Chamomile is one of my favorite herbs because of its delicate scent and great taste in teas. It is my absolute favorite herb for kids and I keep a tincture of chamomile on hand for any childhood aches and ailments.
Switching to a real food diet has eliminated our bouts with ear infections and stuffy noses (though chamomile helps with those too!) but some things, like teething pain, can’t be fixed with healthy food!
Chamomile Tincture
The type of chamomile I use in herbal tinctures is German chamomile, also known as Matricaria chamomilla, chamomilla recutita, or Matricaria recutita. Roman chamomile is also available, but it’s not used as often and has a different taste. The different chamomiles also have slightly different properties so I’m just going to focus on German chamomile here.
How to Use Chamomile
Chamomile is a naturally calming herbal remedy that relaxes nerves and reduces pain. Its been known to settle the stomach and reduce gas and colic in infants. I use it to soothe fussy babies, calm down upset toddlers, and on bruises.
Adults can use Chamomile as a sleep aid, to ease menstrual cramps, relieve headaches, for digestive health and soothe frayed nerves. It’s also great for the skin, especially eczema, and can even naturally lighten hair. Chamomile helps support the nervous system and may boost the immune system.
A small trial found that chamomile can help soothe the pain and stiffness from osteoarthritis. Much like turmeric, chamomile can help with inflammation. The liquid extract contains antioxidant flavanoids, like apigenin that help fight inflammation and improve sleep.
Chamomile tea is one of the most popular herbal teas, but sometimes it’s just faster to grab a tincture. A homemade chamomile tincture is incredibly easy to make and is my favorite baby gift for new parents. I take it to the hospital when I have a baby (mainly for me during labor!).
Homemade Chamomile Tincture
Notes
Alcohol-free Chamomile Extract
Not everyone wants a chamomile herbal extract made with alcohol. Herbal glycerites use vegetable glycerin instead and are another option. While I feel safe giving chamomile tinctures even to my babies and little ones, here’s how to make a glycerite if you want that option.
Chamomile Tincture Dosing
- Infants: only a few drops are needed. Often it can be rubbed on the gums or stomach for teething or colic pain.
- Toddlers and older children: 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon can be taken 1-3 times a day while needed. It’s especially useful for babies and young children who are having difficulty sleeping. A dose right before bedtime can help relax and soothe them for a more peaceful sleep.
- Adults: up to 1 teaspoon, 1-3 times a day as needed.
Any herb can be preserved with this method, and often this is the most cost-effective way to use herbs. I grow a lot of my own herbs, but I’ll get organic chamomile or other herbs from here if it’s not in my garden.
Chamomile Tincture Variations
Sometimes I’ll tincture a single herb, but having some blends on hand is also nice. Chamomile also blends well with catnip, lemon balm, peppermint, or fennel. Catnip and lemon balm are both calming nervines. Peppermint and fennel help soothe digestive upsets.
Another tincture I keep on hand is my homemade Herbal Digestive Remedy Tincture. This one uses both peppermint and fennel, but you could add some chamomile too. The nice thing about homemade herbal supplements is I can customize them to my exact needs!
This article was medically reviewed by Jessica Meyers, MPAP, PA-C, RH(AHG), who specializes in herbal protocols and functional medicine. You can also find Jessica on Instagram. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
What homemade tinctures do you make? Share below!
Hi Katie, is the recommended dosage for adults the same amount you use during actual labor… due at the end of Dec and have made this tincture but haven’t been able to find a direct answer on the dosage while in labor anywhere! Thank you ?
I misread the instructions and filled my quart sized Mason jar up to the halfway mark with dried chamomile flowers. I still added the right amount of water and alcohol but I’m concerned if I went over the suggested amount for chamomile flowers if that is going to be a problem?
How do I see your replies to questions?
Ive been taking some online webinars about tinctures. You are using dried flowers,but I’m reading that tinctures are with fresh plant material. Why did you choose the dried? I know the alcohol pulls particulates from the fresh plant materials that can’t be access from dried. Just curious into your usage. Thanks!
What’s the shelf life for the different remedies? Tinctures especially.
Could I use Myer’s Dark Rum? It’s 80 proof.
after the tincture is made do you store in a fridge or is room temp ok?
Hi Katie,
I’m loving using this chamomile tincture for my teething baby. Per your recommendation I rubbed a few drops into his gums as needed while he was cutting his bottom teeth. It worked SO WELL! It’s even the top recommendation for teething pain from Using Essential Oils Safely. However, I then read somewhere from some kind of herb specialist that doing so can damage the oral mucosal lining? What do you think? I used it pretty often as my son worked on his bottom two teeth for over two months.
Hi,
Can u prepare a tincture without the use of alcohol ?? We cannot consume it..
Many thanks
I made this tincture and left the flowers in the jar still “brewing” soft about two years. Is the tincture bad now since I never strained the flowers?
The alcohol in this makes me nervous, though I’m sure it’s beneficial or you wouldn’t recommend it. What can you share to help me understand it’s safety and why it’s helpful? Thanks!
I’m sorry, the other comments didn’t pop up until I submitted mine. I think my question has already been answered. Thanks!
Hi! I’m wondering if you have any ideas for liver support tincture for kids. Could I adjust this chamomile recipe with maybe chamomile, dandelion root and nettle? I need some bitter herbs and supportive herbs and these are the 3 i keep coming across. Didn’t know how to divide the 3 up for the stated recipe, or if you had any suggestions for liver support in kids. Thanks!!!
Can you use something other than alcohol for this tincture?
Why add the water? Wouldn’t that shorten the shelf life? And what type of vodka do you recommend?
So for teething relief, I’d just rub tincture as often as needed on baby’s gums?
Yes 🙂
I know this is a very old blog post but just reading now…. Katie how do decide when to use chamomile tincture vs the other sleep tincture? Mostly using to calm a very restless 6 year old who has a lot of difficulties settling down to sleep. Just try both and see maybe…
I was wondering if this is the pure grape alcohol you are referring to? https://organicalcohol.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=organic+grape+alcohol
Would that work for all of your tinctures?
Thanks!
I have no idea what kind that is, but I recommend using vodka or rum…
I am curious, which website do you use to purchase the herbs. I am really interested in your chamomile tincture and was curious which website you use.
Thanks so much, I REALLY enjoy your site, so much information it’s brilliant!
We get our herbs here.
Could you use the chamomile leaf instead of the flowers? Do the flowers have more nutrients or just different nutrients? I have a plant with very few flowers and I don’t know what to do with my leaves when I harvest them so I wondered if I could make the tincture with leaves instead of flowers.
I made this tincture 5 weeks ago and was just looking at it closely last night as I was thinking about straining it and it has small white larvae in it. Should I throw it out? Would it still be useable if I strain them off? Thanks for your help- baby is coming in 2 days!
Are you sure they are larvae? I’ve never heard of that happening, especially with alcohol tinctures… If you are sure it is larvae, I’d definitely throw out, but the chamomile flowers do shed petals that may look like that… Did you use fresh or dried chamomile?
Can you link to the alcohol product you use?