The Wellness Journal · Aromatherapy & Ingredients
The Benefits of Chamomile: Beyond the Bedtime Cup
Most people know chamomile as a bedtime tea. Fewer know that its therapeutic value extends significantly beyond warm water and a teabag — into aromatherapy, skin care and the nervous system. Here is what the science says about one of the most underrated therapeutic plants in common use.
What It Is
What is Chamomile?
Chamomile refers to two main species — German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) and Roman chamomile (Anthemis nobilis) — both members of the daisy family, both with documented therapeutic properties. German chamomile is most commonly used in herbal tea; Roman chamomile is more prevalent in essential oil aromatherapy. Both share the key active compound apigenin — a flavonoid that binds to GABA receptors in the brain, producing anxiolytic and sedative effects.
Chamomile has been used medicinally for at least five thousand years — in ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman medicine — primarily for its calming, anti-inflammatory and digestive properties. Modern research has confirmed and expanded on these traditional uses with substantial clinical evidence.
The Science
What Chamomile Actually Does
Reduces Anxiety
Apigenin — chamomile's primary active compound — binds to benzodiazepine receptors in the brain, producing a mild sedative and anxiolytic effect. A randomised controlled trial published in Phytomedicine found that chamomile extract significantly reduced generalised anxiety disorder symptoms compared to placebo over an eight-week period.
Improves Sleep Quality
Multiple studies have found chamomile improves subjective sleep quality — particularly in postnatal women and older adults with insomnia. The effect is thought to be mediated through apigenin's action on GABA receptors and through chamomile's documented reduction in cortisol.
Anti-Inflammatory
Chamomile contains bisabolol and chamazulene — compounds with documented anti-inflammatory effects on both skin and mucous membranes. This is why chamomile appears in skin care and topical preparations, and why it is effective for soothing inflamed or sensitive skin.
Works Synergistically With Lavender
Chamomile and lavender act on overlapping but distinct neurological pathways — lavender through linalool and GABA receptors; chamomile through apigenin and benzodiazepine receptors. Used together, they produce a deeper and more complete relaxation response than either achieves alone. This is why both appear together in the Spritz Wellness Sleep Atmosphere Mist and the Aromatherapy Eye Pillow.
"Lavender and chamomile together are greater than the sum of their parts. They work on overlapping neurological pathways to produce a depth of calm that neither achieves alone — which is why we use both in our sleep products."
How to Use It
How to Use Chamomile Beyond the Teacup
In aromatherapy — the Spritz Wellness Sleep Atmosphere Mist combines Roman chamomile with lavender, mandarin and ravensara. Used on the pillow every night, it delivers the documented sleep and anxiety benefits of chamomile through consistent inhalation. See our full guide to lavender and how it works in combination with chamomile.
In eye pillows — dried chamomile combined with lavender in an eye pillow provides a continuous gentle release of both aromatic compounds during Savasana or rest. The proximity of the pillow to the nose means the olfactory pathway is activated immediately and consistently throughout the rest period.
In herbal tea — the Spritz Wellness Relax Herbal Tea combines lemongrass with butterfly pea flower for a calming, caffeine-free evening drink. Pair it with chamomile aromatherapy for a complete multi-pathway relaxation approach.
Find Your Sleep Ritual
Discover which Spritz Wellness sleep products are right for you with our 2-minute ritual quiz.
Take the Quiz Shop Sleep Range Shop Eye PillowsLaura Colucci is a yoga teacher based in London and West Sussex, founder of The Nook yoga studio, and the creator of the Spritz Wellness range.
