--- title: Chamomile for PMS: what the research says about it description: Chamomile for PMS has real trial support for mood and physical symptoms, though studies are small. Here's the dosing, timing, and evidence grade. url: https://niyora.com/treatments/chamomile-for-pms/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Treatments](https://niyora.com/treatments/) - Chamomile for PMS: does it work? PMS treatments # Chamomile for PMS: does it work? Chamomile has moderate evidence behind it for PMS. Several small randomized trials found chamomile capsules eased physical and emotional symptoms better than placebo, and about as well as a common pain reliever for some symptoms. The studies are short and small, so it's promising rather than proven. Updated 14 October 2026 Niyora editorial Moderate evidence Strength of evidence Moderate Good studies point the same way, with some gaps. - None - Limited - Mixed - Moderate - Strong ## At a glance - Several small randomized trials found chamomile capsules reduced PMS symptoms more than placebo, including mood, physical symptoms, and breast pain. - One trial found chamomile worked as well as, or better than, the pain reliever mefenamic acid for some PMS symptoms. - Trial doses were typically 100 to 250 mg of chamomile, three times a day, started about a week before the expected period. - The evidence is moderate: consistent across several controlled trials, but all are small and short, mostly from one country. - Chamomile can raise bleeding risk with blood thinners and isn't well studied in pregnancy, so skip it if either applies to you. ## Strength of evidence Moderate evidence - None - Limited - Mixed - Moderate - Strong Several small randomized trials, mostly from the same research groups, found chamomile capsules eased PMS symptoms more than placebo, and about as well as mefenamic acid for some symptoms. No large, independent, or multi-site trials exist yet, so the evidence is moderate rather than strong. ## Does chamomile work for PMS? Chamomile looks genuinely helpful for PMS, based on the trials we have so far. Several small randomized trials, mostly in university students, found chamomile capsules reduced PMS symptoms more than a placebo, and worked about as well as a common pain reliever for some symptoms. A systematic review of eight randomized controlled trials concluded chamomile eases PMS symptoms overall (Journal of Pharmacopuncture, 2019). Individual trials found it helped with: - Overall PMS severity, both physical and emotional symptoms - Low mood, irritability, and other mood-related symptoms - Breast pain (mastalgia) tied to the premenstrual week Broader reviews of chamomile's pharmacology also list premenstrual syndrome among the conditions it may help, alongside its calming and anti-inflammatory effects (Electronic Physician, 2016). Still, most of these trials are small, run by the same research groups, and only one or two menstrual cycles long. That keeps the evidence at moderate, not proven. ## What does the research say? Here's how the main chamomile-for-PMS trials stack up: | Study | Compared to | What it found | | --- | --- | --- | | Systematic review, 8 RCTs (2019) | Placebo and other treatments | Chamomile eased PMS symptoms across the pooled trials | | RCT, university students (2018) | Placebo | Chamomile capsules lowered physical, psychological, and total symptom scores more than placebo | | RCT, university students (2014) | Mefenamic acid (a pain reliever) | Chamomile eased emotional symptoms more than the drug; both helped physical pain similarly | | RCT, university students (2014) | Mefenamic acid | Chamomile eased breast pain (mastalgia) about as well as the drug | | RCT, university students (2021) | Placebo | Chamomile capsules reduced mood-related PMS symptoms more than placebo | A separate 2025 trial tested a chamomile and L-theanine drink for period pain and mood in young women, and found it eased pain, low mood, and irritability in the days around a period. That study combined chamomile with another calming compound, so it can't tell us how much of the effect came from chamomile alone. Taken together, this is **moderate evidence**. The direction is consistent across several controlled trials, but sample sizes are small and follow-up is short. What the research says Most of these chamomile-for-PMS trials come from the same university research groups, using similar designs. That makes the early signal real, but larger, independent trials would make it strong. Right now Trying chamomile tonight - 1 Steep a chamomile tea bag for 5 minutes if you want to start gently tonight, knowing tea wasn't the form tested in trials. - 2 Ask a pharmacist about a chamomile capsule close to 100 to 250 mg, three times a day, if you want the dose used in studies. - 3 Note today's cycle day so you can check later whether symptoms eased as your period got closer. - 4 Skip it tonight and ask a pharmacist about other options if you're on a blood thinner or allergic to ragweed-family plants. Niyora walks you through this when it happens: - Calm down - - See it another way - - Choose what to say ## How do you take chamomile for PMS? The trials that showed a benefit used **chamomile capsules, not tea**, and started dosing before symptoms peaked: - 100 mg chamomile capsule, three times a day, from day 21 of the cycle until the period starts - 250 mg chamomile powder capsule, three times a day, starting 7 days before the expected period - One capsule every 8 hours for the 7 days before the expected period None of the trials tested chamomile tea at a set dose, so we don't know if a cup or two a day matches the effect seen with capsules. If you want to try it, a pharmacist can help you match a capsule product to a dose close to what the trials used. This isn't a prescription, so check in with a pharmacist about dose and timing if you take other medication regularly. ## How long does it take to work? Most trials measured results after one full menstrual cycle of daily chamomile, and some followed women for two cycles. Symptom scores improved compared to placebo by the end of that first cycle, and the biggest drop showed up after the second cycle in the trials that ran that long. Chamomile's calming effects are thought to come from compounds like apigenin and glycine, which may ease anxiety and tension, though this hasn't been tested directly in PMS trials. In practice, give chamomile at least one full cycle, started about a week before your period, before deciding whether it's helping. Tracking your symptoms day by day, for example on a [DRSP