Chamomile Oleogel Effective for Pain Relief in Migraine

by | Nov 12, 2018 | 2018, Botanicals, Headaches

Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer. After 30 minutes of application, an oleogel form of chamomile significantly decreased pain, nausea, vomiting, photo and phenophobia in participants suffering from migraine without aura.

headache - painIt is estimated that each year approximately one out of seven Americans is affected by migraines 1, a severe, recurrent headache characterized by throbbing pain and pulsing sensation. Migraines are classified based on the presence or absence of auras, which typically involve visual disturbances such as flashing lights or shimmering patterns, but can also include sensory, motor, or verbal dysfunction 2. Complete relief from migraines is possible; however, conventional treatment approaches involve triptans, ergot alkaloids, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSADs) 3-5. More traditional systems of medicine, particularly Persian medicine, rely on a number of herbal medicinal oils of which chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) is one of the most popular, for the treatment of chronic conditions 6. Research evidence supports the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of chamomile 7-9 and its therapeutic benefits for such conditions as osteoarthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome 10,11. Chamomile is also noted for its ability to inhibit nitric oxide production 12, which is associated with the induction of migraine headaches 13,14. Taken together, the therapeutic effects of traditional chamomile may offer a potential natural remedy for migraine patients. To test this hypothesis, a study published in Neurological Sciences (2018) 15 evaluated the efficacy of an oleogel preparation (semi-solid medium) of standardized traditional chamomile oil in mitigating migraine attacks.

A total of 72 patients (aged 18-65 years) with a definite diagnosis of migraine without aura and a migraine history of at least one year were enrolled in a cross-over, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Subjects were randomly assigned to use 2 ml of chamomile oleogel (prepared from 200 g of chamomile plant powder distilled in 2.5 L of water and formulated into oleogel using colloidal silicon dioxide) or placebo gel by applying the medicine topically in the temporal and forehead area at the start of a migraine attack. Patients filled out the Visual Analogue Scale (measuring severity of pain as well as nausea, vomiting, photophobia, and phonophobia) within 24 hours of applying the medicine. After a washout period of 14 days, patients were assigned to the alternative treatment group and followed the same protocol.

Analyses showed that compared to placebo, patients receiving the chamomile oleogel experienced a significant decrease in pain (p = 0.001) 30 minutes following application. In the chamomile group, 29.2% of migraine attacks were reported to be pain free two hours following application, while in the placebo group only 2.1% of migraines were considered pain free (p = 0.001). Recurrence was 13% for chamomile patients vs. 46.4% for placebo (p = 0.008). The chamomile group, relative to placebo, also showed significantly reduced probability of nausea (OR = 0.74, p = 0.001), vomiting (OR = 0.66, p = 0.001), photophobia (sensitivity to light) (OR = 0.82, p = 0.001), and phonophobia (sensitivity to loud sound) (OR = 0.78, p = 0.001).

Overall, data from the study indicates a favorable role for chamomile oleogel in reducing pain and other symptoms associated with migraine. Chamomile demonstrated rapid action and effective mitigation of pain after two hours, in line with previous reports suggesting the herb’s analgesic benefits for migraine 7. Further studies are warranted on the use of traditional chamomile oil in the renewed form of oleogel for the treatment of migraine. Given the relatively small sample size of the study, findings require replication in a larger patient population, ideally also including individuals diagnosed with migraine with aura.

Source: Zargaran A, Borhani-Haghigi, Salehi-Marzijarani M, et al. Evaluation of the effect of topical chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) oleogel as pain relief in migraine without aura: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Neurological Sciences. 2018; 39: 1345-1353. DOI: 10.1007/s10072-018-3415-1.

© Springer-Verlag Italia S.r.l., part of Springer Nature 2018

Posted November 12, 2018.

Angeline A. De Leon, MA, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in neuroscience. She received her master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2013, where she studied clinical neuroscience within an integrative health program. Her specialized area of research involves the complementary use of neuroimaging and neuropsychology-based methodologies to examine how lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and meditation, can influence brain plasticity and enhance overall connectivity.

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