Important: This is not medical advice
This page is for general information only. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose, treat or cure anything. Herbs are complementary support, not replacements for prescribed medicine.
- Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using any herb, tea or supplement, especially if you take medicine, are pregnant or nursing, have a health condition, or are planning surgery.
- Do not stop or change any prescribed medicine on your own.
- Get emergency care right away (call 911) for serious symptoms such as chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of a stroke, severe allergic reaction, heavy bleeding, confusion, or thoughts of harming yourself.
People have turned to plants for comfort for thousands of years, and many of them are sitting in your kitchen right now. This guide walks through 15 well-known herbs and home remedies: how they have traditionally been used, how people take them, what researchers have actually found, and what to watch out for. Where the science is thin, we say so plainly.
Think of these as gentle, complementary support for everyday wellness, used alongside good medical care and never in place of it.
How to read each entry
- Traditional use is what the herb has been used for in folk practice. It is history, not proof.
- What the evidence shows sums up what reputable health sources report from research. Many herbs have only small or mixed studies.
- Cautions and interactions covers side effects and medicines the herb may not mix with. Natural does not always mean safe.
Before you start: a few safety basics
- Tell every doctor and your pharmacist about every herb and supplement you take. Herbs can change how prescription and over-the-counter medicines work.
- Be especially careful with blood thinners (such as warfarin), diabetes medicines, blood pressure and heart medicines, sedatives and sleep aids, thyroid medicine, HIV medicine, and drugs that suppress the immune system.
- Food amounts of a herb or spice are usually very different from concentrated supplement amounts. Supplements are not tested the way medicines are, so strength and quality can vary from brand to brand.
- Stop and call your doctor if you notice a rash, swelling, stomach pain, yellow skin or eyes, unusual bruising or any new symptom. Stop using herbs before surgery unless your surgeon says otherwise.
- Pregnant or nursing, giving something to a child, or older and on several medicines? Ask a professional before using any herb.
- St. John’s wort is not in this guide because it interacts with a long list of medicines, including some antidepressants, birth control and heart medicines. If you take it or are thinking about it, check with your pharmacist first.
The herbs
Ginger
Zingiber officinale
- Traditional use
- Used for centuries in many cooking and folk-medicine traditions to settle an upset stomach and ease queasiness.
- How people take it
- Fresh root steeped as tea, added to food, chewed as candied ginger, or taken as capsules or powder.
- What the evidence shows
- NIH NCCIH reports that ginger may help with nausea and vomiting, including nausea in pregnancy, though pregnant women should check with their provider first. Evidence for other uses, such as pain or motion sickness, is mixed or limited.
- Cautions and interactions
- Can cause heartburn, gas or stomach upset, especially in larger amounts. It may affect blood clotting, so ask your doctor or pharmacist before using supplement-sized amounts if you take warfarin or other blood thinners, or before surgery.
Peppermint
Mentha × piperita
- Traditional use
- Traditionally used for upset stomach, gas and bloating, and as an aromatic for stuffy-feeling heads.
- How people take it
- Tea from the leaves, or enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules made for digestion. Peppermint oil is strong and is not meant to be swallowed straight.
- What the evidence shows
- NIH NCCIH notes that peppermint oil may help ease symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) for some people. Evidence for other uses is limited.
- Cautions and interactions
- Can worsen heartburn or acid reflux. Peppermint oil should not be put on or near the face of babies or young children. Peppermint oil may affect how the body handles some medicines, and acid-reducing medicines can interfere with enteric-coated capsules, so ask your pharmacist first.
Chamomile
Matricaria chamomilla and Chamaemelum nobile
- Traditional use
- A long-time bedtime and tummy-soothing tea in many cultures, also used on the skin in creams and compresses.
- How people take it
- Tea from the dried flowers, extracts and capsules, or creams applied to the skin.
- What the evidence shows
- NIH NCCIH describes the research as limited. Some small studies suggest possible benefit for anxiety, but there is not enough strong evidence to say chamomile reliably treats any condition.
- Cautions and interactions
- People allergic to ragweed, daisies, marigolds or chrysanthemums can react to chamomile. It may add to the effect of sedatives, and there are reports of interaction with warfarin. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you take either.
Turmeric
Curcuma longa
- Traditional use
- A golden-yellow root used in cooking and in traditional Indian and other Asian medicine, often for joint comfort and digestion.
- How people take it
- Ground spice in food, golden-milk style drinks, or capsules of turmeric or its main compound, curcumin.
- What the evidence shows
- NIH NCCIH says there is not enough high-quality evidence that turmeric or curcumin treats any health condition. Studies have looked at joint pain, digestion and other topics, and results so far are mixed or preliminary.
- Cautions and interactions
- Spice amounts in food are generally considered fine. High-dose supplements have been linked to rare cases of liver injury, and may cause stomach upset. Turmeric may increase bleeding risk with blood thinners such as warfarin, may affect diabetes medicines, and can be a concern with gallbladder problems. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist first.
