Research published in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology (August 2009; 29(4):378–382) examined the effects of chamomile extract in individuals with anxiety. In this randomized, placebo-controlled study, 57 participants received either a standardized chamomile extract or a placebo for eight weeks. The chamomile preparation consisted of 220 mg of extract derived from German chamomile, standardized to contain 1.2% apigenin.
Anxiety severity was assessed using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A). Dosages were gradually increased in some participants, from one capsule per day up to a maximum of five capsules per day, based on HAM-A scores and symptom severity. Compared with the placebo group, participants receiving chamomile extract showed greater reductions in HAM-A anxiety scores over the study period.
