Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.

Monarda fistulosa has been used by multiple Indigenous peoples as a simple infusion or strong tea, most often for colds, fevers, digestive complaints, and to promote sweating. The Cherokee prepared infusions of the aerial parts and drank them as a febrifuge and for diarrhea and colic (Moerman, 1998), while among the Lenape the same tea was taken for colds and fevers (Tantaquidgeon, 1946). The Meskwaki made an infusion of the leaves and flowers for fevers and used it as a carminative for infants and adults (Smith, 1933), and the Paiute in the Great Basin used Monarda spp. teas or infusions for colds, stomachache, or sweating (Train et al., 1957). In Canadian Prairie settings, the Cree reportedly drank wild bergamot tea to treat fevers and colds (Johnston, 1970), and early ethnobotanical notes from the Hudson Bay region record steam from infusions of the herb being inhaled for respiratory relief (Richardson, 1910). These accounts specify tea‑like infusions rather than decoctions, with occasional mention of poultices for local irritation (Moerman, 1998). The uses repeatedly emphasize febrile colds and digestive discomfort, often in contexts where sweating or calming of the gut was desired.

A straightforward preparation is a mild tea. Use 5–10 g of fresh aerial parts (or 3–6 g dried) with about 250–300 mL of near‑boiling water. Cover and steep 10–15 minutes; strain and drink 1 cup up to three times daily. For a stronger steam, double the herb and steep 20 minutes before inhaling the vapors for a few minutes. Generally regarded safe in culinary amounts, some people may experience heartburn; its essential oils can irritate sensitive skin and mucous membranes. Most herbal references list it as nontoxic, but since reliable human pregnancy data are lacking, it is best avoided in medicinal doses during pregnancy.

Wild bergamot contains the monoterpenes thymol and p‑caracrol, geraniol and citronellol, as well as rosmarinic acid, flavonoids such as luteolin and quercetin derivatives, and phenolic acids such as chlorogenic acid. Thymol and carvacrol are well‑known for antimicrobial activity, and rosmarinic acid contributes antioxidant and antiinflammatory potential, plausibly supporting the traditional uses for colds and digestive discomfort (Kintzios, 2002; McClure, 1983).

Today, Monarda fistulosa remains a recognized native tea plant across the northern Great Plains and beyond, sold as dried herb and occasionally as essential oil or tincture. Contemporary interest focuses on its mild carminative properties and as a seasonal cold and flu beverage; most modern botanical suppliers list it as “wild bergamot tea,” with product labels describing the familiar febrifuge and digestive benefits (Prairie Moon Nursery, 2021; Richters Herbs, 2020).

General Uses Top

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Common products:
The taxon is harvested for essential oil obtained by steam distillation of leaves and flowers. Oil yields vary by population and season (range reported roughly 0.3–2.5% v/w), with pulegone, menthone, limonene, and menthyl acetate commonly reported as major constituents in chemotypes that have been analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Industrial and craft applications:
No documented, taxon-specific industrial uses (e.g., fiber, timber, pulp, resins, dyes, adhesives, or bioplastics) were identified in the cited literature.

Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
No commercial food or beverage uses that rely on this species as an ingredient or processing aid were documented.

Colorants and tanning:
No documented use for dyes, inks, or tannins.

Wood and fiber:
No documented timber, wood product, or bast/leaf-fiber applications were identified.

Fragrance and cosmetics:
The essential oil is noted in peer-reviewed literature for its composition but not reported in industry or regulatory fragrance databases as an established fragrance material.

Properties relevant to use:
Published chemical analyses report a high proportion of monoterpenes (pulegone, menthone, limonene, menthyl acetate) characteristic of the Lamiaceae essential oil profile; these classes are known to provide volatile, aromatic properties.

Standards and regulation:
No fragrance or flavor standards specific to Monarda fistulosa oil were identified; general food/cosmetic safety and composition reporting requirements apply in the jurisdictions where the oil is produced or traded.

