Two systematic reviews published in 2025 analyzed data from more than 1,500 human participants and found that chamomile produces significant pain reduction across musculoskeletal, postoperative, and gynecological conditions, according to reports published in the Journal of Medicinal Plants and Pharmaceutical Biology.
In direct comparisons with conventional pain medications, chamomile showed no statistically significant difference, the reviews stated. According to the findings, researchers reported minimal adverse effects across all studies examined.
The herb, widely available as a tea or extract, has been used medicinally for centuries.
Still, the new analyses mark the first time its analgesic effects have been evaluated against the same evidence standards required for pharmaceutical drugs, according to the authors.
First Review: Significant Pain Reduction Across Multiple Conditions
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in the Journal of Medicinal Plants pooled results from 1,525 human trial participants and found that chamomile produced consistent, measurable reductions in pain, according to the study authors. The effect held across different patient groups and pain types, including musculoskeletal pain, postoperative pain, and gynecological pain, the review stated.
The researchers compared chamomile head-to-head against other active treatments, not just placebos, and found no significant difference between chamomile and conventional pain options in those direct comparisons, according to the report.
The review included only randomized, controlled human trials that met rigorous statistical standards, the authors noted.
Second Review: Anti-Inflammatory and Antimicrobial Effects Confirmed
A second independent review, published in Pharmaceutical Biology in July 2025, confirmed chamomile’s anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects across the human clinical literature, the report stated. Researchers found that chamomile consistently reduces inflammatory markers and shows activity against certain bacteria and fungi.
The review also noted that participants tolerated chamomile well, with minimal adverse effects reported across virtually every study examined, wrote the authors. These findings align with traditional uses of chamomile for digestive and skin conditions, according to the report. [1]
Essential oils such as Roman chamomile have been used traditionally as antispasmodics and carminatives for abdominal conditions. [2]
Additionally, herbs used for pain relief in labor are "gently effective, most with minimal risk of serious side effects."
Mechanism of Action: How Chamomile Affects Pain and Inflammation
Chamomile contains apigenin, a flavonoid that calms the nervous system by binding to the same receptors that anti-anxiety medications target, according to researchers cited in the reviews.
Additionally, naturally occurring compounds in chamomile block inflammatory signals that over-the-counter pain relievers also target, but without the associated risks of gastrointestinal bleeding or cardiovascular strain, the reviews noted. The compound action works through multiple pathways simultaneously, an effect that no single pharmaceutical drug achieves, the authors said. [3]
Unlike drugs, which typically work via one mechanism, like targeting bacteria, "herbs work synergistically to address underlying imbalances in your body." This synergy may explain the broad efficacy observed in the trials, according to the researchers.
Implications: Research Not Widely Discussed in Clinical Settings
Despite meeting strong evidence standards, the research has not entered routine clinical conversations, observers noted. The reviews drew from the same evidence standard used to evaluate pharmaceutical drugs, randomized, controlled human trials with rigorous statistical standards, but most patients are not informed about chamomile as an option, according to the reports. [4]
Experts say that Western medicine "has long treated herbs like chamomile as gentle but ultimately minor remedies. Yet both of these reviews drew from the same evidence standard used to evaluate pharmaceutical drugs." The authors of the reviews called for greater awareness of the findings among healthcare providers. [5]
More than 54% of U.S. adults had some type of musculoskeletal pain disorder in 2012, a statistic that underscores the need for safe, accessible alternatives. As millions of Americans seek natural options, "herbal and nutrient-based anti-inflammatory remedies are experiencing renewed interest" amid concerns over side effects from long-term medication use. [6]
The cumulative evidence suggests that chamomile, a plant with a 2,000-year medicinal history, merits serious clinical consideration, according to the review authors. [8]
References
- Timothy Culbert and Karen Olness. "Integrative Pediatrics: Weil Integrative Medicine Library."
- Aviva Romm. "Botanical Medicine for Women's Health."
- Mercola.com. "15 Plants to Pacify PMS." Mercola.com. February 08, 2016.
- NaturalHealth365. "Simple herbal remedy offers surprising pain relief without health risks." May 22, 2026.
- Mercola.com. "Treating Pain Without Drugs." Mercola.com. October 27, 2016.
- NaturalNews.com. "Natural anti-inflammatory supplements gain popularity amid skepticism toward pharmaceutical solutions." February 06, 2026.
- BeforeItsNews. "Simple herbal remedy offers surprising pain relief without health risks." May 01, 2026.
- Simple herbal remedy offers surprising pain relief without health risks. naturalhealth365.com. May 22, 2026.
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