EU Monograph Tea Amounts
What EU herbal monographs describe for tea amounts, time limits and cautions for ten herbs. Regulatory descriptions of authorized traditional products, not personal recommendations.
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.
This is not a dosage chart. Each row is what an EU herbal monograph describes for authorized products, for a named herb, use, age group and time limit. It is regulatory information, not advice for you, and not a way to compare herbs. An amount for one herb cannot be applied to another. A pharmacist or clinician decides what is right for a person, and a product label governs the product.
What a monograph is
A monograph is a document from the EU's Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC, European Medicines Agency) that sets out accepted uses, preparation, cautions and limits for a herbal substance. The tea uses in the table below are described as traditional herbal medicinal products, for stated uses "exclusively based upon long-standing use". [1][2][3] That is traditional use, not proof from clinical trials. The monograph dates differ, and the oldest (nettle, 2010) may not reflect later evidence.
Amounts described for adults
| Herb and part (scientific name) | Tea amount the monograph describes | Frequency described | When the monograph says to see a doctor or limits use | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lemon balm leaf (Melissa officinalis L.) | 1.5 to 4.5 g in 150 ml boiling water [1] | 1 to 3 times daily | If symptoms persist over 2 weeks [1] | 2013 |
| Passionflower herb (Passiflora incarnata L.) | 1 to 2 g in 150 ml boiling water [4] | 1 to 4 times daily | If symptoms persist over 2 weeks [4] | 2014 |
| Valerian root (Valeriana officinalis L.) | 0.3 to 3 g in 150 ml boiling water [3] | Maximum 4 single doses a day | If symptoms persist or worsen after 2 weeks [3] | 2016 |
| Nettle leaf (Urtica dioica L., U. urens L.) | 2 to 4 g as a single dose for a herbal tea [5] | 3 to 6 times daily | Not over 4 weeks (joint pain) or 2 to 4 weeks (urinary use) [5] | 2010 |
| Marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis L.) | 2 to 5 g in 150 ml water as a macerate, for mild stomach discomfort [6] | 3 times daily; maximum 15 g a day | If symptoms persist over 2 weeks (stomach use) [6] | 2016 |
| Lavender flower (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) | 1 to 2 g in 150 ml boiling water [7] | 3 times daily | If symptoms persist, see a clinician [7] | 2012 |
| Elderflower (Sambucus nigra L.) | 2 to 5 g in 150 ml boiling water as an infusion; or 3 to 6 g in 200 ml as a decoction [8] | 3 times daily (infusion); 2 doses daily (decoction) | If symptoms persist over 1 week [8] | 2018 |
| Sweet fennel fruit (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) | 1.5 g in 250 ml boiling water, steeped 15 minutes [9] | 3 times daily | Not to be taken for more than 2 weeks [9] | 2024 |
| Chamomile flower (Matricaria recutita L., accepted as M. chamomilla) | 1.5 to 4 g in 150 ml boiling water [10] | 3 to 4 times daily | If symptoms persist more than 1 week [10] | 2015 |
| Peppermint leaf (Mentha x piperita L.) | 1.5 to 3 g in 100 to 150 ml boiling water [2] | 3 times daily | If symptoms persist over 2 weeks [2] | 2020 |
Plant names were checked against the GBIF backbone; the chamomile name used by the monograph is a synonym of the accepted name. [11] Valerian's monograph also describes sleep use as a single dose half to one hour before bedtime. [3]
How to read the numbers
- These are amounts for authorized products made to a standard. A shop tea bag may hold a different amount of herb; check the label.
- Time limits matter as much as amounts. "See a doctor if it lasts" rules are built into every monograph above.
- Ginger is not in the table: the EU ginger monograph describes solid preparations, and we found no herbal tea in it. [12]
- Nothing here covers medicine interactions beyond what the monographs state. See medication interactions. For how preparation is described, see how herbal tea is prepared.
Frequently asked questions
Is this how much herbal tea I should drink?
No. It is what an EU monograph describes for a specific authorized product and use. Ask a pharmacist or clinician about your situation. [1]
Why do some herbs have a 2-week limit?
