American Basswood vs Bai He

Side-by-side comparison of medicinal herbs

Herb

American Basswood

Tilia americana

Nervine

Lilium lancifolium

Nervine

American Basswood

❌ Not recommended in pregnancy

✅ Generally safe while nursing

Bai He

❌ Not recommended in pregnancy

❌ Not recommended while nursing

Description

North American linden tree; flowers used by Indigenous peoples and settlers similarly to European lindens for sedative and respiratory conditions.

A TCM herb that nourishes lung yin and calms the heart-mind, used for cough and anxiety.

Active Compounds

quercetin, kaempferol, tiliroside, mucilage, tannins

colchicine, regaogenin, tuliposides, flavonoids

Traditional Uses

Anxiety and nervous conditions, Colds and flu with fever, Used by Cherokee, Iroquois and other tribes, Cough and respiratory conditions

lung yin deficiency, cough, anxiety, insomnia

Modern Uses

Sedative, Diaphoretic, Anti-inflammatory, Expectorant

demulcent, anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory

Adult Dosage

2–4 g dried flowers as tea; 2–3 mL tincture

9-30g daily

Contraindications

Cardiac disease, Heart failure

cold conditions

Side Effects

Drowsiness

generally well tolerated

Drug Interactions

0 known interactions

Reviewed by: HerbAlly Editorial Team, Medical herbalists and healthcare professionals

Sources: WHO Monographs · NCCIH · PubMed · Commission E