Herb & supplement monograph

German Chamomile Drug Interactions, Uses, Effectiveness, Safety & More

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS ·Updated July 2026

What is this page for?

First and foremost: how German Chamomile interacts with medications. The heart of this page is the interaction list — every drug German Chamomile is known to interact with, and how serious each one is.

But these pages have grown well beyond that into a full monograph — what German Chamomile is, what people use it for and how strong the evidence is, its safety and side effects, and answers to the questions we’re asked most — written and reviewed by the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases, not medical advice, and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

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German Chamomile Drug Interactions: The Bottom Line

From the HelloPharmacist Editorial Team · Updated July 2026

Based on the available evidence, the overall risk of a clinically significant German Chamomile drug interaction appears low for most people. None of the listed interactions are rated major, and nearly all rest on lab research rather than effects confirmed in people.

Interactions deserving the most attention

The clearest concern is with warfarin: in one reported case, an older adult drinking several cups of chamomile tea daily while also using a chamomile lotion developed serious bleeding, so anyone on this blood thinner should treat chamomile with caution. Lab studies also suggest large amounts of chamomile may block estrogen's action, which could theoretically work against tamoxifen, estrogen therapy, and birth control pills. Chamomile's mild calming effect could add to the drowsiness of sedating medicines, so extra sleepiness is worth watching for.

What the rest of the list means

Most of this long list comes from lab findings that chamomile might slow down enzymes the body uses to clear many common medications, which is why so many drugs are flagged. So far, these predicted changes have not been reported in people. A listed interaction here usually means a change is theoretically possible, not that the combination has been shown to cause harm.

Check your medications against German Chamomile

Based on HelloPharmacist’s German Chamomile interaction data and reviewed under our editorial standards.

Interaction report

Drugs that interact with German Chamomile

962 medications have a known interaction with German Chamomile, graded by severity. Select any drug for the full evidence-based detail.

Don’t want to scroll the list? Just ask.

Tell us the medications you take and we’ll check each one against German Chamomile using our pharmacist-reviewed interaction data.

AI summaries are generated from our German Chamomile interaction data for education only — always confirm with your pharmacist. How we use AI

2,830 drugs

Read The List Like a Pharmacist

What Severity, Likelihood & Evidence Mean

Severity — How Serious It Can Be

Major. Clinically significant; generally best avoided, or used only under direct professional supervision.
Moderate. May need monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one.
Minor. Generally not clinically significant, but still worth noting and mentioning to your pharmacist.
No known interaction. Checked against our sources with nothing documented — not the same as proven safety.

Likelihood — How Well It’s Documented

Likely. Well-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction
Probable. Interaction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
Possible. Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists
Unlikely. Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.

Where This Data Comes From

Interaction records are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database (TRC Healthcare), the same reference used by pharmacists and hospitals.
Each drug listed above links to the full report for that exact German Chamomile combination — clinical detail, likelihood, evidence level, and citations.
Content is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

The big picture

The kinds of drugs German Chamomile affects

Every type of medication (drug category) German Chamomile is known to interact with. Open any category for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

All 9 drug categories German Chamomile interacts with

Cns DepressantsContraceptive DrugsCytochrome P450 2c9 (cyp2c9) SubstratesCytochrome P450 2d6 (cyp2d6) SubstratesCytochrome P450 3a4 (cyp3a4) SubstratesEstrogensTamoxifen (nolvadex)Warfarin (coumadin)Cytochrome P450 1a2 (cyp1a2) Substrates

Cns Depressants

Theoretically, German chamomile might have additive effects when used with CNS depressants.
German chamomile has mild sedative effects. Theoretically, concomitant use with drugs with sedative properties can cause additive effects and side effects.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Contraceptive Drugs

Theoretically, large amounts of German chamomile might reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives.
In vitro, German chamomile has demonstrated antiestrogenic activity. Theoretically, concomitant use of large amounts of German chamomile might interfere with contraceptive drugs through competition for estrogen receptors.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Cytochrome P450 2C9 (Cyp2C9) Substrates

Theoretically, German chamomile might inhibit CYP2C9 and increase levels of drugs metabolized by these enzymes.
In vitro evidence shows that German chamomile might inhibit CYP2C9. So far, this interaction has not been reported in humans. However, there might be an increase in the levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2C9 in patients taking German chamomile.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Cytochrome P450 2D6 (Cyp2D6) Substrates

Theoretically, German chamomile might inhibit CYP2D6 and increase levels of drugs metabolized by these enzymes.
In vitro evidence shows that German chamomile might inhibit CYP2D6. So far, this interaction has not been reported in humans. However, there might be an increase in the levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2D6 in patients taking German chamomile.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Cytochrome P450 3A4 (Cyp3A4) Substrates

