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Erva Cidreira
Lippia alba
Anxiety and insomnia in Brazilian and Mexican folk medicine
Erva Cidreira (Lippia alba) exerts its anxiolytic effects primarily through its volatile oil content, specifically citral, linalool, and carvone. These compounds interact with the GABAergic system, acting on GABA-A receptors in the central nervous system to produce a calming effect. This mechanism is similar to benzodiazepines but with a milder profile. The flavonoids present also contribute to spasmolytic activity, helping to relax smooth muscles in the digestive tract. Evidence level: C.
Does Erva Cidreira interact with medications?
Yes, Erva Cidreira may interact with central nervous system (CNS) depressants. Because the herb possesses sedative properties, combining it with medications like benzodiazepines, barbiturates, or alcohol can potentiate drowsiness and sedation. Patients taking thyroid medications should also exercise caution, as limited evidence suggests potential effects on thyroid hormones. It is advisable to consult a healthcare provider before combining this herb with prescription medications. Evidence level: C.
What is the recommended dosage for Erva Cidreira tea?
For adults, the standard dosage for Erva Cidreira is 2 to 4 grams of dried herb prepared as a tea, taken up to three times daily. Alternatively, a tincture dosage of 2 to 3 ml three times daily is common. For therapeutic effects on anxiety or digestion, consistency is key. It is best to start with a lower dose to assess tolerance, as higher doses may cause drowsiness. Evidence level: Traditional.
Is Erva Cidreira safe during pregnancy?
While Erva Cidreira is generally considered safe as a food ingredient, medicinal doses should be approached with caution during pregnancy. Traditional use suggests safety in moderation, but large medicinal doses are contraindicated due to potential emmenagogue effects. Pregnant women should limit intake to culinary amounts or consult a qualified healthcare practitioner before using concentrated extracts or tinctures. Evidence level: Traditional.
What are the side effects of Lippia alba?
Erva Cidreira is well-tolerated by most individuals, but high doses can lead to side effects such as drowsiness and sedation. This is due to the presence of linalool and citral, which act on the central nervous system. Some sensitive individuals may experience mild gastrointestinal upset. It is recommended to avoid driving or operating heavy machinery if you experience significant sedation after consumption. Evidence level: C.
PubMed-compiled information sheet
This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Lippia alba, known as erva-cidreira, is an aromatic shrub used in Brazilian folk medicine primarily for its sedative, analgesic, and antihypertensive properties [PMID:18207682, PMID:16784826, PMID:39381914].
Background
Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E. Brown is a phenotypically variable tropical shrub found in practically all regions of Brazil [PMID:16784826, PMID:33760982]. It is characterized by significant variability in morphology and chemical composition of its essential oils [PMID:16784826].
Traditional uses
Traditionally used in Brazil as a remedy for digestive and respiratory ailments, as a sedative, an antihypertensive, an antispasmodic, and an antidyspeptic [PMID:18207682, PMID:36181984]. It is also used in teas to treat pain and inflammatory diseases [PMID:38897034].
Active compounds
The plant contains essential oils with various chemotypes (e.g., myrcene-citral) and non-volatile compounds including iridoids, phenylethanoids, flavone glycosides, biflavonoids, tannins, and anthocyanins [PMID:18207682, PMID:16784826, PMID:37364681]. Specific identified compounds include citral, limonene, linalool, geraniol, geranial, neral, and acteoside [PMID:16784826, PMID:38897034, PMID:39381914, PMID:40143196].
Mechanism of action
Lippia alba essential oil and its constituents citral and limonene cause dose-dependent relaxation of rat uterine muscle [PMID:30447181]. The essential oil also demonstrates inhibitory activity on LPS-stimulated Nitric Oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 macrophages [PMID:29605588].
Clinical evidence
Evidence CAnxiety and Insomnia
Partial positive results have been obtained regarding sedative and anxiolytic activities [PMID:18207682].
Evidence DHypertension
Methanolic extract of L. alba showed significant hypotensive effects on systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure in normotensive rats [PMID:39381914].
Evidence DPain and Inflammation
Essential oil and geraniol demonstrated antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities in mouse models [PMID:38897034].
Evidence CBreast Cancer
Review suggests potential anticancer effects on breast cancer cells and synergy with conventional treatments [PMID:38261655].
Evidence DSchistosomiasis
In vitro exposure to L. alba essential oil reduced adult S. mansoni worm viability by approximately 60% after 24 hours [PMID:35364048].
Safety & adverse effects
Genotoxic action was observed via micronucleus and comet assays at doses of 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg in fish and mammals, with greater damage seen in fish [PMID:29605588].
Drug interactions
L. alba is used by patients in anticoagulation clinics, but there is a lack of studies supporting the safety of its concomitant use with warfarin [PMID:36181984].
Evidence summary
The evidence is primarily based on ethnopharmacological reviews and in vitro or animal studies (Level C and D). Clinical trials in humans are lacking, particularly for its use as a sedative [PMID:18207682].
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 18207682 (2008) — Ethnopharmacology of Lippia alba. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
2.PMID: 38261655 (2024) — Ippia Alba Essential Oil: A Promising Complementary Therapy for Breast Cancer. · Chemistry & biodiversity
3.PMID: 16784826 (2006) — Ethnopharmacological study of two Lippia species from Oriximiná, Brazil. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
4.PMID: 36181984 (2023) — Antithrombotic potential of Lippia alba: A mechanistic approach. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
5.PMID: 35364048 (2022) — Lippia alba and Lippia gracilis essential oils affect the viability and oviposition of Schistosoma mansoni. · Acta tropica
6.
Government sources
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
PMID: 40143196 (2025) — Unraveling the Neuropharmacological Properties of Lippia alba: A Scientometric Approach. · Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
7.PMID: 30447181 (2019) — Tocolytic activity of the Lippia alba essential oil and its major constituents, citral and limonene, on the isolated uterus of rats. · Chemico-biological interactions
8.PMID: 38897034 (2024) — Lippia alba essential oil: A powerful and valuable antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory medicinal plant from Brazil. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
9.PMID: 39381914 (2025) — In vivo hypotensive effect of a chemically characterised extract from the leaves of Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E.Br. · Natural product research
10.PMID: 37364681 (2023) — Comparative analysis indicates a simple protocol for DNA extraction of the aromatic plant Lippia alba. · Analytical biochemistry
11.PMID: 33760982 (2022) — Chromosomal view of Lippia alba, a tropical polyploid complex under genome stabilization process. · Protoplasma
12.PMID: 29605588 (2018) — Genotoxic effect of Lippia alba (Mill.) N. E. Brown essential oil on fish (Oreochromis niloticus) and mammal (Mus musculus). · Environmental toxicology and pharmacology