EU Monograph Tea Amounts
What EU herbal monographs say about herbal tea amounts for lemon balm, passionflower, valerian, nettle, marshmallow root, lavender, elderflower, fennel, chamomile and peppermint. Regulatory descriptions, not personal recommendations.
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This is not a dosage chart. Each row is what an EU herbal monograph describes for an authorised traditional product, for a specific herb, use, age group and time limit. It is regulatory information about those products, not a recommendation for you and not a way to compare herbs. Different herbs and preparations are not equivalent, and an amount for one cannot be applied to another. For most adults the key points are the time limits and the cautions.
| Herb (tea) | Amount and water described for adults | Frequency | Limits described | Main cautions in the monograph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lemon balm leaf | 1.5 to 4.5 g in 150 ml boiling water [1] | 1 to 3 times daily | See a doctor if over 2 weeks; not under 12 | Pregnancy and breastfeeding not recommended; may impair driving [1] |
| Passionflower herb | 1 to 2 g in 150 ml boiling water [2] | 1 to 4 times daily | See a doctor if over 2 weeks; not under 12 | Pregnancy and breastfeeding not recommended [2] |
| Valerian root | 0.3 to 3 g in 150 ml boiling water [3] | For sleep, half to one hour before bed; max 4 doses | See a doctor if over 2 weeks; not under 12 | May impair driving; pregnancy not recommended [3] |
| Nettle leaf | 2 to 4 g as a tea [4] | 3 to 6 times daily | Not over 4 weeks (joint pain) or 2 to 4 weeks (urinary); not under 12 | Not where reduced fluid intake is advised (severe cardiac or renal disease) [4] |
| Marshmallow root | 0.5 to 3 g in 150 ml water as a macerate; 2 to 5 g for gut discomfort [5] | Several times daily; max 15 g a day | See a doctor if over 1 to 2 weeks | May delay absorption of other medicines; separate by 1/2 to 1 hour [5] |
| Lavender flower | 1 to 2 g in 150 ml boiling water [6] | 3 times daily | Not under 12 | Pregnancy and breastfeeding not recommended [6] |
| Elderflower | 2 to 5 g in 150 ml boiling water as an infusion; or 3 to 6 g in 200 ml as a decoction [7] | 3 times daily (infusion); 2 doses (decoction) | See a doctor if over 1 week; not under 12 | Pregnancy and breastfeeding not recommended [7] |
| Fennel fruit (sweet) | 1.5 g in 250 ml boiling water, steep 15 minutes [8] | 3 times daily | Not over 2 weeks | Apiaceae and mugwort allergy; estragole limit in children; pregnancy not recommended [8] |
| Chamomile flower | 1.5 to 4 g in 150 ml boiling water [9] | 3 to 4 times daily | See a doctor if over 1 week | Do not use with allergy to Asteraceae (ragweed family) plants [9] |
| Peppermint leaf | 1.5 to 3 g in 100 to 150 ml boiling water [10] | 3 times daily | See a doctor if over 2 weeks; not under 4 | Avoid with acid reflux; caution with gallstones [10] |
How to read this table
- These amounts are for authorised traditional herbal products, where the product is made to a standard. A bag from a shop may contain a different amount of herb. Check the label.
- Time limits matter more than they look: fennel (2 weeks), nettle (2 to 4 weeks) and several others come with a "see a doctor if it lasts" rule.
- The monographs also list amounts for children for some herbs. We do not reproduce them, and we do not recommend giving herbal drinks to babies or children without a pediatrician.
- "Traditional use" means long-standing use, not proof from clinical trials. [1]
- Ginger's EU monograph describes powdered rhizome and tinctures, not tea, so it is not in the table. [11]
References
- European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Melissae folium (melissa leaf) - herbal medicinal product (public summary) and EU herbal monograph, EMA/HMPC/196745/2012. Monograph compiled 14 May 2013.
- European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Passiflorae herba (passion flower) - herbal medicinal product (public summary) and EU herbal monograph, EMA/HMPC/669740/2013.
- European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Valerianae radix (valerian root) - herbal medicinal product (public summary) and EU herbal monograph, EMA/HMPC/150848/2015.
- European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Urticae folium (nettle leaf) - herbal medicinal product (public summary) and EU herbal monograph, EMA/HMPC/508015/2007.
- European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Althaeae radix (marshmallow root) - herbal medicinal product (public summary) and EU herbal monograph, EMA/HMPC/436679/2015.
- European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Lavandulae flos (lavender flower) - herbal medicinal product (public summary) and EU herbal monograph, EMA/HMPC/734125/2010.
- European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Sambuci flos (elder flower) - herbal medicinal product (public summary) and EU herbal monograph, EMA/HMPC/611512/2016. Monograph dated 27 March 2018.
- European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Foeniculi dulcis fructus (sweet fennel fruit) - herbal medicinal product (public summary) and EU herbal monograph, EMEA/HMPC/372839/2016. Final, revision 1, dated 31 January 2024.
- European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Matricariae flos (matricaria flower) - herbal medicinal product (public summary) and EU herbal monograph, EMA/HMPC/55843/2011.
- European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). Menthae piperitae folium (peppermint leaf) - herbal medicinal product (public summary) and EU herbal monograph, EMA/HMPC/572705/2014.
- European Medicines Agency, Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC). EU herbal monograph on Zingiber officinale Roscoe, rhizoma, EMA/HMPC/885789/2022.
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.