Chrysanthemum

• Daisy-family allergy: skin, nose and (in sensitized people) swallowed reactions. Chrysanthemum belongs to the daisy family (Asteraceae). Reviews say people allergic to ragweed or mugwort pollen can react to herbs from related plants, and that sesquiterpene lactones in the family can cause skin allergy and, in sensitized people, reactions after swallowing. In Denmark, 111 of 191 people already sensitized to daisy-family plants (58%) had a positive skin patch test to florists' chrysanthemum extract. Among 104 Dutch chrysanthemum greenhouse workers, 20.2% were sensitized to the pollen. None of these studies tested tea, so the risk from drinking it is not measured. If you have a daisy-family allergy (ragweed, mugwort, chamomile, marigold, feverfew, echinacea), be cautious or avoid it. Case series ^{19 12 18 10 17}
• Contact dermatitis from handling the plant. Florists' and nursery workers can develop allergic hand eczema from chrysanthemums, including one case in which avoiding all flower contact cleared the skin. Most of the Danish patients were exposed recreationally (for example garden or bouquet plants). Compresses made from the flowers are not covered by any study we read. A 2007 letter asked whether drinking chrysanthemum tea might explain the low rate of this allergy in Asia, but it gave no data in the part of the abstract we could read. Case report ^{1 18 15}
• Different species with the same family name: do not swap in insecticide or garden flowers. Tea flowers (C. morifolium, C. indicum) are not the same as the pyrethrum daisy used for insecticide (Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium, now classed as Tanacetum cinerariifolium). Pyrethrin insecticides are of low acute toxicity but can cause convulsions if a large amount is swallowed, and dermatitis and eye damage are reported. Only use flowers sold for tea or herbal use; do not use ornamental or sprayed garden flowers. Authoritative guidance ^{20 2}
• Quality: pesticide residues and sulphur fumigation. A 2025 study of 111 Chinese market chrysanthemum products found pesticide residues. Drying concentrated them, and brewing moved between 0.5% and 112.3% of each pesticide into the cup depending on how well it dissolves in water. The authors judged the combined risk acceptable. Separately, a rat and cell study reported that sulphur-fumigated Hang-ju lost antioxidant effect and the authors advise against fumigation. Sulphite sensitivity (for example in asthma) is a general concern with sulphur-treated foods, but it was not tested for chrysanthemum in the sources read. Laboratory research ^{23 14}
• Blood pressure and blood sugar medicines: theory only. We found no human interaction study. Because the flower is traditionally used for the heart and one small extract study saw lower glucose at one hour in healthy adults, an added effect with blood-pressure or diabetes medicines is possible in theory but not shown. Do not stop or change medicines because of tea. Pharmacological theory ^{7 21}
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: no safety data found. No pregnancy, breastfeeding or children study of chrysanthemum was found, and no regulator monograph. Ask your doctor or midwife before using more than ordinary tea, and avoid concentrated extracts and formulas. Authoritative guidance ³

No LiverTox entry for chrysanthemum was found, and no human case report of liver injury from chrysanthemum tea turned up in our searches. One 2022 process paper says pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which can damage the liver, are present in plants of the Chrysanthemum family and tested a way to remove them from C. morifolium; the abstract does not say how much is in ordinary tea. The uric-acid trial of a C. indicum mix reported no clinically significant safety differences from placebo over 12 weeks. ^{22 16 3}

How often. No frequency of liver injury is available.

Monitoring. No monitoring advice was found. If you notice yellow eyes or skin, dark urine, pale stools or strong upper-right belly pain, stop and seek care.

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This is a safety connection. It is not evidence that Chrysanthemum supports liver health.

Summary. No human toxicity study of chrysanthemum tea was found, and a 2020 review calls for more safety evaluation. The documented harms are allergy and contact dermatitis, plus quality issues (pesticides, sulphur fumigation).

Animal. No animal toxicity study was read; the animal papers we read tested benefits.

Human doses studied. Trials lasted 2 weeks (eye mask), 4 weeks (Qiju formula), 12 weeks (uric-acid mix) and 90 days (eye formula) with no serious problems reported in the abstracts.

High dose or long term signals. Not found.

Overdose response. Not found.

Genotoxicity. Not found in the sources read.

Toxic plant parts. No toxic part of the tea flower is described in the sources read. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are described as liver-toxic compounds in the family; the pyrethrum daisy (a different plant) is the source of pyrethrin insecticides.

Quality matters: residues from pesticides and sulphur fumigation are documented for Chinese products, and authenticity is hard to confirm.

Pesticide residues. Pesticide residues were found in the Chinese market products tested (111 products; how many had them and which pesticides is not in the abstract); drying concentrated them and brewing moved 0.5% to 112.3% into the infusion. The authors judged the combined risk acceptable. ²³

Sulphur fumigation. Sun drying of Hang-ju is widely replaced by sulphur fumigation; in rats and cells fumigated flower was less antioxidant and the authors do not recommend it. ¹⁴

Authenticity and cultivar mix-ups. A 2020 review says there is a lack of methods to tell cultivars apart and confirm authenticity. ²⁵

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Described as liver-toxic compounds in the family; a process paper tests removing them from C. morifolium. Amounts in tea are not given. ²²

• Swelling of lips, tongue or face, wheeze, or trouble breathing after tea or contact: emergency care now (possible allergic reaction).
• Spreading itchy rash, blisters or swollen eyelids after handling or using the flowers: stop and see a clinician.
• Seizures after swallowing any insecticide or garden-spray product: emergency care (pyrethrin poisoning is a different plant product).
• Yellow eyes or skin, dark urine, pale stools or strong upper-right belly pain.
• Fainting or very low blood-pressure readings if you also take blood-pressure medicines (theory; not reported).

Stop the supplement and contact a clinician or emergency service. In the US, Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222.