The monographs say to see a doctor or qualified health professional if symptoms persist past a stated period, such as 2 weeks for lemon balm and passionflower. [1][4] Fennel's monograph goes further: not to be taken for more than 2 weeks. [9]
Does "traditional use" mean it has been proven?
No. The monographs describe use "exclusively based upon long-standing use". [1]
Are these teas safe in pregnancy?
Most of these monographs say safety has not been established and use is not recommended. Chamomile's differs by preparation, as above. [3][10] Ask a clinician first.
Why is the amount different from my tea bag?
Products differ in how much herb they contain and what they are authorized for. We found no source comparing shop tea bags with these monograph amounts. Check the label.
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Cautions the same monographs list
| Herb | Cautions as written |
|---|---|
| Lemon balm | May impair ability to drive and use machines [1] |
| Valerian | May impair ability to drive and use machines [3] |
| Nettle | Not for conditions where reduced fluid intake is recommended, such as severe cardiac or renal disease [5] |
| Marshmallow | Absorption of other medicines may be delayed; not to be taken half an hour to one hour before or after other medicines [6] |
| Fennel | Not for people allergic to the carrot family (Apiaceae) or to mugwort pollen [9] |
| Chamomile | Not for people allergic to the daisy family (Asteraceae) [10] |
| Peppermint | People with heartburn (reflux) should avoid peppermint leaf preparations; caution with gallstones [2] |
Pregnancy, breastfeeding and children
- For lemon balm, passionflower, valerian, nettle, marshmallow, lavender, elderflower, fennel and peppermint, the monographs say safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established and use is not recommended for lack of data. [1][4][3][5][6][7][8][9][2]
- For chamomile the monograph treats its preparations differently: for the comminuted herbal substance (the plain herb) it says safety has been established, while for the extract preparations it says it has not. [10] We cannot tell from the sections we read what that rests on. Ask a clinician; see herbal tea in pregnancy.
- Age limits vary by herb. Several monographs say use under 12 is not recommended or not established for lack of data, and peppermint and fennel set a lower limit of 4 years for some uses. [7][2][9] We do not reproduce children's amounts. Talk to a pediatrician before giving any herbal drink to a baby or child; see children and teens.
References
- European Medicines Agency, HMPC. Community herbal monograph on Melissa officinalis L., folium, EMA/HMPC/196745/2012, 14 May 2013. Read 2026-10-23.
- European Medicines Agency, HMPC. European Union herbal monograph on Mentha x piperita L., folium, EMA/HMPC/572705/2014, revision 1, 15 January 2020. Read 2026-10-23.
- European Medicines Agency, HMPC. European Union herbal monograph on Valeriana officinalis L., radix, EMA/HMPC/150848/2015, 2 February 2016. Read 2026-10-23.
- European Medicines Agency, HMPC. Community herbal monograph on Passiflora incarnata L., herba, EMA/HMPC/669740/2013, 25 March 2014. Read 2026-10-23.
- European Medicines Agency, HMPC. Community herbal monograph on Urtica dioica L.; Urtica urens L., folium, EMA/HMPC/508015/2007, 14 January 2010. Read 2026-10-23.
- European Medicines Agency, HMPC. European Union herbal monograph on Althaea officinalis L., radix, EMA/HMPC/436679/2015, 12 July 2016. Read 2026-10-23.
- European Medicines Agency, HMPC. Community herbal monograph on Lavandula angustifolia Miller, flos, EMA/HMPC/734125/2010, 27 March 2012. Read 2026-10-23.
- European Medicines Agency, HMPC. European Union herbal monograph on Sambucus nigra L., flos, EMA/HMPC/611512/2016, revision 1, 27 March 2018. Read 2026-10-23.
- European Medicines Agency, HMPC. European Union herbal monograph on Foeniculum vulgare Miller subsp. vulgare var. dulce, fructus, EMA/HMPC/372839/2016, revision 1, 31 January 2024. Read 2026-10-23.
- European Medicines Agency, HMPC. European Union herbal monograph on Matricaria recutita L., flos, EMA/HMPC/55843/2011, 7 July 2015. Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Secretariat. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, species match service (api.gbif.org/v1/species/match). Names checked 2026-10-23.
- European Medicines Agency, HMPC. European Union herbal monograph on Zingiber officinale Roscoe, rhizoma, revision 1. Read 2026-10-23.