How is Chamomile Used For Social Anxiety

How is Chamomile Used For Social Anxiety Social Anxiety Disorder Treatment and Therapy Print How Is Chamomile Used for Social Anxiety? Characteristics, Dosage, Interactions, Side Effects and Risks By Arlin Cuncic Arlin Cuncic, MA, is the author of Therapy in Focus: What to Expect from CBT for Social Anxiety Disorder and 7 Weeks to Reduce Anxiety. Learn about our editorial policy Arlin Cuncic Updated on July 31, 2017 Social Anxiety Disorder Overview Symptoms & Diagnosis Causes Treatment Living With In Children Tetra Images/Getty Images In This Article Table of Contents Expand Characteristics How to Take It Dosage Guidelines Who Should Not  Take It Medication Interactions Side Effects Effectiveness for SAD Risks Associated View All Chamomile, a flower in the daisy family, is a dietary supplement popular for a variety of uses including sleep problems, anxiety, digestive upset, mouth sores, skin infections, wound healing, colic and diaper rash. Chamomile has been used for thousands of years, including by the ancient Greeks,  Egyptians  and Romans. Youve probably most often used chamomile in the form of chamomile teaâ€"one of its most popular uses. While many people find it to be relaxing before bed or when feeling anxious, not much research has been conducted on its effectiveness for these uses. Characteristics German chamomile (matricaria recutita) is the focus of most scientific research and is available almost everywhere except for England, where Roman chamomile (chamaemelum nobile) is popular. In North America, chamomile is most often found prepared as an herbal tea to aid in sleep. How to Take It Chamomile is available as capsules, liquid extracts, tinctures, teas  and topical creams  among other preparations. Dosage Guidelines Always read the product label for dosing instructions and consult a healthcare provider if necessary. For adults, the recommended doses are the following: Capsules: 400 to 1600 mg in divided doses dailyLiquid extract: 1 to 4 ml three times dailyTincture: 15 ml three to four times dailyTea: 1 to 4 cups of tea per day There is not enough scientific evidence to recommend use of chamomile in children. Who Should Not  Take It The following groups of people should avoid the use of chamomile: those with allergies to plants in the daisy family such as aster, chrysanthemum, ragweed, marigold and daisythose with bleeding disorders and those taking drugs that may increase the risk of bleedingpregnant and nursing women because chamomile may act as a uterine stimulant or lead to the fetus being aborted Medication Interactions In general, more research is needed to fully evaluate medication interactions for chamomile. There are a number of potential interactions with medications and other dietary supplements. Before using chamomile,  consult a medical professional about potential interactions with other products or medications you are using. Some common interactive effects include the following: drowsiness when combined with benzodiazepines, barbituates, narcotics, anti-seizure medications, some antidepressants and alcoholincreased risk of bleeding if combined with blood thinners, ibuprofen  or naproxenrisk if combined with medications that affect blood sugar or blood pressuremay interfere with the effectiveness of hormone therapy because chamomile is similar to estrogen Given the potential for drowsiness, it is not recommended to drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how chamomile affects you. Side Effects Reported side effects of using chamomile include: serious allergic reactions including anaphylaxis, throat swelling  and shortness of breathskin allergic reactions such as eczemavomiting when taken in large doses Effectiveness for SAD In general, not enough  scientific research has been conducted to support any of the many common uses of chamomile; however, exploratory studies in 2009 and 2012 by Amsterdam and colleagues demonstrated its potential usefulness for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and depression. Research is needed to determine whether there is a significant effect of chamomile for social anxiety disorder (SAD). Risks Associated The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate the production of herbs and supplements. Most herbs and supplements are not thoroughly tested, and there is no guarantee regarding the ingredients or safety of the products. Although a number of potential side effects and interactions are presented here, the risks associated with chamomile have not been adequately studied.