Herbal Teas by Wellness Goal
A plain index of herbal teas by wellness goal, with what the research shows about the tea itself, how strong the evidence is, and links to each goal page and its cautions.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Natural products can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read herbal tea and extract safety before you use anything on this page.
How to use this page
This is the index for the "Herbal Teas by Wellness Goal" pages. Each goal below has its own page that goes tea by tea, names the plant and the part used, separates traditional use from research, and lists the cautions. Nothing here is advice to treat a condition. Ask a pharmacist or clinician before using a tea if you take medicines, are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a liver or kidney condition, or have surgery planned. See how interactions work and herbal tea and medicine interactions.The goals at a glance
Evidence labels follow the library's scale. "Proper evidence not found" means we searched and found nothing usable.| Goal | What the sources found about the tea itself | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Sleep | One small placebo-controlled trial of passionflower tea found better self-rated sleep quality over a week. [1] NIH says the evidence for valerian and sleep is inconsistent. [2] | Mixed; promising but limited for passionflower tea |
| Anxiety and stress | In 210 surgery patients, a calming tea blend and a placebo tea did not differ in anxiety scores. [3] NIH's chamomile findings for anxiety are for a supplement. [4] | Insufficient evidence for tea |
| Nausea and upset stomach | A quasi-experimental study found lower chemotherapy nausea scores with ginger tea; a review rated certainty very low. [5][6] NIH's pregnancy findings for ginger are mostly from supplements. [7] | Promising but limited |
| Digestion and bloating | A review found clinical trials of peppermint tea are absent; NIH's IBS evidence is for peppermint oil capsules. [8][9] | Traditional use only for the teas |
| Sore throat, cough and colds | The NHS says evidence is limited for hot lemon and honey and for herbal medicines easing a cough. [10] A review found honey better than usual care for upper respiratory infection symptoms. [11] | Limited evidence |
| Blood pressure and heart health | In a 6-week trial of 65 adults with prehypertension or mild hypertension, hibiscus tea lowered systolic pressure more than a placebo drink. [12] | Promising but limited |
| Period cramps and menopause | See the page for what its sources found. | See page |
| Immunity | See the page for the claims checked. | See page |
| Energy and focus | See the page for what its sources found. | See page |
| Weight loss | See the page for the claims checked, and the detox and slimming tea claim check. | See page |
| Blood sugar and cholesterol | See the page for what its sources found. | See page |
How to read the evidence labels
- Traditional use is not proof, and research is not dismissed because a use is traditional. In the EU, "traditional use" is a regulatory category: the effect is judged plausible from at least 30 years of use, although clinical trial evidence is insufficient. [13]
- The form matters. NIH describes chamomile findings for a supplement, peppermint findings for oil in capsules and ginger findings mostly for supplements, so a result for one form does not carry over to tea. [4][9][7]
- A pleasant routine is not a proven treatment. A warm cup can be comforting; the pages above say what trials of the tea found, not what a ritual feels like.
What is not covered here
True tea (green, black, white and oolong) and coffee have their own pages under Functional Foods. For kava, kratom and blue lotus "teas", see where to read about them. For products, labels and quality, see herbal tea quality and labels and quality testing and certifications.Frequently asked questions
What is the best herbal tea for sleep?
The sources we read do not name one. Passionflower tea has one small placebo-controlled trial, and valerian evidence is inconsistent. [1][2]
Does herbal tea help with anxiety?
Tea trials are scarce. A 210-person trial of a calming tea blend found no difference from a placebo tea, and NIH's chamomile findings are for a supplement. [3][4]
Does ginger tea help nausea?
One quasi-experimental study in chemotherapy patients favored ginger tea, and a systematic review rated certainty very low. [5][6]
Which herbal tea has been tested for blood pressure?
Hibiscus tea has a 65-person, 6-week placebo-controlled trial that found lower systolic pressure. Do not replace prescribed blood pressure medicine with tea; ask the prescriber. [12]
Is herbal tea a replacement for medical care?
No. The goal pages list warning signs and when to see a clinician, for example the NHS advice to see a GP for a cough lasting more than 3 weeks. [10]
References
- Ngan A, Conduit R. A double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation of the effects of Passiflora incarnata (passionflower) herbal tea on subjective sleep quality. Phytotherapy Research. 2011;25(8):1153-1159. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Valerian: Usefulness and Safety. Last updated May 2025. Read 2026-10-23.
- Zampieri VC, Gonçalves IL, Lira AL, et al. Exploring the effects of a calming herbal tea blend on perioperative anxiety: a randomized clinical trial. Journal of Medicinal Food. 2025;28(3):266-271. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Chamomile: Usefulness and Safety. Last updated November 2024. Read 2026-10-23.
- Wazqar DY, Thabet HA, Safwat AM. A quasi-experimental study of the effect of ginger tea on preventing nausea and vomiting in patients with gynecological cancers receiving cisplatin-based regimens. Cancer Nursing. 2021;44(6):E513-E519. Read 2026-10-23.
- Gala D, Wright HH, Zigori B, et al. Dietary strategies for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a systematic review. Clinical Nutrition. 2022;41(10):2147-2155. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Ginger: Usefulness and Safety. Last updated February 2025. Read 2026-10-23.
- McKay DL, Blumberg JB. A review of the bioactivity and potential health benefits of peppermint tea (Mentha piperita L.). Phytotherapy Research. 2006;20(8):619-633. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Peppermint Oil: Usefulness and Safety. Read 2026-10-23.
- NHS (UK). Cough. Page last reviewed 8 December 2023. Read 2026-10-23.
- Abuelgasim H, Albury C, Lee J. Effectiveness of honey for symptomatic relief in upper respiratory tract infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine. 2021;26(2):57-64. Read 2026-10-23.
- McKay DL, Chen CY, Saltzman E, Blumberg JB. Hibiscus sabdariffa L. tea (tisane) lowers blood pressure in prehypertensive and mildly hypertensive adults. Journal of Nutrition. 2010;140(2):298-303. Read 2026-10-23.
- European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Passiflorae herba (passion flower): herbal medicinal product, public summary and Community herbal monograph on Passiflora incarnata L., herba. Read 2026-10-23.
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.