The Effect of Chamomile Tea on Anxiety and Depression in Cancer Patients Treated with Chemotherapy

Abstract

Objectives: Natural products such as chamomile have been used throughout the world for centuries as alternative medicines or functional food. Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) has been applied for centuries as an herbal remedy for treat various inflammatory conditions such as eczema, ulcers, gout, neuralgia and rheumatic pains. Materials and Methods: This study was a single blind clinical trial. The samples will be placed in two groups of intervention (55 people) and control (55 people) by convenient sampling and random blocked. In the study, level of anxiety and depression in patients were measured in both groups by anxiety and depression questionnaires. Results: The mean of depression scores before and after the intervention in the intervention group was 25.81 and 19.49, respectively. Mean score of depression before and after intervention was 25.83 and 24.90 in control group. Results shows the mean scores of depression before and after intervention in the intervention and control group were difference significantly (p<0.001). Conclusion: Chamomile tea can be used as an alternative treatment to depression therapy in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy due to its low, safe, simple and affordable side effects. Chamomile tea is recommended for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy as an effective way to reduce symptoms of depression.

Effect of Chamomile on the Complications of Cancer: A Systematic Review

“…All studies were published in English from 1991 to 2022. Seven studies were from Brazil, 35 - 41 6 from Iran, 42 - 47 2 from United Kingdom, 48 , 49 1 from Egypt, 50 1 from Finland, 51 and 1 from United States, 52 Regarding methodology, 15 studies were RCTs 35 - 37 ,39,41, 43 - 52 3 were non-RCT. 38 , 40 , 42 …”

“…Three studies investigated the effect of chamomile on anxiety 44 , 48 , 49 , 1 study on depression. 44 In 2 RCTs, aromatherapy massage of the whole body using chamomile essential oil weekly over 3 consecutive weeks decreased anxiety levels in patients with cancer. 48 , 49 The findings of another RCT study by Ghamchini et al 44 showed that chamomile tea once a day for 2 weeks had no effect on the anxiety level in patients with cancer, but it decreased depression.…”

“…The total sample size was 1099 patients with cancer of which 622 patients were female (56.6%). Five studies were conducted on patients with head and neck cancer, 37 , 38 , 40 , 42 , 50 4 on patients with leukemia, 35 , 41 , 43 , 45 4 on patients with multiple types of cancer, 44 , 47 - 49 1 on patients with gastric and colorectal cancer, 36 3 on patients with breast cancer, 39 , 46 , 51 , 1 on patients with an unspecified cancer type. 52 …”

“… 35 , 42 , 45 , 47 , 52 In addition, other forms of chamomile were used in the studies, including ice chips, 36 topical oral gel, 38 , 50 topical skin gel, 37 chamomile cream, 51 chamomile tea, 44 capsule, 46 syrup, 43 aromatherapy massage, 48 , 49 chitosan-coated chamomile microparticles formulation, 39 and compression packs moistened with chamomile infusion. 40 , 41 Two studies did not specify which type of chamomile they used, 47 , 52 14 used German chamomile, 35 - 46 , 50 , 51 , 2 used Roman chamomile. 48 , 49 No side effects from the use of chamomile were reported by the included studies.…”

Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.): A Review of Ethnomedicinal Use, Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Uses

“…Moreover, M. chamomilla showed antinociceptive effects against vincristine [199] and formalin [200] in animal models, showing its possible use to treat or attenuate negative side effects of chemotherapy. Clinical studies also showed the ability of M. chamomilla to reduce nausea [201], anxiety, and depression [202] in patients undergoing chemotherapy.…”