Linden
Tilia tomentosa, T. platyphyllosA linden tree can live several hundred years; in Europe it is the tree of village squares and meetings.
What is Linden?
Linden (Tilia tomentosa) is a plant of the Malvaceae family. Traditions that use it: Anatolia and the Mediterranean. Part used: flowers with their bract.
What is Linden used for?
Traditional use: The tea of winter evenings, drunk to sweat out a cold and to relax. Scientific evidence: traditional. The EMA recognises linden flower for cold symptoms and mild mental stress as traditional uses.
Is Linden safe?
Safety label: generally safe. Generally safe.
Traditional use
The tea of winter evenings, drunk to sweat out a cold and to relax. Common as a street tree in Istanbul; the flowers are gathered in June.
In nature
Mix-up risk
Some linden on sale comes from weakly scented species or old harvests. The best is yellowish flowers picked with their bract.
Preparation
Dried flowers are steeped for 5–10 minutes; not boiled.
What science says
The EMA recognises linden flower for cold symptoms and mild mental stress as traditional uses. It contains flavonoids and mucilage; clinical studies are few.
How strong is the evidence?
Claims often repeated online about Linden, and what science says today.
| Claim | Evidence | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Eases cold symptoms | Traditional only | Recognised by the EMA as a traditional use; controlled studies are almost absent. |
| Relaxes and helps sleep | Traditional only | Recognised by the EMA for mild mental stress as a traditional use; not shown in studies. |
| Strengthens immunity | No evidence | No human studies show this. |
| Helps weight loss | No evidence | No evidence; apart from filling you up as a hot drink, no known effect. |
Common mistakes
- Boiling the flowers: the volatile compounds escape and the tea turns bitter. Pour on boiled water and steep covered.
- Linden blends sold with leaves and twigs: the valuable part is the flower and the pale green bract carrying it.
- Relying on linden instead of seeing a doctor for a persistent fever.
Frequently asked
Can I drink linden tea every day?
There are no known serious side effects at moderate amounts (2–3 cups a day). People with heart disease or on regular medication should ask their doctor.
Can I drink linden tea in pregnancy?
The EMA does not recommend it in pregnancy or breastfeeding because of insufficient data. Ask a doctor.
Can children drink it?
The EMA defines the traditional use for children over 4; ask a doctor for younger children.
Safety
Generally safe.
Similar plants
Sources
- EMA monographTiliae flos: European Medicines Agency herbal assessment
- BookBaytop T. Türkiye’de Bitkiler ile Tedavi: Geçmişte ve Bugün. 2. baskı. İstanbul: Nobel Tıp Kitabevleri; 1999.
- Botanical recordKew Plants of the World Online: Tilia tomentosa
- Titles of research sources are summarised in Turkish on the Turkish page; links open the original English publications.
Written by Edanaz Tınmazlar · Last reviewed: · Türkçe