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Is chamomile safe while breastfeeding?

Written by the Full Measure editorial team, which sells supplements. Approved for publication by the Full Measure owners. Updated .

Drafted with AI assistance from the sources listed below. How we write these

Quick answer

NIH's lactation database says no data exist on chamomile in nursing mothers or infants, but reasons that the small amounts expected in breast milk are likely not harmful at usual maternal doses. It warns of rare allergic sensitization and of botulism spores found in some loose-leaf teas. Ask your doctor first.1,2

Key facts

  • NIH's Drugs and Lactation Database says no data exist on the safety of chamomile in nursing mothers or infants.1
  • It reasons that the smaller amounts expected, but not shown, in breast milk are likely not to be harmful with usual maternal doses.1
  • It notes that botulism spores have been found in some loose-leaf chamomile teas sold in health food stores.1
  • Allergic sensitization is rare, but drinking chamomile tea has caused anaphylaxis in sensitized people, and chamomile may cross-react with plants in the aster family.1
  • NCCIH says little is known about whether chamomile is safe during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.2

What does NIH's Drugs and Lactation Database say about chamomile?

LactMed's entry is careful about its own reasoning. It says no data exist on the safety of chamomile in nursing mothers or infants. It then notes that chamomile has been given to infants, alone and with other herbs, and concludes that the smaller amounts expected in breast milk, though not demonstrated, are likely not to be harmful with usual maternal doses.1

That reasoning rests on an assumption about how much reaches the milk and on use in infants for other reasons. It is an inference, not a measurement, and the entry says so.1

What allergy risks does the entry describe?

The entry warns that rare sensitization may occur. It says drinking chamomile tea can make existing skin rashes worse and has caused anaphylaxis in sensitized individuals, and that chamomile may cross-react with other members of the aster family, which it gives as echinacea, feverfew and milk thistle. NCCIH adds ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds and daisies to the list of related plants.1,2

What about chamomile creams used on the nipples?

Chamomile is also sold in creams, and the entry has a warning for breastfeeding parents. Topical chamomile is a known sensitizing agent. The entry describes two women who developed contact dermatitis of the nipples and areolas after applying a chamomile ointment to cracked nipples, with reactions confirmed to Roman chamomile by patch testing.1

Is there a concern with loose-leaf tea?

The entry notes that spores of Clostridium botulinum, the bacterium that causes botulism, have been found in some loose-leaf chamomile teas sold in health food stores. A food microbiology study tested 200 chamomile samples and found spores in 7.5 percent, more often in chamomile sold loose by weight than in tea bags. Its authors said that chamomile tea given to infants could be a risk for infant botulism.1,3

This is a concern about giving the tea to a baby, not about what reaches the baby through milk. It is listed here because the same entry raises it and because a parent may use the tea for both.1

Who should ask a doctor about chamomile while breastfeeding?

Ask your doctor or a lactation consultant before using chamomile as a supplement, a cream or a regular tea if you are breastfeeding or pumping. A cup now and then is a question for them too, since the sources do not draw a line.

  • Mention any allergy to ragweed, daisies or related plants, or to echinacea.
  • Ask your baby's pediatrician before giving a baby any chamomile tea.
  • Mention any reaction to a chamomile product on the skin, since sensitization can cause rashes.1

Questions people ask

Is chamomile tea safe while breastfeeding?

NIH's lactation database says no data exist on chamomile in nursing mothers, but reasons that the small amounts expected in milk are likely not harmful at usual doses. Ask your doctor.1

Is chamomile tea safe while breastfeeding on Reddit?

Online answers are not a source. The sources we read are NIH's lactation database and NCCIH, which say no data exist and little is known. Ask your doctor.1,2

Are teas safe while breastfeeding?

This page covers chamomile only. NIH's lactation database notes that botulism spores have been found in some loose-leaf chamomile teas. Ask your doctor or lactation consultant about other teas.1

Is hibiscus safe while breastfeeding?

The sources on this page are about chamomile and do not address hibiscus. That is not a finding either way, so ask your doctor or a lactation consultant.1

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Sources

  1. Chamomile. In: Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed). Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; 2006 onward. Updated February 15, 2021. Read as its summary of use during lactation, indexed in PubMed as PMID 30000867. Opened 2026-10-11.
  2. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Chamomile. Bethesda (MD): National Institutes of Health. Last updated November 2024. Opened 2026-10-07.
  3. Bianco MI, Luquez C, de Jong LI, Fernandez RA. Presence of Clostridium botulinum spores in Matricaria chamomilla (chamomile) and its relationship with infant botulism. Int J Food Microbiol. 2008;121(3):357-360. Opened 2026-10-11.

This page is information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.