lemon Verbena

botanical

Best with a meal

What is it

Lemon verbena (Aloysia citriodora, formerly Lippia citriodora) is a fragrant shrub native to South America. The leaves are used as a culinary herb, in teas, and in standardized supplement extracts.

Evidence for 1 use

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

Exercise recovery and joint comfort

Limited Evidence

Small RCTs of standardized lemon verbena extract (often combined with omega-3) suggest reduced exercise-induced oxidative stress and improved joint comfort. Larger trials are needed.

How it works

Lemon verbena leaves are rich in verbascoside (acteoside), other phenylpropanoid glycosides, and essential oils (citral, limonene). Verbascoside is an antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory effects in laboratory and small clinical studies. Standardized extracts have been studied for joint comfort (often combined with omega-3s), exercise recovery, and sleep quality. Some small RCTs show benefits, but evidence is still limited.

Dosage

Standardized leaf extracts are often used at 200-400 mg/day, sometimes split between morning and evening. Tea infusions: 1-2 g dried leaf per cup, 1-3 times per day.

When and how to take it

Often taken with meals to improve tolerability. Some sleep-support formulations recommend evening use. Follow product label.

2 commercial forms

Standardized leaf extract (e.g., verbascoside-standardized)

Verbascoside is absorbed and metabolized

Common in joint and recovery products.

Dried leaf tea

Aromatic oils and polyphenols extracted with hot water

Pleasant lemon-flavored herbal tea.

Safety

Generally well-tolerated as a tea or in standardized extracts. Mild GI upset is occasionally reported. Essential oil is concentrated and should not be ingested undiluted.

Who should be cautious

Limited safety data in pregnancy and breastfeeding for concentrated extracts; tea is generally considered low-risk. People with very sensitive skin should avoid undiluted essential oil.

Interactions

No well-established drug interactions at typical doses.

Food sources

Food	Amount	%DV
Lemon verbena leaves (culinary)	a few leaves	—

Frequently asked questions

Is lemon verbena the same as lemongrass?⌄

No. They have similar citrus aromas but are different plants. Lemon verbena is Aloysia citriodora; lemongrass is Cymbopogon.

Can I drink lemon verbena tea daily?⌄

Yes, most people tolerate it well. It is a common herbal tea in South America and Europe.

References

lemon Verbena on Wikidata — Wikidata link
lemon Verbena on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link
Research on lemon Verbena (PubMed search) — PubMed link

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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.