Supplement guide

Linden - Tilia

Learn about the uses, forms, amounts, and precautions for Linden - Tilia. This guide brings the relevant conditions together so you can see who the information covers, how preparations differ, and what to consider before use.

Prepared by Dr. Edward M.Kim, PharmD · Clinical Director, SupplementSafety editorial team · Sources and editorial method

First released · Updated · View changes

What is it used for?

  • (Traditionally) used in Herbal Medicine to help relieve restlessness and/or nervousness (nervine/calmative) [Source note 2].

  • (Traditionally) used in Herbal Medicine to help relieve coughs, mucous buildup (catarrh) and irritation of the throat due to cold. [Source note 3].

  • The above uses can be combined on the product label if from the same traditional or non-traditional system of medicine (e.g., Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine to help relieve restlessness or nervousness, coughs, mucous buildup and irritation of the throat due to cold).

  • For multi-ingredient products:

    • To prevent the product from being represented as a "traditional medicine", any indicated traditional use claim must refer to the specific active ingredient(s) and recognized traditional system of medicine from which the claim originates when 1) both traditional and modern claims are present or 2) when claims originate from multiple systems of traditional medicine (e.g., Linden is traditionally used in Herbal Medicine to help relieve restlessness and/or nervousness).

    • When ALL of the active ingredients (MIs) in the product are used within the SAME identified system of traditional medicine AND the product makes ONLY traditional claims, listing of MIs in the traditional claim(s) is not required.

Who does this guide cover?

As specified below.

How is it taken?

Oral

Which forms are covered?

this reference excludes foods or food-like dosage forms as indicated in the Compendium of references Guidance Document.

Acceptable dosage forms by age group:

Children 2 years: The acceptable dosage forms are limited to emulsion/suspension and solution/liquid preparations (Giacoia et al. 2008; EMA/CHMP 2006).

Children 3-5 years: The acceptable dosage forms are limited to chewables, emulsion/suspension, powders and solution/liquid preparations (Giacoia et al. 2008; EMA/CHMP 2006).

Children 6-11 years, Adolescents 12-17 years, and Adults 18 years and older: The

Quantities

Methods of preparation: Dry, Powdered, Non-Standardized Extracts (Dry extract*, Tincture, Fluid extract, Decoction, Decoction concentrate, Infusion, Infusion concentrate)

Table 2. Dose information (grams) for the total amount of dried flower per day
Subpopulation(s)¹,²Subpopulation(s)¹,²Dried flower (g/day) / MinimumDried flower (g/day) / Maximum
Children2-4 years0.2 g2 g
Children5-9 years0.4 g3 g
Children10-11 years0.8 g6 g
Adolescents12-14 years0.8 g6 g
Adolescents15-17 years1.5 g12 g
Adults18 years and older1.5 g12 g

¹Children and adolescent doses were calculated as a fraction of the adult dose [Source note 4]. The use of linden in children and adolescents is supported by the following references: McIntyre 2005, Schilcher 1997, Bove 1996. ²Adult dose supported by the following references: Hoffmann 2003, Blumenthal et al. 2000, Bradley 1992, Felter and Lloyd 1983.

*Note: Solvents allowed for the method of preparation “Non-Standardized Extracts (Dry extract)” as part of this reference are ethanol and/or water only.

How is it used?

The reference does not require an additional label statement in this section. This does not establish an absence of risk.

How long is it used?

The reference does not require an additional label statement in this section. This does not establish an absence of risk.

Warnings and precautions

Ask a healthcare professional if symptoms persist or worsen.

When should it be avoided?

The reference does not require an additional label statement in this section. This does not establish an absence of risk.

Possible side effects

Stop use if hypersensitivity/allergy occurs [Source note 5].

Storage

Must be established in accordance with the requirements described in the applicable product regulations.

Preparation details

Ingredient identity, preparation requirements, and other details that define the scope of this guide.

Ingredients and preparations
Table 1. Proper name(s), Common name(s), Source information
Proper name(s)Common name(s)Source information / Source material(s)Source information / Part(s)Source information / Preparation(s)
Tilia cordata
  • Linden
  • Littleleaf linden
  • Small-leaf European linden
  • Small-leaf lime
  • Small-leaf lime tree
  • Small-leaf linden
  • Tilia
Tilia cordataFlowerDry
Tilia x europaea
  • European Lime tree
  • European linden
  • Lime
  • Lime tree
  • Linden
  • Tilia
Tilia x europaeaFlowerDry
Tilia platyphyllos
  • Big-leaf linden
  • Broadleaf lime
  • Large-leaf lime
  • Large-leaf linden
  • Linden
  • Tilia
Tilia platyphyllosFlowerDry

References: Proper names: USDA 2024; Common names: Gardner and McGuffin 2013, Wiersema and León 1999; Source information: Bradley 1992, Felter and Lloyd 1983.

Other ingredients

Must be chosen from the current source ingredient database and must meet the limitations outlined in the database.

Preparation and quality requirements
  • The finished product specifications must be established in accordance with the requirements described in the source authority source’s product quality guidance.

  • The active ingredient must comply with the requirements outlined in the source ingredient database.

Guide change history

Updates to this SupplementSafety.org guide.

  1. Minor updates

    Updated guide wording, organization, and source presentation. Added our editorial change history.

  2. Initial release

    Initial SupplementSafety.org guide prepared from source reference material.

Validation: Not yet completed. Editorial updates do not constitute clinical validation.

Sources

Source information

This guide organizes source material about uses, preparations, amounts, and precautions. Read the conditions alongside each statement; the information may apply only to particular preparations or populations.

The source document includes supporting references. We have not independently summarized or assessed every cited study for this guide.

Source document version
December 19, 2025
Source captured
Aug 15, 2026
Editorial work
Editorial preparation. Independent clinical review has not been recorded for this guide.

Full citations are available through the link above. Verification is required to open them; reading this guide does not require verification.

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