Theoretically, German chamomile might inhibit CYP3A4 and increase levels of drugs metabolized by these enzymes.
In vitro evidence shows that German chamomile might inhibit CYP3A4. So far, this interaction has not been reported in humans. However, there might be an increase in the levels of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4 in patients taking German chamomile.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Estrogens

Theoretically, large amounts of German chamomile might reduce the effectiveness of estrogens.
In vitro, German chamomile has demonstrated antiestrogenic activity. Theoretically, large amounts of German chamomile might interfere with hormone replacement therapy through competition for estrogen receptors.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Tamoxifen (Nolvadex)

Theoretically, large amounts of German chamomile might interfere with the activity of tamoxifen.
In vitro, German chamomile has demonstrated antiestrogenic activity.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Warfarin (Coumadin)

German chamomile might increase the effects of warfarin and increase the risk of bleeding.
In one case, a 70-year-old female taking warfarin developed retroperitoneal hematoma and bilateral recti muscle bleeding along with an INR of 7.9 following ingestion of German chamomile tea 4-5 cups daily and use of a topical chamomile-based lotion applied 4-5 times daily.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Cytochrome P450 1A2 (Cyp1A2) Substrates

Theoretically, German chamomile might inhibit CYP1A2 and increase levels of drugs metabolized by these enzymes.
In vitro and animal research shows that German chamomile might inhibit CYP1A2. So far, this interaction has not been reported in humans. However, there might be an increase in the levels of drugs metabolized by CYP1A2 in patients taking German chamomile.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Monograph

German Chamomile: Uses, Safety & Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS · Reviewed July 2026 ·

The bottom line

German chamomile is a widely used herbal remedy taken mainly as a tea for calming, sleep, and digestive complaints. Early research suggests possible benefits for mild anxiety and some skin or digestive issues, but the evidence is limited and most uses are based on tradition rather than strong proof. It is generally well tolerated, but people allergic to ragweed or related plants and those who are pregnant should be cautious.

Scientific name: Matricaria recutita
Family: Asteraceae
Part used: Dried flower heads (and the essential oil derived from them)
Common forms: Tea, capsules, liquid extracts/tinctures, essential oil, topical creams, and mouth rinses

People commonly use it for

Anxiety and stress
Sleep and relaxation
Digestive upset
Skin irritation and inflammation
Mouth sores and gum irritation

Popular and traditional uses — not proof it works. See “Uses & effectiveness” below for the evidence.

Safety at a glance

OverallUse caution

Generally well tolerated for most adults, but it can cause allergic reactions in people sensitive to ragweed and related plants.

PregnancyInsufficient reliable information

Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

Read the full pregnancy detail

BreastfeedingInsufficient reliable information

Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center). Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

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Overview

German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) is a flowering plant in the daisy family (Asteraceae). It is native to Europe and Asia and is now grown in many parts of the world. The small, daisy-like flowers are dried and used to make herbal products.

People have used chamomile for hundreds of years as a home remedy. Today it is most often taken as a tea, but it is also sold as capsules, liquid extracts, essential oils, skin creams, and mouth rinses. It is one of the most popular calming herbs and has "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) status as a food and flavoring in the United States.

How it works

Chamomile flowers contain several plant compounds that may explain its effects. These include flavonoids such as apigenin, along with bisabolol and chamazulene, a compound that gives the essential oil its characteristic blue color.

Apigenin is thought to bind to certain receptors in the brain and may produce a mild calming effect, which is one proposed reason for chamomile's traditional use for sleep and anxiety. Other compounds appear to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and muscle-relaxing properties in laboratory studies, which may help explain its use for digestive and skin complaints.

It is important to know that much of this information comes from laboratory and animal research. How well these effects translate to people at the doses found in tea or supplements is not fully proven.

Effectiveness

Does German Chamomile work?

Here’s what the research actually shows for each use — graded by Natural Medicines and reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD.

Evidence overview · 35 uses evaluated

35 Insufficient evidence

How to read these evidence grades

Natural Medicines’ 7-point scale. We show each rating’s label word-for-word.

1EffectiveStrong, consistent evidence it works.

2Likely EffectiveGood evidence, though not yet conclusive.

3Possibly EffectiveSome evidence suggests a benefit.

4Possibly IneffectiveSome evidence it may not help.

5Likely IneffectiveFairly strong evidence it doesn’t help.

6IneffectiveStrong evidence it doesn’t work.

7Insufficient Reliable Evidence to RateToo little research to say either way.

For German Chamomile, current evidence isn’t strong enough to rate any specific use. The conditions it has been studied for are listed below.

Also studied for 35 conditions — evidence insufficient to rate

Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Allergic rhinitis (hay fever)