How Does Chamomile Support PMS Symptoms?

An herbal treatment used in both traditional European and Mexican medicine, chamomile may help regulate depression and anxiety. “Stress is the biggest factor that can worsen PMS symptoms. So many hormonal problems in women are due to the downstream effects of cortisol,” says functional-medicine physician Sara Szal Gottfried, MD, author of The Hormone Cure. “Cortisol is a bully, and if it is high, it impacts all the other hormones in our bodies. Addressing your cortisol response and finding ways to manage your stress is probably the most important first step you can take to balance your hormones.” (For more counsel on balancing cortisol levels, see “How to Balance Your Cortisol Levels Naturally.”)

Chamomile has been linked with cortisol reduction, so your evening cup of tea may help lower overall cortisol levels in your body. The herb’s antispasmodic properties may also offer relief from menstrual cramps.

Herbalist and midwife Aviva Romm, MD, recommends taking a daily chamomile tincture from the week following ovulation to the onset of your period.

A word of caution: Chamomile can be estrogenic, so those with a history of hormone-sensitive cancers like breast, uterine, or ovarian cancer — as well as those who are pregnant or breastfeeding — should steer clear of this herb. People with ragweed allergies also shouldn’t take chamomile, because it’s a member of the daisy family and could cause a reaction.