Lemon Balm Tea Side Effects: What to Know

Drowsiness, nausea and allergic reactions are unconfirmed possible reactions to lemon balm tea, not established side effects.

Is lemon balm tea safe?

Lemon balm tea is made from the leaves of lemon balm, also called Melissa officinalis. Lemon balm has a history of use as a food and herbal tea, but that history does not establish that every preparation is safe for everyone.

Human research is limited and does not establish the frequency of adverse effects from lemon balm tea. A 2022 review of medicinal plants discussed clinical research on lemon balm products and called for further research to support their safe use; it did not report the specific reactions listed below.

The four possibilities below are reasons to stop and assess symptoms, not a proven list of tea side effects. Their order is not a frequency ranking: there is not enough tea-specific evidence to say which, if any, is most common. A symptom after a cup of tea may have another cause.

What are 4 unconfirmed possible reactions, starting with drowsiness?

Drowsiness

Lemon balm products have been studied for calming effects. It is plausible that a calming effect could be experienced as unwanted sleepiness, but research has not established that lemon balm tea causes drowsiness or explained how often it might occur.

If you feel unusually sleepy after drinking lemon balm tea, stop drinking it and avoid driving, cycling or operating machinery until you are fully alert. Consider other possible contributors, including poor sleep, illness, alcohol and medicines that can cause sedation.

Evidence: The 2022 review discusses clinical studies of lemon balm products, not a demonstrated rate of sleepiness from lemon balm tea. Products studied in clinical research may differ in preparation and strength from a cup of tea.

Could lemon balm tea cause nausea or stomach discomfort?

Nausea or stomach discomfort

An upset stomach after lemon balm tea might be related to the drink, another ingredient in a blend or something unrelated, such as an illness. The studies we found do not identify a mechanism by which lemon balm tea causes nausea or abdominal discomfort.

If you feel unwell after drinking the tea, stop using it and check the package for other ingredients. Do not assume that a different brand will solve the problem, because the cause of the symptoms may not yet be clear.

Contact a clinician if symptoms persist, recur or are severe. Seek prompt medical advice if you are vomiting repeatedly or cannot keep fluids down.

Evidence: Research has not established that lemon balm tea causes nausea or provided a frequency for it. Stomach symptoms alone cannot identify the ingredient or other factor responsible.

Could lemon balm tea cause an allergic reaction?

Allergic reaction

An allergic reaction occurs when the immune system reacts to a substance. A reaction after a tea blend could involve an ingredient in the blend, but the studies we found do not establish that lemon balm tea causes allergic reactions or show how often they occur.

Stop using the tea if you develop a new rash, itching or swelling that might be related to it, and contact a clinician for advice. Do not deliberately drink it again to test whether it was the cause. A rash can have several causes, and timing alone does not confirm an allergy.

Seek emergency help immediately for trouble breathing, throat tightness, or swelling of the tongue or throat. Tell the care team what you drank and bring the package if it is available, but do not delay seeking help to find it.

Evidence: Research does not provide tea-specific allergy rates or establish an allergy mechanism for lemon balm tea. An ingredient list can help a clinician consider possible triggers, especially when a product contains multiple herbs.

Could lemon balm tea make you dizzy?

Dizziness

Dizziness has many possible causes, including dehydration, illness and medication effects. Feeling dizzy after lemon balm tea does not establish that the tea caused it; research has not established a tea-specific mechanism or frequency for dizziness.

If you feel dizzy, stop drinking the tea, sit or lie down, and avoid driving or activities where a fall could be dangerous. Contact a clinician if the feeling persists or returns, even if you suspect the tea was involved.

Evidence: A 2024 safety study of aqueous lemon balm extract found no extract-related adverse effects in its repeated-dose rat study. That animal finding cannot establish safety in people or tell us whether lemon balm tea causes dizziness.

Fainting, chest pain, severe shortness of breath or new weakness needs urgent medical attention. Do not wait for the symptom to pass or assume the tea is responsible when a serious cause is possible.

Who should avoid or be careful with lemon balm tea?

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, avoid lemon balm tea unless your healthcare professional says it is appropriate. This is a precaution because research has not established its safety in these circumstances; it is not evidence that the tea is known to cause harm during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Check with a pediatrician before giving lemon balm tea to a child. Research has not established a safe amount for children, and an adult product’s serving directions should not be treated as a pediatric recommendation.

If you take a medicine that makes you sleepy, ask a clinician or pharmacist before trying lemon balm tea. This includes sleep medicines, certain anxiety medicines and opioid pain medicines. The studies we found do not establish an interaction with these medicines; the advice is precautionary because lemon balm products have been studied for calming effects.

The same precaution applies to alcohol, which can impair alertness. Research has not established a lemon balm–alcohol interaction, but avoiding the combination prevents uncertainty about what contributed if you feel sleepy or dizzy.

If you have a medical condition or take other medicines, a healthcare professional can review your situation and the specific tea. Tell your care team about herbal products before a procedure involving sedation or anesthesia; this is a general precaution, not a claim that a lemon balm tea interaction has been demonstrated. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

How much lemon balm tea is safe per day?

There is no well-established universal safe daily limit for lemon balm tea. For help exploring ingredients, rather than determining a medical dose, see the ai detox recipe generator; it cannot account for every medical condition or medication interaction.

Tea strength can vary with the amount of leaf, the product and how it is prepared. A label’s serving directions are not proof that a serving is safe for you, and tolerating one cup does not establish that a larger amount or regular use is safe.

Ask a healthcare professional about your specific product if you plan to drink it regularly or are unsure whether it is appropriate for you. This is especially useful if you have a medical condition, take medication or are considering the tea for a child.

Avoid increasing the strength or frequency in an attempt to achieve a stronger calming effect. Stop if you notice a concerning symptom, and discuss it with a clinician rather than continuing to test your tolerance.

When should you see a doctor?

Seek emergency care for difficulty breathing, throat or tongue swelling, fainting, chest pain, severe shortness of breath or new weakness. These signs can have serious causes and should not be managed by waiting to see whether they pass.

Contact a clinician promptly for a new rash or swelling, severe or persistent dizziness, repeated vomiting, or stomach symptoms that do not settle after you stop the tea. Also ask for advice if a symptom keeps returning or if you are concerned about a possible medicine interaction.

Keep the tea package or ingredient list to show the clinician. Note when you drank it, when symptoms began and any medicines or supplements you had taken. This information can help the clinician assess possible causes without assuming that lemon balm tea was responsible.