chart](https://niyora.com/tools/drsp-chart/), makes it easier to tell a real pattern from a good week. ## What are the side effects, and who should avoid it? Chamomile is one of the gentler herbal options, and the PMS trials reported few side effects. Still, it's not risk-free for everyone. Possible side effects: - Drowsiness or an upset stomach - Allergic reaction, especially if you're allergic to ragweed, daisies, marigolds, or chrysanthemums - Increased bleeding risk if combined with blood-thinning medication, since chamomile may add to that effect Avoid chamomile, or ask a pharmacist first, if you are: - Taking warfarin or another blood thinner - Pregnant or breastfeeding, since safety data here is limited - Allergic to plants in the daisy family - About to have surgery, since chamomile may affect bleeding and sedation If PMS symptoms are severe enough that you're missing a week of normal life every month, chamomile alone probably won't be enough. See a GP or gynecologist and bring two months of daily notes. When to see a doctor If you're on a blood thinner, pregnant, or breastfeeding, ask a pharmacist before starting chamomile, since safety data for those situations is limited. ## What else helps alongside it? Chamomile works best alongside the basics: steady sleep, regular movement, and knowing roughly what week of your cycle you're in. For a wider look at what's backed by evidence, see [PMS treatment: what actually helps](https://niyora.com/treatments/pms-treatment/), which covers SSRIs, certain hormonal contraceptives, and CBT alongside herbal options like chamomile. If your symptoms feel heavier than typical PMS, mood swings, anger, or anxiety that take over the week before your period, it's worth reading [what PMS actually is](https://niyora.com/premenstrual-syndrome/) and whether chamomile's evidence holds up the same way for [PMDD specifically](https://niyora.com/treatments/chamomile-for-pmdd/). If a pattern like that keeps showing up, a [PMDD specialist](https://niyora.com/care/pmdd-specialist/) can help you sort out what's PMS, what's PMDD, and what else might be going on. Our [research page](https://niyora.com/research/) rounds up the evidence behind PMS and PMDD treatments in one place. Niyora is a PMS and PMDD support app. If you're in the middle of a hard moment tonight and chamomile tea isn't going to work fast enough, Niyora's Moon feature lets you write down what happened, see it from another angle, and draft a reply you can sit on for 20 minutes before you send anything. ## Questions people ask Does chamomile help PMS cramps or just mood symptoms? + Chamomile for PMS has shown benefits for both in small trials. It eased breast pain and physical symptoms in some studies, and lowered mood-related symptoms like irritability and low mood in others. No single trial tested every symptom type, so the full picture isn't settled yet. Can I drink chamomile tea instead of taking capsules for PMS? + The PMS trials used chamomile capsules at specific doses, not tea, so there's no direct evidence tea works the same way. Tea likely delivers less concentrated chamomile than a 100 to 250 mg capsule, so it may have a milder effect, if any, on PMS symptoms. Is chamomile safe to take every month for PMS? + Chamomile appears to be one of the gentler herbal options, with few side effects reported in PMS trials. Still, it can raise bleeding risk with blood thinners and isn't well studied in pregnancy. Skip it, or ask a pharmacist first, if either applies to you. How long before my period should I start taking chamomile? + Most PMS trials started chamomile about a week before the expected period, continuing daily until bleeding began. Starting it any earlier hasn't been tested, so sticking close to that one-week window matches what the research actually used. Does chamomile work for PMDD the same way it does for PMS? + The chamomile trials described here were done in women with PMS, not a confirmed PMDD diagnosis, so the same results don't automatically carry over. If your symptoms feel more intense and mood-focused, it's worth checking the evidence for chamomile in PMDD specifically before relying on it alone. ## Sources - 1. [A systematic review study of therapeutic effects of Matricaria recuitta chamomile (chamomile)](https://doi.org/10.19082/3024), Electronic physician, 2016 - 2. [Efficacy of Chamomile in the Treatment of Premenstrual Syndrome: A Systematic Review](https://doi.org/10.3831/kpi.2019.22.028), Journal of pharmacopuncture, 2019 - 3. [Effect of Chamomile capsule on premenstrual syndrome symptoms relief](https://doi.org/10.22038/ijogi.2018.11799), DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals), 2018 - 4. [Comparison of the effects of Matricaria chamomila (Chamomile) extract and mefenamic acid on the intensity of premenstrual syndrome](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2013.09.002), Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 2014 - 5. [Comparison of the Effects of Matricaria chamomila (Chamomile) Extract and Mefenamic Acid on the Intensity of Mastalgia Associated With Premenstrual Syndrome](https://doi.org/10.17795/whb-20042), Women’s Health Bulletin, 2014 - 6. [Effects of chamomile and -theanine beverage on menstrual pain, menstrual symptoms, mood, and sleep quality in young women experiencing primary dysmenorrhea: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study](https://doi.org/10.38212/2224-6614.3565), Journal of food and drug analysis, 2025 - 7. [The effect of Matricaria chamomile on menstrual related mood disorders](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurox.2021.100134), European journal of obstetrics & gynecology and reproductive biology: X, 2021 Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗ On this page - [Does chamomile work for PMS?](#does-chamomile-work-for-pms) - [What does the research say?](#what-does-the-research-say) - [How do you take chamomile for PMS?](#how-do-you-take-chamomile-for-pms) - [How long does it take to work?](#how-long-does-it-take-to-work) - [What are the side effects, and who should avoid it?](#what-are-the-side-effects-and-who-should-avoid-it) - [What else helps alongside it?](#what-else-helps-alongside-it) - [Questions](#faq) Niyora PMS & PMDD support For the hard moment before your period. Private, no account. [Get it on iPhone](https://apps.apple.com/app/niyora-pms-emotions/id6764561688) ## Keep reading Treatment Chamomile for PMDD: does it work? Treatment PMS treatment: what actually helps Condition What is PMS? Premenstrual syndrome, explained Care guide Finding a PMDD specialist Guide All 26 research findings