Linden

Scientific Name(s): Tilia cordata Mill., Tilia platyphyllos Scop.
Common Name(s): Basswood, European linden, Lime flower, Lime tree, Linden

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 1, 2022.

Clinical Overview

Use

Linden has been used to induce sweating for feverish colds and infections, reduce nasal congestion, and relieve throat irritation and cough. Linden has sedative effects and has been used to treat nervous palpitations and high blood pressure. It has also been used in lotions for itchy skin. However, there is limited clinical information.

Dosing

Linden is available in several dosage forms. There are no recent clinical studies to support a specific dosage of linden. No more than 2 to 4 g/day of linden from teas or other preparations for internal use should be consumed. Similar dosage regimens can be found on various commercial Web sites.

Contraindications

Although no recent clinical data has been published, the German Commission E monograph concluded that the linden flower is cardiotoxic.

Pregnancy/Lactation

Avoid use due to the lack of data.

Interactions

None well documented.

Adverse Reactions

Reports exist of specific toxicity such as contact urticaria, allergy from certain Tilia fruit oils in rats, seasonal pollinosis, organochlorine pesticide residues in linden-containing beverages, and occupational contact dermatitis with rhinoconjunctivitis from soft wood dust exposure.

Toxicology

There is no documentation supporting the belief that old linden flowers may induce narcotic intoxication. References in the German Commission E report that frequent use of linden flower teas has been associated with cardiac damage.

Scientific Family

• Tiliaceae (linden)

Botany

The most common species of linden trees are T. cordata (small-leaved linden) and T. platyphyllos (large leaved-linden). They belong to the Tiliaceae family, which consists of nearly 80 species native to Europe and found in northern temperate regions. Linden trees are deciduous and fast growing, typically reaching 15 to 23 m in height and spreading 12 to 15 m wide. The 5-petaled, fragrant, yellow to white flowers are collected after spring bloom and are dried and preserved under low-moisture conditions. The leaves of the tree are heart-shaped, have serrate margins, and grow 5 to 10 cm long. Linden tree bark is smooth, gray, and fibrous. The flowers are the most valued medicinal components of the linden tree.1, 2

History

Since the Middle Ages, the flowers of the linden tree have been primarily used as a diaphoretic to promote sweating. They have also been used for a variety of other medicinal purposes in phytotherapy, including as an expectorant, diuretic, antispasmodic, stomachic, and sedative. In addition, the flowers have been used traditionally for the treatment of flu, cough, migraine, nervous tension, ingestion, various types of spasms, liver and gall bladder disorders, diarrhea, and elevated arterial pressure associated with arteriosclerosis. The linden flower is listed in the German Pharmacopoeia and is approved in the German Commission E monographs. In Germany, it is included in common cold and antitussive preparations, as well as in urological and sedative drugs. In German pediatric medicine, it is included with several other species as a diaphoretic component in a tea used to treat influenza.2, 3 The flavonoid, volatile oil, and mucilage components in linden may contribute to these claimed medical properties.4, ...