Lemon Verbena (Aloysia citrodora): Uses, Evidence and Safety
Lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora) as a tea and extract: small trials on stress, sleep, muscle recovery and blood pressure, their company links, and what is not known about safety.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
What is Lemon verbena good for?
What the body uses it for, and how strong the evidence is. A normal job in the body is not proof that extra supplements add benefit; each card says which.
Stress and sleep quality (one trial)
Preliminary or mixedIn one placebo-controlled trial of a purified leaf extract, adults reported less stress, had lower cortisol and felt better rested; wearable tracking showed more deep and REM sleep. It is a single trial, and two authors work for the extract maker.
Supplements: Promising but limited: one trial of one extract. Findings are for specific extracts, not for tea.
Blood pressure, weight and cholesterol (pooled small trials)
Preliminary or mixedA 2026 meta-analysis of 11 trials (503 people) found lower average blood pressure, body weight and total cholesterol, with no clear effect on blood sugar markers. The authors asked for larger, longer trials.
Supplements: Preliminary; small trials with differing products. Findings are for specific extracts, not for tea.
Muscle strength after hard exercise
Preliminary or mixedIn 44 healthy active adults, 15 days of an extract meant less loss of muscle strength after exhausting exercise than placebo. Pain and antioxidant-enzyme changes were only trends, and muscle-damage markers did not differ. The study was sponsored by the extract owner.
Supplements: Promising but limited; sponsored single trial.
Tea and refreshing drink (traditional use)
Not enough evidenceThe leaves are commonly used as a tea and refreshing drink. Specific traditional medicinal uses were not described in the sources read, so none are claimed.
Supplements: No trial of the tea itself was found.
Safety in pregnancy, breastfeeding, children, liver and kidney disease
Not enough evidenceSafety in these groups was not described in the sources read, so it is unknown rather than shown safe. The sports trial called the extract well tolerated in healthy adults over 15 days, but gave no adverse-event data in its abstract.
Supplements: Unknown.
Connected topics
Open a group to see how each topic connects and how strong the evidence is.
Health goals (6)
- Stress ReductionPreliminary or mixed
One placebo-controlled trial of a purified extract reported less perceived stress. It is a single trial, so more research is needed.
- Blood Pressure SupportPreliminary or mixed
A meta-analysis of 11 small trials found lower average blood pressure with the extract. Larger, longer trials are needed.
- Cholesterol BalancePreliminary or mixed
The meta-analysis found slightly lower total cholesterol and slightly higher HDL, but no clear effect on other lipids.
- Muscle RecoveryPreliminary or mixed
In 44 healthy adults an extract meant less loss of muscle strength after exhausting exercise. The trial was sponsored by the extract owner.
- Sleep QualityPreliminary or mixed
In the same trial people felt better rested and wearable tracking showed more deep and REM sleep. Single trial of one extract.
- Weight ManagementPreliminary or mixed
Pooled trials found small average reductions in weight and BMI. Results come from mixed products, some combined with other plants.
Body systems (5)
- Stress & MoodPreliminary or mixed
One trial of a purified extract reported lower stress and cortisol. More research is needed.
- Cardiovascular SystemPreliminary or mixed
Pooled small trials found lower average blood pressure and total cholesterol with extracts.
- Heart & CirculationPreliminary or mixed
Pooled small trials found lower average blood pressure; ask a pharmacist if you take blood pressure medicines.
- Metabolism & WeightPreliminary or mixed
Pooled trials found small average reductions in weight, BMI and fat mass, but no clear effect on blood sugar markers.
- Sleep & RecoveryPreliminary or mixed
One trial reported feeling better rested and more deep and REM sleep on a wearable tracker.
Body parts (1)
- MusclesPreliminary or mixed
One sponsored trial found less loss of muscle strength after exhausting exercise.
Functional actions (3)
- Stress ReductionPreliminary or mixed
One trial of a purified extract reported less perceived stress.
- Cardiovascular SupportPreliminary or mixed
Pooled small trials found lower average blood pressure and total cholesterol.
- Muscle RecoveryPreliminary or mixed
One sponsored trial found less strength loss after exhausting exercise; muscle-damage markers did not differ.
Root causes (1)
- Medication Side EffectsDocumented risk
No interaction study was found, but because the extract lowered blood pressure on average in trials, check with a pharmacist if you take blood pressure or diabetes medicines.
Documented risks and interactions (2)
- Possible additive effect with blood pressure medicines. Because pooled trials found lower blood pressure on average, anyone taking blood pressure (or diabetes) medicines should ask a pharmacist before using an extract. No interaction study was found.
- Product quality varies. Extracts differ by maker and by the plant part and processing used; trial results apply only to the product tested. Lemon verbena is also confused with lemongrass and lemon balm, which are different plants.
