that describes extremely painful periods. In a randomized control trial, a group of women diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea were recruited. They took a supplement containing ginger and chamomile 2 days before menstruation and on the first 3 days of their period. Taking the supplement resulted in a significant improvement in menstrual pain [8].

More than half of women suffer from menstrual pain at least 1-2 days per month. Supplementing with this plant extract could be a successful aid for those who suffer from menstrual pain.

Benefits of chamomile for the skin

People often use chamomile cream or lotion for skin care and other skin problems. One study investigated the benefits of chamomile extract for the skin. In an 8-week study with female volunteers, they applied a cream containing apigenin to their skin twice a day. After 4 and 8 weeks, the skin showed improved firmness, increased skin hydration and a reduction in wrinkles [9].

The plant extract is also used for hair care and hair growth. Stress and inflammation often play a role in hair loss and scalp problems. Apigenin may have a positive effect on hair by calming the person, reducing free radicals and decreasing inflammation. Preliminary studies suggest that apigenin may help stimulate hair follicle lengthening [10].

3. ActiNovo Chamomile

Low bioavailability of plant extracts

Scientists have often found that plant extracts have low bioavailability (also called absorption) in the body. Experts estimate the oral bioavailability of apigenin to be about 30% [11]. In general, it is not possible to know exactly how much chamomile and apigenin we absorb from tea or extracts.

At ActiNovo we use an extract that contains >98% apigenin. In comparison, a typical tea contains only 1-2% apigenin.

A daily dose of 10 ml ActiNovo Chamomile provides you with 500 mg of chamomile extract. This corresponds approximately to the apigenin content of 10 liters of chamomile tea!

At ActiNovo, we offer the highest quality nutritional supplements with high bioavailability. We can ensure high bioavailability using liposomal technology so you can get the most benefit from your supplement.

1) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2995283/

2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4863311/

3) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7617761/

4) https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/Y07-083 

5) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281859945_Chamomile_efficacy_in_patients_of_the_irritable_bowel_syndrome

6) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22370792/

7) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309266429_Effect_of_Chamomile_extract_on_sleep_disorder_in_menopausal_women

8 ) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8242407/

9) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3626082/

10) https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00403-009-0931-0

11) https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2021.681477/full