Does Chamomile Oil Help PMS? The Evidence Reviewed

HealthWatchlist verdict: research on oral chamomile extract and broader aromatherapy suggests a possible PMS signal, but direct evidence for chamomile essential oil is absent. Tea, extract and distilled oil must not be treated as equivalent.

Which chamomile and which preparation?

German chamomile, Matricaria chamomilla, and Roman chamomile, Chamaemelum nobile, are different plants. Their essential oils differ, and neither is the same preparation as tea or an oral extract capsule.

Any meaningful claim should specify the species, plant part, extraction method, route and dose. A vague phrase such as “chamomile helps PMS” conceals evidence that may not match the product.

The often-cited clinical trial used capsules

A double-blind trial compared chamomile extract capsules with mefenamic acid in 90 students. Participants took 100 mg of chamomile extract or 250 mg of mefenamic acid three times daily.

After two cycles, emotional symptom scores improved more with chamomile extract. Physical symptom improvement did not differ significantly between groups.

The trial did not include a placebo group, and it compared two active preparations. More importantly for this claim, it did not test chamomile essential oil by inhalation or on the skin.

What broader reviews say

A systematic review of 18 Iranian herbal trials included Matricaria chamomilla among products with possible benefit. The authors reviewed varied herbs and formulations, so the conclusion does not validate a distilled oil.

A separate meta-analysis found favourable pooled results for aromatherapy in PMS. Only eight trials were included, and high heterogeneity showed that interventions and results differed substantially.

Neither review supplies a replicated chamomile-oil trial. Combining adjacent evidence can generate a research question, but not a positive verdict.

What a useful oil trial would need

Researchers should identify the chamomile species and analyse the essential oil. The route, concentration and timing across the menstrual cycle should be specified before recruitment.

Participants should record symptoms prospectively, and the comparison should control for scent and attention. Results should include adverse events, withdrawals and a clinically meaningful change, not only statistical significance.

Safety and healthcare

Chamomile belongs to the daisy family. People allergic to related plants may be more likely to react, while essential oils can also irritate or sensitise skin.

Do not swallow chamomile essential oil or apply it neat. NHS guidance recommends medical advice when PMS interferes with daily life.

Severe mood symptoms, suicidal thoughts, unusually heavy bleeding or disabling pain require prompt assessment. Complementary products should not delay diagnosis or established care.

My assessment

Chamomile extract deserves further PMS research, but it is not evidence for the essential oil. Until a direct, replicated oil trial exists, any benefit claim should be described as unproven.

References

1. Chamomile extract compared with mefenamic acid for PMS
2. Systematic review of Iranian herbal medicines for PMS
3. Systematic review and meta-analysis of aromatherapy for PMS
4. Full text of the PMS aromatherapy review
5. NHS: premenstrual syndrome
6. Kew search: Matricaria chamomilla
7. Clinical review of essential-oil contact dermatitis