Hibiscus
Hibiscus tea may lower blood pressure by a few points, but the evidence is weaker than the headline numbers suggest: the Cochrane review found only one eligible trial and rated it very low certainty, while later meta-analyses of small, inconsistent trials report drops of roughly 5 to 8 mmHg systolic.
It looks well tolerated in trials, and effects on cholesterol are smaller and less consistent. The main caution is for people on blood pressure tablets or diuretics, because no one has properly tested the combination.
At a glance
Last reviewed 10 October 2026What it's used for
Evidence is rated per use. The same ingredient can be strong for one thing and traditional for another.
| Use | Evidence | What the research shows |
|---|---|---|
| Lowering blood pressureCompare remedies for heart health → | Limited | The Cochrane review (2021) found a single eligible trial of 60 people with type 2 diabetes and hypertension, with no clear effect (systolic mean difference 1.65 mmHg, 95% CI -7.89 to 11.19) and very low certainty. Broader meta-analyses that included people without a formal hypertension diagnosis found larger falls: systolic -7.58 mmHg in 2015 (5 trials, 390 people), -4.71 in 2020 (7 trials, 362 people) and -7.10 in 2022 (17 trials, with very high heterogeneity, I2 = 95%). A 2025 umbrella review of 26 trials rated the credibility of a clinically meaningful drop as moderate, mainly in people over 50 and in trials longer than four weeks. Because the Cochrane review is null on its stricter criteria, we cap this at 2.1,2,3,4,5 |
| Comparison with blood pressure medication | Limited | In a 2004 trial of 75 analysed adults with mild to moderate hypertension, a daily infusion of 10 g of calyces and captopril 25 mg twice a day for four weeks gave no significant difference in blood pressure. The 2022 pooled analysis of such comparisons also found no significant difference from medication, but with high heterogeneity (I2 = 91%) and small trials, so it cannot show that the tea is equivalent.7,3 |
| Cholesterol | Limited | Results are mixed. A 2022 meta-analysis found LDL fell by 6.76 mg/dL (95% CI -13.45 to -0.07) versus placebo or other teas, a borderline result. A 2020 meta-analysis found no significant change in total cholesterol, HDL or triglycerides, with a trend towards lower LDL (p = 0.08), and another 2020 analysis found no significant change in total cholesterol, HDL or triglycerides. The 2025 umbrella review reports lower total cholesterol and LDL and higher HDL, but pooled trials were small and varied.3,4,6,5 |
How much
Ranges below are what studies used and what supplements commonly contain. They are not a recommendation for you. Start at the low end.
How people take it
Safety
Who should avoid
- Blood pressure or diuretic tablets — ask your prescriber before adding regular hibiscus
- Low blood pressure or dizziness on standing — it may lower pressure further
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding — no safety data in the reviews we read
- Liver disease — a small rise in AST enzyme was seen in pooled trials
Known interactions
Questions people ask
Does hibiscus tea lower blood pressure?
Possibly, by a few mmHg. Meta-analyses of small trials report systolic falls of about 5 to 8 mmHg, but the Cochrane review found only one eligible trial and rated the evidence very low certainty. It is not a substitute for prescribed treatment.
Does hibiscus lower cholesterol?
The evidence is mixed. One 2022 meta-analysis found LDL about 7 mg/dL lower, a borderline result, while two 2020 analyses found no significant change in total cholesterol. Any effect looks small.
Can I drink hibiscus tea with blood pressure medication?
No source we read tested this in people taking regular blood pressure tablets. A 2022 review says interactions with ACE inhibitors are unestablished and notes an animal study with a diuretic, so tell your prescriber or pharmacist and keep checking your readings.
Is hibiscus tea safe to drink every day?
In trials of up to a few months it was well tolerated, with mild stomach symptoms reported in one trial. A 2025 umbrella review saw a small, clinically insignificant rise in the liver enzyme AST and advises careful monitoring at therapeutic doses over the long term.
Sources (7)
- Cochrane review Pattanittum P, Ngamjarus C, Buttramee F, Somboonporn C. Roselle for hypertension in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021.
- Meta-analysis Serban C, Sahebkar A, Ursoniu S, Andrica F, Banach M. Effect of sour tea (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) on arterial hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Hypertens. 2015.
- Systematic review Ellis LR, Zulfiqar S, Holmes M, Marshall L, Dye L, Boesch C. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of Hibiscus sabdariffa on blood pressure and cardiometabolic markers. Nutr Rev. 2022.
- Meta-analysis Najafpour Boushehri S, Karimbeiki R, Ghasempour S, et al. The efficacy of sour tea (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) on selected cardiovascular disease risk factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Phytother Res. 2020.
- Umbrella review Norouzzadeh M, Hasan Rashedi M, Azizi MH, et al. Efficacy and safety of Hibiscus sabdariffa in cardiometabolic health: An overview of reviews and updated dose-response meta-analysis. Complement Ther Med. 2025.
- Meta-analysis Bule M, Albelbeisi AH, Nikfar S, Amini M, Abdollahi M. The antidiabetic and antilipidemic effects of Hibiscus sabdariffa: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Food Res Int. 2020.
- Randomised trial Herrera-Arellano A, Flores-Romero S, Chavez-Soto MA, Tortoriello J. Effectiveness and tolerability of a standardized extract from Hibiscus sabdariffa in patients with mild to moderate hypertension: a controlled and randomized clinical trial. Phytomedicine. 2004.
Last reviewed 10 October 2026 · Next review April 2027 · How we rate evidence
Reader notes
Experiences and questions from readers, read by an editor before they appear. They are personal accounts, not evidence, and are not medical advice.