Herb library · Herb · Chrysanthemum morifolium (also C. indicum)
Chrysanthemum flower
The dried flower of the garden chrysanthemum, used in Chinese medicine and brewed like chamomile. Almost nothing is known from studies in people about its effects; handling the plant is a well-documented cause of skin allergy.
Traditional use
Cultivated in China since ancient times, in many varieties. The flowers were prescribed for colds, headaches and inflamed eyes, stuffed into pillows, soaked in wine, and brewed; a 1911 account calls the sweet kind a good substitute for chamomile. The wild plant was thought to be slightly poisonous. Today the dried flowers are sold for tea.
What studies show
- Insufficient
Blood sugar and fats after a meal: one small 2023 study in healthy adults found a chrysanthemum extract taken with a high-fat meal lowered blood sugar at one hour, but not the overall rise across the test. There is not enough research to say it helps.
- Insufficient
Uric acid: a 2020 trial found a modest drop with a mixture of wild chrysanthemum flower (C. indicum) and cinnamon extracts, so it cannot show what chrysanthemum alone does.
Be careful of
Cautions
- AllergyChrysanthemum is a known cause of allergic skin rashes, including airborne rashes, in people who handle the plants; in one Indian series all 32 patients reacted to the flowers on patch testing. If you are allergic to daisies or related plants, be cautious.
- PregnancyThe sources read here give no safety information for pregnancy or breastfeeding. Talk with your clinician first.
- Ask a clinicianTalk with a clinician or pharmacist before using this if you take prescription medicines, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are giving it to a child.
From the old books
What herbals and dispensaries of the past printed. History, in their words.
“The flowers are prescribed in colds, headaches, and inflamed eyes. Pillows are recommended to be made of the flowers or leaves for the treatment of these difficulties.”
“Any of these varieties, and especialy the Kan-chü, will make a good substitute for chamomile.”
Sources
- Analysis of Chemical Constituents of Chrysanthemum morifolium Extract and Its Effect on Postprandial Lipid Metabolism in Healthy Adults (opens in a new tab) · NIH · read September 25, 2026
- A 12-Week, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial for Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of DKB114 on Reduction of Uric Acid in Serum (opens in a new tab) · NIH · read September 25, 2026
- Contact dermatitis from chrysanthemums in India (opens in a new tab) · NIH · read September 25, 2026
Reviewed September 25, 2026.