Garlic
Allium sativum
- Traditional use
- Used in food and folk medicine around the world, traditionally for colds and for heart and circulation health.
- How people take it
- Fresh cloves in food, or garlic powder, aged extract and oil capsules.
- What the evidence shows
- NIH NCCIH reports that garlic supplements may slightly lower blood pressure and may modestly lower cholesterol in the short term. Evidence that garlic prevents colds or cancer is limited or inconclusive.
- Cautions and interactions
- Can cause bad breath, heartburn and upset stomach. Garlic supplements may increase bleeding risk, so they are a concern with warfarin and other blood thinners and before surgery. Garlic supplements can also lower the level of some HIV medicines. Ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking them.
Echinacea
Echinacea purpurea and related species
- Traditional use
- A North American prairie flower traditionally used to try to fend off or shorten colds.
- How people take it
- Tea, tinctures, tablets or capsules made from the flowers, leaves or roots.
- What the evidence shows
- NIH NCCIH says studies on echinacea for preventing or treating colds have had mixed results, partly because products differ so much. Any benefit appears modest at best.
- Cautions and interactions
- People with allergies to ragweed and related plants (daisy family) can have allergic reactions, which can occasionally be serious, and people with asthma should be careful. Because it may act on the immune system, ask your doctor first if you take immune-suppressing medicine or have an autoimmune condition. Long-term use is not well studied.
Elderberry
Sambucus nigra
- Traditional use
- The dark berries have long been used in home syrups and teas for colds and flu-like illness.
- How people take it
- Cooked berries in syrups, juices or jams, or commercial syrups, gummies and capsules.
- What the evidence shows
- NIH NCCIH says there is not enough evidence to show elderberry helps with the flu or colds, and research so far is small and preliminary.
- Cautions and interactions
- Raw or unripe berries, and the bark, leaves and seeds, can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea and should not be eaten raw. Use only properly cooked berries or a trustworthy commercial product. Because it may stimulate the immune system, ask your doctor first if you take immune-suppressing medicine or have an autoimmune condition.
Aloe vera
Aloe barbadensis miller
- Traditional use
- A succulent whose clear leaf gel has been used on the skin for sunburn and minor burns for generations.
- How people take it
- Clear gel from the leaf or store-bought aloe gel applied to the skin. Aloe latex and whole-leaf extracts are sometimes swallowed as laxatives.
- What the evidence shows
- NIH NCCIH notes that aloe gel on the skin may help with minor burns and sunburn, and evidence for other skin uses is mixed. Evidence for swallowing aloe for other conditions is limited.
- Cautions and interactions
- Skin products are usually well tolerated, though some people get a rash. Swallowing aloe latex or whole-leaf extract can cause cramps and diarrhea, and NCCIH advises against oral use of non-decolorized whole-leaf extract. Oral aloe may lower blood sugar, so it matters with diabetes medicines, and its laxative effect can lower potassium, which matters with heart medicines such as digoxin and with diuretics. Do not use it on deep or serious burns or wounds.
Lavender
Lavandula angustifolia
- Traditional use
- A fragrant flower used for centuries in baths, sachets and teas to promote calm and sleep.
- How people take it
- Aromatherapy (smelling the oil or a diffuser), diluted oil in massage, tea, or specially prepared oral capsules.
- What the evidence shows
- NIH NCCIH says small studies suggest lavender aromatherapy or certain oral lavender products may help with anxiety, and there is some preliminary work on sleep. The evidence is not strong enough for firm conclusions.
- Cautions and interactions
- Never swallow lavender essential oil, and dilute it before putting it on the skin because it can irritate. It may add to the drowsiness of sedatives and sleep medicines. Some reports have linked lavender oils to breast tissue growth in young boys, so be cautious with children. Ask your doctor first if you are pregnant.
Honey
Raw or commercial honey
- Traditional use
- A traditional sweetener and home remedy for sore throats and coughs, and for covering small wounds.
- How people take it
- A spoonful on its own or stirred into warm tea or water. Medical-grade honey dressings are used by clinicians on some wounds.
- What the evidence shows
- Mayo Clinic notes that honey may soothe a cough in children older than one year and in adults, and may work about as well as some over-the-counter cough ingredients in studies. Medical-grade honey is used in some wound care. Ordinary honey from the kitchen is not a wound treatment.
- Cautions and interactions
- Never give honey to a baby under 12 months old because of the risk of infant botulism. Honey is sugar and counts toward your daily intake, which matters with diabetes. People with pollen or bee allergies can react. A cough that lasts, brings a high fever or causes trouble breathing needs a doctor.
Cinnamon
Cinnamomum verum (Ceylon) and Cinnamomum cassia
- Traditional use
- A warming bark used as a spice and in traditional medicine for digestion and, in modern times, blood sugar.
