Agastache

BotanicalBest with a meal

What is it

Agastache (commonly Agastache rugosa, Chinese giant hyssop) is an aromatic mint-family herb used in Chinese and Korean traditional medicine, often for digestive and summer-cold complaints.

Evidence for 1 use

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Digestive comfort (traditional use)

Limited Evidence

Traditional use for nausea, bloating, and summer-cold-related stomach upset; modern clinical evidence is limited.

How it works

Agastache contains volatile oils dominated by methyl chavicol (estragole) or pulegone depending on species, plus rosmarinic acid and flavonoids. Traditional uses focus on relieving GI discomfort, nausea, and mild respiratory symptoms. Modern evidence is mostly preclinical with some small clinical work.

Dosage

Traditional doses are 6-12 g of dried aerial parts as decoction. Modern extracts vary; no standardized dose exists.

When and how to take it

Often taken as tea after meals for digestive support. No strict timing.

2 commercial forms

Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.

Dried aerial parts / tea

Traditional preparation.

Volatile oil and water-soluble actives extract in hot water.

Hydroalcoholic extract

Used in modern herbal products.

More concentrated.

Safety

Generally well tolerated as a culinary or tea herb. Estragole content in some species raises theoretical concerns at high chronic intake based on rodent data; usual culinary or tea use is considered low risk.

Who should be cautious

Pregnancy: culinary or tea use is generally fine; avoid concentrated extracts due to limited safety data and estragole concerns. Limited pediatric data.

Interactions

No major documented drug interactions.

Food sources

Korean mint (agastache) leaf, used as culinary herb

Amount
small handful
%DV
—

Frequently asked questions

Is agastache the same as hyssop?⌄

Not exactly. 'Hyssop' typically refers to Hyssopus officinalis, a different plant. Agastache species are sometimes called Chinese or Korean hyssop and are related Lamiaceae but distinct.

Can I use agastache for nausea?⌄

Traditional Chinese medicine uses it for nausea and indigestion, but rigorous modern evidence is limited. Generally low risk in tea amounts.

References

Agastache on Wikidata — Wikidata link

Agastache on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link

Research on Agastache (PubMed search) — PubMed link

Track Agastache with Pilora

Set up dose reminders, check interactions, and join the community in the Pilora iPhone app.

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.