Herbal Teas: Natural Remedies, Benefits, and What Science Says

When you reach for a cup of herbal teas, plant-based infusions used for wellness, not caffeine. Also known as tisanes, they’re made from roots, flowers, seeds, or leaves—never from the tea plant Camellia sinensis. Unlike black or green tea, they don’t contain caffeine, which is why people turn to them for sleep, digestion, or calm. But just because something is natural doesn’t mean it’s safe or effective. Some herbal teas interact with medications, others have side effects, and many claims aren’t backed by real data.

People use chamomile, a flower often brewed to ease anxiety and improve sleep for bedtime routines, and peppermint, a leaf used to soothe bloating and irritable bowel symptoms after meals. Ginger tea is common for nausea, especially during pregnancy or after chemo. But studies on these aren’t always consistent. One 2022 review found chamomile helped with mild insomnia, but only in small, short-term trials. Peppermint oil capsules showed clear benefits for IBS, but brewed tea? The concentration is too low to match those results. And while ginger reduces nausea, drinking tea won’t give you the same dose as a supplement.

Some herbal teas can be risky. Licorice root tea might raise blood pressure. Kava tea has been linked to liver damage. And if you’re on blood thinners, herbal teas with high vitamin K—like nettle or parsley—can interfere. Even something as simple as hibiscus tea can lower blood pressure too much if you’re already on medication. The FDA doesn’t regulate herbal teas like drugs, so what’s in your cup isn’t always what’s on the label.

What you’ll find in the posts below isn’t a list of feel-good tips. It’s a collection of real, evidence-based discussions about what works, what doesn’t, and what you need to watch out for. From how herbal remedies interact with antibiotics to why some teas affect drug absorption, these posts cut through the noise. You’ll see how people use them, what the science says, and where the gaps are. No hype. No fluff. Just what matters for your health.