List of approved herbal medicines by the EU Committee for Herbal Medicinal Products

The European Union's Committee for Herbal Medicinal Products (HCMP) maintains a list of herbal treatments known to be traditionally used for medical problems without harmful effects.

The list details the dose, form it is taken in, strength, any maximum time herbal treatments should be used for, and suitability for children, pregnant women or any other specific groups.

• Aniseed (pimpinella anisum L)

For a cough associated with a cold, and for symptoms of mild, spasmodic gastrointestinal or digestive problems including bloating and flatulence

• Calendula officinalis L, also known as calendulae flos, calendula flower, garden marigold, marigold, marygold and others

For minor skin inflammation including sunburn, minor throat or mouth inflammation or minor skin wounds

• Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench, also known as Black Samsons, Black Susan, Purple Coneflower Herb, and others

Prevention and treatment of common colds, can be applied to skin for small superficial wounds. May cause allergic reactions.

• Siberian ginseng, also known as Devil's shrub, eleuthero, eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.), Kan Jang, Maxim, and Shigoka

A traditional herbal medicinal for symptoms of asthenia such as fatigue and weakness.

• Bitter fennel, also known as bitter fennel fruit, bitter fennel fruit oil, foeniculum vulgare Miller subsp. vulgare var. vulgare, foeniculi amari fructus aetherolum

Helps with coughing up mucus in a cough associated with a cold, minor spasms from menstrual periods, and for symptoms of mild, spasmodic gastrointestinal or digestive problems including bloating and flatulence; allergic reactions may occur

• Sweet fennel, also known as foeniculum vulgare Miller subsp. vulgare var. dulce (Miller) Thellung, sweet fennel fruit, sweet fennel fruit oil

Helps with coughing up mucus in a cough associated with a cold, also used for minor spasms from menstrual periods, used hot and for symptoms of mild, spasmodic gastrointestinal or digestive problems including bloating and flatulence; allergic reactions may occur

• Grapevine leaf (vitis vinifera L., folium)

For discomfort or the sensation of heavy legs caused by circulation problems

• Peppermint oil (mentha x piperita L., menthae piperitae aetheroleum)

For symptoms of coughs and colds, localized muscle pain, and localized itching of unbroken skin.

• Sideritis (sideritis scardica Griseb., also known as ironwort)

For a cough associated with a cold, or for mild gastrointestinal or digestive problems.

• Tea tree oil - melaleuca alternifolia (Maiden and Betch) Cheel, M. linariifolia Smith, M. dissitiflora F. Mueller and/or other species of Melaleuca, aetheroleum

For treating small superficial wounds, insect bites, small boils including mild acne, to relief itching and irritation in mild athlete's foot and for minor inflammation of the oral mucosa.

• Thyme or Garden thyme (thymus vulgaris L., thyme essential oil, thymus zygis Loefl. ex L., aetheroleum)

For use with coughs and colds, including as a bath additive when there are no open wounds or fever (and author other cautions) or rubbed into the chest or back for adults.

• Valerian or valeriana officinalis L.

Used as a sleep aid or for mental stress.

• Witch-hazel (hamamelis virginiana L., folium et cortex aut ramunculus destillatum)

For the use of minor skin inflammation and dryness, including "temporary relief of eye discomfort due to dryness of the eye or to exposure to wind or sun"

See also

• Alternative medicine
• Committee for Herbal Medicinal Products
• National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
• European Medicines Agency

Learn more

• List of herbal substances, preparations and combinations thereof for use in traditional herbal medicinal products - HCMP