Explore Herbal Teas

Teas with a Guide

Herbal teas (tisanes) with a written, sourced guide.

• Chamomile Tea

  Chamomile tea: what research exists on the tea itself, what NIH says about anxiety and sleep, allergy warnings for ragweed-family allergies, and interactions with warfarin and birth control.

• Peppermint Tea

  Peppermint tea: how it differs from peppermint oil, what NIH says about the evidence (mostly for oil capsules, not tea), and safety notes.

• Ginger Tea

  Ginger tea: what NIH says about nausea and other uses (studied mostly as supplements, not tea), safety, and why a cup of tea is not the same as the studied products.

• Hibiscus Tea

  Hibiscus tea and blood pressure: a randomized trial of the tea itself, what meta-analyses show, and what is not known about safety, pregnancy and medicines.

• Dandelion Tea

  Dandelion tea: root versus leaf, what NIH says (very little research and no compelling evidence), and allergy and interaction cautions.

• Licorice Root Tea

  Licorice root tea: why glycyrrhizin can affect heart rhythm and blood pressure, who should avoid it, and why many licorice products contain no licorice.

• Lemon Balm Tea

  Lemon balm tea: what EU regulators concluded (traditional use, not trial proof), the EU monograph's tea amount and limits, and safety notes including an in-vitro thyroid finding.

• Passionflower Tea

  Passionflower tea: what EU regulators concluded for mild stress and sleep (traditional use), the EU monograph's tea amount and limits, and safety notes.

• Valerian Tea

  Valerian tea: the EU tea amount and timing, what NIH and a sleep medicine guideline say, withdrawal and alcohol cautions, and why valerian is not a reliable sleep aid.

• Lavender Tea

  Lavender tea: what EU regulators concluded (mild stress and sleep, traditional use), the EU tea amount and limits, what NIH says about lavender, and safety notes.

• Nettle Tea

  Nettle tea: what EU regulators concluded (minor joint pain and urinary flushing, traditional use), the EU tea amount and time limits, and who should not use it.

• Marshmallow Root Tea

  Marshmallow root: why it is prepared as a cold-water macerate, what EU regulators concluded for throat irritation and dry cough, and its warning about delaying the absorption of other medicines.

• Elderflower Tea

  Elderflower tea: what EU regulators concluded (early common cold symptoms, traditional use), infusion and decoction amounts in the EU monograph, and how elderflower differs from elderberry.

• Fennel Tea

  Fennel tea: the EU monograph's infusion method (15 minutes), allergy cross-reactions with celery, dill and aniseed, the estragole limit for young children, and pregnancy advice.

• Rooibos Tea

  Rooibos tea: a scoping review of human studies (small, mostly South African), what is and is not known, and where proper evidence was not found.

• Holy Basil / Tulsi Tea

  Tulsi (holy basil) tea: what a small randomized trial of a leaf extract found, what we could not find for the tea itself, and where proper evidence was not found.

• Moringa Tea

  Moringa tea: what one prediabetes trial of moringa leaf powder capsules found, why rodent meta-analyses do not apply to people, and where proper evidence was not found.

• Yerba Mate

  Yerba mate: why we do not treat it as a caffeine-free herbal tea, what IARC concluded about very hot drinks (temperature above 65 C) and maté, and where proper evidence was not found.