Diabetes is way too common, affecting around 422 million people in the world. And one of the most common complications of diabetes is diabetic neuropathy. A topical application of the gentle herb chamomile can help.
Up to half of all people with diabetes will develop diabetic neuropathy over the course of their disease. Diabetic neuropathy is caused by peripheral nerve damage that causes numbness, tingling, burning, pain and weakness in the fingers, legs and feet.
Drugs that are used for diabetic neuropathy focus on pain management rather than treating the underlying condition, and they are associated with significant side effects.
This double-blind study of people with diabetic neuropathy who were already taking the common pharmaceutical treatment gabapentin tested adding a topical application of chamomile oil versus a placebo.
Compared to the placebo, the chamomile oil brought about significantly greater improvement in neuropathy indices, showing that it is “highly effective for alleviating neuropathic symptoms” in people with diabetes. The researchers also noted that chamomile oil is safe and cost-effective and say that the “favorable safety profile and targeted symptom relief position Chamomile oil as a promising alternative.”
Explore. July-August 2025;21(4):103189