Key points first
- Lemon verbena has a few small randomized trials of specific leaf extracts, at least one of them sponsored by the extract maker. No regulator statement on lemon verbena was in the sources we read.
- A 2026 review of trials of the extract (some combined with hibiscus) found lower blood pressure on average. If you take blood pressure medicines, ask a pharmacist before using an extract. [1] See how interactions work.
- Safety in pregnancy, children, and with medicines was not described in the sources we read.
Overview
Lemon verbena leaves are commonly used as a tea and refreshing drink. [2] The same leaves are also sold as concentrated extracts that have been studied in trials. This page covers the herb and its extracts; for the tea as a drink, see lemon verbena tea. No amounts are given for a person.Names, parts and look-alikes
The accepted scientific name is Aloysia citrodora Paláu, in the family Verbenaceae. [3] The older name Lippia citriodora (Lam.) Kunth is listed as a synonym, and many trials use that older name, so search both. [3][4] The part used in the sources we read is the leaf. [2] Do not confuse it with lemongrass or lemon balm, which are different plants (see lemongrass and lemon balm).Traditional use (not proof of effect)
Specific traditional uses and regions were not described in the sources we read, so we do not list any. The trial literature describes the leaves as a tea and refreshing beverage. [2]What research shows
All human findings below are for specific extracts, not for kitchen tea.| Use | What the source found | Strength of evidence | Population and form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stress and sleep quality | In an 8-week placebo-controlled trial, people taking an extract purified in phenylpropanoids reported less stress, with lower cortisol, and felt better rested; sleep tracking showed more time in deep sleep and REM. [4] | Promising but limited (one trial) | Adults; one purified extract; 8 weeks plus 4-week washout |
| Muscle recovery after hard exercise | In 44 healthy people given 400 mg of an extract daily or placebo for 15 days, the extract group lost less muscle strength after exhaustive exercise. [2] The study was sponsored by the extract maker. [2] | Promising but limited | Active adults; one proprietary extract |
| Weight, cholesterol and blood pressure | A 2026 meta-analysis of 11 trials (503 people) reported average reductions in body weight, total cholesterol and blood pressure, with no significant effect on blood sugar markers. [1] The authors said larger, longer trials are needed. [1] | Promising but limited; results pooled from different products | Adults; extract alone or combined with hibiscus |
| Other uses | Proper evidence not found in the sources we searched (PubMed, Lippia citriodora and Aloysia citrodora with randomized and sleep terms). | No good evidence found | None |
Trials of extracts do not show what a cup of tea does. Lemon verbena tea itself was not tested in the trials we read.
Forms and why they matter
The trials used purified or proprietary leaf extracts, sometimes combined with other plants. [4][1] Teas, tinctures and capsules are different preparations; see tea vs capsule vs tincture.Safety
- Medicines: not described in the sources we read. Because pooled trials found lower blood pressure on average, mention it to a pharmacist if you use blood pressure or diabetes medicines. [1]
- Side effects: the sports trial concluded the extract was safe and well tolerated in healthy adults over 15 days. [2] Longer-term safety was not described in the sources we read.
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding, children, older adults, liver, kidney, surgery, allergy: not described in the sources we read. Please see pregnancy and breastfeeding and children and teens, and tell the surgical team about any herb.
- Quality: extracts differ by maker. See quality testing and certifications.
Frequently asked questions
Does lemon verbena help you sleep?
One placebo-controlled trial of a purified extract reported better rested feeling and more deep and REM sleep on a wearable tracker; more research is needed. [4]
Is lemon verbena the same as *Lippia citriodora*?
Yes. Lippia citriodora is a synonym of Aloysia citrodora. [3]
Can lemon verbena lower blood pressure?
A 2026 meta-analysis of extract trials found lower blood pressure on average, but trials were small and products varied. [1]
Is lemon verbena tea safe every day?
Proper evidence not found in the sources we read for daily tea use; ask a pharmacist or clinician, especially if you take medicines.
Is lemon verbena safe in pregnancy?
Not described in the sources we read; see the pregnancy and breastfeeding guide linked above.
References
- Xu S, et al. The effect of Lippia citriodora extract on cardiometabolic risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutr Diabetes 2026. PubMed. Read 2026-10-22.
- Buchwald-Werner S, et al. Effects of lemon verbena extract supplementation on muscle strength and recovery after exhaustive exercise: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2018. PubMed. Read 2026-10-22.
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, species match: Aloysia citrodora and the synonym Lippia citriodora. Read 2026-10-22.
- Martínez-Rodríguez A, et al. Anxiolytic effect and improved sleep quality in individuals taking Lippia citriodora extract. Nutrients 2022. PubMed. Read 2026-10-22.