5 Benefits of Lovely Linden Flower + Tea Recipe

Linden flower is a sweet and gentle herb with calming, soothing properties. It is a great herb for children because of its gentleness but is just as beneficial for adults. The main benefits of linden are for the heart- both physically and emotionally.

If you're lucky enough to live near linden trees, you may be able to harvest fresh blossoms in the summer. If not, the leaves and flowers are sold by many herbal suppliers for you to enjoy.

Here's more about linden and how to use it for wellness.

What Is Linden Flower?

Linden trees grow abundantly in Europe where they are often referred to as lime trees (not to be confused with the tree that produces citrus fruit). They have the botanical name Tilia cordata and are known as littleleaf linden (or lime).

A different species of linden, Tilia americana, is native to North America and is also known as the basswood tree.

Both species have heart-shaped leaves and small white to yellow flowers that grow in clusters and smell incredible when they bloom. If you were to travel somewhere like France or England when linden is in bloom, you would be able to smell their sweet fragrance long before spotting the trees.

Linden flower tea is the most popular way to use the blossoms of linden trees. Despite the name, linden leaves are often mixed with the flowers before being infused in hot water.

Not surprisingly, linden as an herbal remedy has been very popular in Europe throughout history. It's been used for colds, flus, and fevers, to calm nerves, and to treat sleep disorders and hysteria.

Top Benefits of Linden Flower

Calms the Nervous System & Promotes Relaxation

One of the central benefits of linden flower is its action as a nervine, an herb that can calm your nerves. It is especially helpful for tension, irritability, and anxiety as well as for calming restlessness in children.

Because it eases both physical and emotion tension, linden can also help with associated sleep problems. A cup of linden tea will help you unwind at night, particularly after a tense or disappointing day.

In the past, linden has been used for what would have been called hysteria and/or mania. This is a testament to its ability to calm emotional unrest.

Some recent research has documented that linden has sedative and anxiety-relieving properties, confirming what herbalists have long known. (1)

While linden tea is most frequently used to calm stress, a linden-infused warm bath is a better remedy for restless children and very helpful before bedtime.

Supports Heart Health

Along with calming the emotional heart, linden flower also has benefits for your physical heart.

In studies, linden has demonstrated the potential to lower high blood pressure, something that puts strain on your heart. It appears to act as a vasodilator, meaning it dilates blood vessels, which in turn can lower blood pressure. (2)

Another way linden benefits heart health is by lowering chronic inflammation. It contains powerful antioxidants that have anti-inflammatory properties within your body. (3)

Inflammation is thought to be one of the biggest risk factors for many chronic diseases, including heart disease. Regularly consuming antioxidants, like those in linden tea, is one of the best ways to fight chronic inflammation.

Try this Blood Pressure Support formula for a natural way to give your heart some help. It's made with linden flowers and other herbs.

Soothes Dry Conditions

Linden flower is a demulcent herb, which means it can add moisture to your body and soothe dry or inflamed tissues.

This is often a beneficial quality for certain skin conditions that are dry, rough, and irritated. You can make a tea out of the flowers and apply it as a wash to skin, or use the leaves and flowers to make a poultice.

Drinking linden tea can also help you from the inside out. It is cooling as well as demulcent, which makes it a perfect summertime drink, or an aid for dry tissues within your body.

Aids Digestion

The benefits of linden flower for digestion include its action as both a carminative and anti-spasmodic herb.

As a carminative, linden can help to relieve gas and aid digestive upset. It also has bitter qualities that help to stimulate your digestion and aid your body in breaking down food.

As an anti-spasmodic, linden helps to calm the muscles within your digestive tract, which further helps an upset stomach and cramping. Its demulcent qualities soothe irritated tissues and may help to relieve pain.

Helps Your Body During Colds and Flus

Because linden flower is cooling and moistening, it can be very supportive during colds, the flu, and even seasonal allergies.

Herbalists recommend linden flower tea for fevers that are accompanied by tension and irritation. It boosts circulation, which helps your body to "move out" the heat of a fever. Adding a linden infusion to a bath can really help your body relax and feel better if you don't feel like drinking the tea.

You can also try a cup of the tea for a dry, irritated throat.

Linden Flower Tea + Other Ways to Use

Linden flower tea is the most popular way to use this herb. It has a delicate, sweet flavor that many adults and children enjoy.

You can make it with fresh linden blossoms and leaves, or use the dried herb. Here's how to do it:

• Put 1-3 teaspoons of linden herb in a mug or glass jar.
• Pour 8-10 ounces of hot water over the herb and cover your mug or jar.
• Let the tea steep for at least 15 minutes.
• Strain out the linden and sweeten your tea if desired before enjoying!

To make a stronger and more medicinal linden infusion, use up to one ounce of the dried herb and steep it in a quart of water. The longer you steep it, the stronger the infusion will be. Steep for at least four hours and as long as overnight.

You can drink your linden infusion either hot or cold. Or you can add it to bathwater for a calming and stress-relieving soak.

For a sweet treat that often appeals to children, infuse linden flowers and/or the leaves in honey.

To use externally for skin issues, wash your skin with a strong infusion or make a poultice by adding a tiny amount of warm water to the leaves until it makes a paste.

Precautions

Linden flower is an extremely safe herb that has few precautions. Rarely, an allergic reaction can happen. Discontinue use if you notice any symptoms.

There is a chance that linden may interact with diuretics or medications containing lithium.

Enjoying Gentle Linden

The benefits of linden flower can be enjoyed by almost anyone. It's a gentle enough herb to be given to children, yet also soothing for adults, especially during seasons of stress.

Drink linden as a tea, use it on your skin, or soak away tension in an infused bath!