Evidence supporting the use of: Chamomile
For the body system: GABA

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla or Chamaemelum nobile) has a long history of use in traditional medicine, particularly for its calming and sedative effects. Modern research has investigated its potential actions on the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system, which is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter system in the central nervous system and plays a key role in anxiety regulation and sleep. Some preclinical studies suggest that certain flavonoids in chamomile, such as apigenin, may bind to benzodiazepine receptors in the brain, which are part of the GABAA receptor complex. This binding could account for the mild anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) and sedative effects observed with chamomile extracts.

However, direct clinical evidence in humans specifically linking chamomile to modulation of the GABA system is limited. While several small clinical studies support chamomile's efficacy in reducing mild to moderate generalized anxiety and improving sleep quality, these studies often do not isolate the GABAergic mechanism as the definitive pathway. As such, the use of chamomile to support the GABA system is partially justified by emerging scientific data, but the overall evidence remains modest and more robust, targeted research is needed to fully substantiate its mechanism of action.

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