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Herb library · Herb · Aloysia citrodora (syn. Aloysia triphylla, Lippia citriodora)

Lemon verbena

A shrub with lemon-scented leaves, drunk as a tea for sleep, stress and digestion. EU regulators accept those uses on the basis of long use; two small trials of extracts reported better sleep scores, which is not yet enough to know.

Traditional use

The leaves have long been taken as an infusion for stomachache, indigestion and as a mild sedative; the EMA's report notes use in Europe, South America and North Africa for diarrhea, flatulence, insomnia and rheumatism. It has been in the Spanish and French pharmacopoeias and is sold as a food tea in Spain. In the EU it is registered as a traditional herbal medicine for mild symptoms of mental stress, to aid sleep, and for mild bloating and flatulence.

What studies show

  • Limited

    Sleep: two small randomized trials reported better sleep scores than placebo, one in 100 people with insomnia taking a syrup for 4 weeks and one in 71 healthy adults with sleep problems taking an extract for 90 days (funded by the extract's maker). The EMA judged the first trial too limited to rely on, and bases its acceptance on traditional use.

  • Insufficient

    Mental stress, bloating and flatulence: accepted in the EU on the basis of traditional use only; the EMA found no clinical studies for these uses.

Be careful of

Cautions

  • NoteIt may cause drowsiness, more so with alcohol or other sedatives, and may impair the ability to drive. Side effects reported in a trial were mild: restlessness, tremor, sleepiness and local itching.
  • ConditionThe EMA report notes an older recommendation that people with kidney problems avoid it, because of its volatile oil; it judged this irrelevant at the low oil content of the tea, but check with your doctor if you have kidney disease.
  • PregnancySafety in pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established, and use then is not recommended.
  • NoteNot recommended for children, for lack of data. Do not use it if you are allergic to lemon verbena or other plants of the verbena family.
  • Ask a clinicianTalk with a clinician or pharmacist before using this if you take prescription medicines, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are giving it to a child.

Sources

  1. Verbenae citriodorae folium - herbal medicinal product (opens in a new tab) · EMA · read September 25, 2026
  2. European Union herbal monograph on Aloysia citrodora Paláu (syn. Aloysia triphylla), folium (EMA/HMPC/376770/2019) (opens in a new tab) · EMA · read September 25, 2026
  3. Assessment report on Aloysia citrodora Paláu (syn. Aloysia triphylla), folium (EMA/HMPC/376761/2019) (opens in a new tab) · EMA · read September 25, 2026
  4. Aloysia citriodora Palau (lemon verbena) for insomnia patients: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial (Phytother Res, 2019) (opens in a new tab) · NIH · read September 25, 2026
  5. Dietary supplementation with an extract of Aloysia citrodora (lemon verbena) improves sleep quality in healthy subjects (Nutrients, 2024) (opens in a new tab) · NIH · read September 25, 2026

Reviewed September 25, 2026.