Which tea is more effective for promoting sleep in an adult patient, chamomile or lemongrass?

Neither Chamomile Nor Lemongrass Has Established Evidence for Sleep

Neither chamomile tea nor lemongrass tea should be recommended as effective treatments for insomnia, as neither has robust clinical evidence supporting their use for sleep disorders. 1

Evidence for Chamomile

Clinical Trial Data

• A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 34 adults with chronic primary insomnia found no significant differences between chamomile (270 mg twice daily) and placebo for any sleep diary measures including total sleep time, sleep efficiency, sleep latency, wake after sleep onset, sleep quality, or number of awakenings 2
• Effect sizes were small to moderate (Cohen's d ≤ 0.20 to < 0.60), with total sleep time actually showing a moderate effect size favoring placebo over chamomile 2
• A systematic review and meta-analysis of 14 RCTs involving 1,602 participants found no statistically significant difference between chamomile and placebo for any measure of clinical efficacy 3

Aromatherapy vs. Oral Use

• One 2024 study showed chamomile oil inhalation (not tea consumption) reduced insomnia severity in young adults, but this involved aromatherapy rather than oral ingestion 4
• The American Academy of Sleep Medicine guidelines do not recommend chamomile for chronic insomnia disorder 5

Evidence for Lemongrass

• No clinical trials were identified evaluating lemongrass for insomnia treatment in the systematic evidence reviews 1, 3
• Lemongrass is not mentioned in any major clinical practice guidelines for insomnia management 1

What Actually Works

First-Line Treatment

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is the strongly recommended first-line treatment for chronic insomnia disorder, with demonstrated short-term and long-term efficacy 1

Second-Line Pharmacologic Options

• Benzodiazepine receptor agonists (zaleplon, zolpidem, eszopiclone) 1
• Ramelteon (melatonin receptor agonist) 1
• Low-dose doxepin 1
• Suvorexant (orexin receptor antagonist) 1

Clinical Bottom Line

If a patient asks about herbal teas for sleep, redirect them toward evidence-based treatments. The American College of Physicians and American Academy of Sleep Medicine systematically reviewed complementary and alternative approaches including herbal medicines and found insufficient evidence to recommend them 1, 5. Resources spent on ineffective treatments may delay access to therapies with established efficacy 1.