- How people take it
- Ground spice in food and drinks, tea from sticks, or capsules.
- What the evidence shows
- NIH NCCIH says studies on cinnamon for blood sugar control in diabetes have had mixed or inconclusive results, and it should not take the place of diabetes treatment.
- Cautions and interactions
- Common cassia cinnamon contains coumarin, which can harm the liver in large amounts, and Ceylon cinnamon has much less. Cinnamon may add to the effect of diabetes medicines and may be a concern with liver-affecting drugs or blood thinners. Keep supplements to what your doctor or pharmacist approves.
Green tea
Camellia sinensis
- Traditional use
- A leaf tea drunk for centuries in East Asia, valued as a gentle everyday pick-me-up.
- How people take it
- Brewed as tea, or taken as green tea extract capsules and powders such as matcha.
- What the evidence shows
- NIH NCCIH says that green tea has been studied for many conditions, and there is not strong evidence that it prevents or treats disease or helps with weight loss. Drinking it as a beverage is generally considered safe for most people.
- Cautions and interactions
- Contains caffeine, which can cause jitters, trouble sleeping and a fast heartbeat. Concentrated green tea extract supplements have been linked to rare liver problems, so NCCIH advises caution. Green tea has some vitamin K, which can affect warfarin, and it can reduce iron absorption. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about stimulant, heart and blood-thinner medicines.
Valerian
Valeriana officinalis
- Traditional use
- A root used since ancient times as a calming herb and sleep aid.
- How people take it
- Tea, tinctures, or capsules and tablets made from the dried root.
- What the evidence shows
- NIH NCCIH says studies on valerian for sleep problems have had mixed results, and it is not clear that it helps. It is usually considered safe for short-term use in healthy adults.
- Cautions and interactions
- Can cause headache, dizziness, stomach upset and drowsiness. Do not combine it with alcohol, sleeping pills, anti-anxiety medicines or other sedatives, and avoid driving or operating machinery after taking it. It has not been shown safe in pregnancy or for young children. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist first.
Lemon balm
Melissa officinalis
- Traditional use
- A lemon-scented leaf of the mint family used for centuries in teas for calm, sleep and digestion.
- How people take it
- Tea from the leaves, extracts and capsules, or creams applied to the skin.
- What the evidence shows
- NIH NCCIH describes the research as limited. Small studies, often using lemon balm combined with other herbs, suggest possible help for anxiety and sleep, and the evidence is too weak to draw firm conclusions.
- Cautions and interactions
- Usually well tolerated in short-term use, but can cause nausea, dizziness or sleepiness. It may add to the effect of sedatives, and it may affect thyroid function, so ask your doctor or pharmacist if you take thyroid medicine.
Neem
Azadirachta indica
- Traditional use
- A tree central to Ayurveda, the traditional medicine of India. Twigs, leaves and oil have been used for skin problems, for cleaning teeth and gums, and as an insect repellent.
- How people take it
- Leaf or seed oil applied to the skin or used in soaps and creams, twig chewed or neem-based toothpaste and mouthwash for the gums, leaf teas and capsules, and neem oil sprays as a repellent. Neem oil is not meant to be swallowed.
- What the evidence shows
- Evidence is limited. Small studies have looked at neem for skin conditions, gum health and as an insect repellent, but there is not enough good-quality research to show that it works or to say what a safe amount is for people. Check NIH NCCIH and Mayo Clinic for their current information.
- Cautions and interactions
- Neem oil taken by mouth has caused serious poisoning in young children, so keep all neem products away from children and never give it to a child. Avoid neem in pregnancy and when trying to conceive. Neem may lower blood sugar, which matters with diabetes medicines, and it may affect the immune system, so ask your doctor first if you take immunosuppressants or have an autoimmune condition. It is for short-term use only. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before using it, and get emergency care right away if someone has swallowed neem oil.
Questions to ask your doctor or pharmacist
- Is this herb safe with my current medicines and health conditions?
- What amount and form, if any, would be reasonable for me?
- How will we know whether it is helping, and when should I stop?
- Should I stop it before a procedure or surgery?
Where to read more
The information here was written for this site as a plain-language overview. For current, detailed and regularly reviewed information, check the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Mayo Clinic, which both have herb and supplement fact sheets. Your pharmacist can also check your medicines for interactions. Research changes over time, so these sources are always the better place to confirm the latest guidance.
Important: This is not medical advice
This page is for general information only. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose, treat or cure anything. Herbs are complementary support, not replacements for prescribed medicine.
- Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using any herb, tea or supplement, especially if you take medicine, are pregnant or nursing, have a health condition, or are planning surgery.
- Do not stop or change any prescribed medicine on your own.
- Get emergency care right away (call 911) for serious symptoms such as chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of a stroke, severe allergic reaction, heavy bleeding, confusion, or thoughts of harming yourself.
Each herb on its own page