Sustainability and sourcing:
Wild harvesting has been documented for essential-oil chemotypes; conservation status is not indicated. Best practices for wild collection (collection timing, population monitoring, avoidance of overharvest, and consideration of regional habitat protections) are applicable, though taxon-specific conservation guidance was not compiled in the cited sources.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name	Authority	First published in
Monarda fistulosa var. typica	Sherff	Torreya 45: 68 (1945)

Common names Top

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Filter by language:

Language	Common/alternative name
English	wild bergamot
English	beebalm
Arabic	نعنع الفرس
Arabic	نعنع الخيل
Arabic	برغموت
Arabic	مونردة انبوبية
Arabic	مونرد انبوبي
chy	vé'ȯhkėheséeo'ȯtse
German	wilde bergamotte
Persian	مناردا فیستولسا
Finnish	preeriaväriminttu
nv	azeeʼ ndootʼeezhítsoh
Russian	Монарда трубчатая
Russian	Монарда дудчатая
Swedish	lila temynta
Ukrainian	Монарда трубчаста
Chinese	擬美國薄荷
Chinese	美国薄荷或美洲薄荷
Chinese	拟美国薄荷

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Name	Authority	First published in
Monarda fistulosa var. fistulosa		Unknown
Monarda fistulosa var. maheuxii	B.Boivin	Naturaliste Canad. 93: 1061 (1967)
Monarda fistulosa var. menthifolia	(Graham) Fernald	Rhodora 46: 495 (1944)
Monarda fistulosa var. mollis	(L.) L.	Sp. Pl. ed. 2 : 32 (1762)
Monarda fistulosa var. rubra	A.Gray	Syn. Fl. N. Amer. 2: 374 (1878)
Monarda fistulosa var. stipitatoglandulosa	(Waterf.) ined.	ined.

Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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No subvariety added yet.

Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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Germination/Propagation Top

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Sow seeds at 20°C, expecting germination within 3 months without further temperature treatment.

Requires Light or Surface Sowing: These seeds need light to germinate and should not be covered with soil or only very lightly. They are often very small and sown directly on the surface of the growing medium.

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:

- Doubtful data

- Extinct

- Introduced

- Native

Northern America click to expand
- Eastern Canada
  - Ontario
  - Québec
- Mexico
  - Mexico Northeast
- North-central U.S.A.
  - Illinois
  - Iowa
  - Kansas
  - Minnesota
  - Missouri
  - Nebraska
  - North Dakota
  - Oklahoma
  - South Dakota
  - Wisconsin
- Northeastern U.S.A.
  - Connecticut
  - Indiana
  - Maine
  - Massachusetts
  - Michigan
  - New Hampshire
  - New Jersey
  - New York
  - Ohio
  - Pennsylvania
  - Rhode Island
  - Vermont
  - West Virginia
- Northwestern U.S.A.
  - Colorado
  - Idaho
  - Montana
  - Oregon
  - Washington
  - Wyoming
- South-central U.S.A.
  - New Mexico
  - Texas
- Southeastern U.S.A.
  - Alabama
  - Arkansas
  - District Of Columbia
  - Florida
  - Georgia
  - Kentucky
  - Louisiana
  - Maryland
  - Mississippi
  - North Carolina
  - Tennessee
  - Virginia
- Southwestern U.S.A.
  - Arizona
- Western Canada
  - Alberta
  - British Columbia
  - Manitoba
  - Saskatchewan

Links to other databases Top

Suggest others/fix!

Database	ID/link to page
World Flora Online	wfo-0000245324
Canadensys	6417
USDA Plants	MOFI
Tropicos	17600168
INPN	160479
KEW	urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:452042-1
The Plant List	kew-129185
Missouri Botanical Garden	281404
Open Tree Of Life	830204
NCBI Taxonomy	39344
Nature Serve	2.156029
IPNI	452042-1
iNaturalist	85320
GBIF	5341411
Freebase	/m/02qn_1j
WisFlora	4271
EPPO	MOAFI
EOL	482658
USDA GRIN	24536
Wikipedia	Monarda_fistulosa

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.

Title

Authors

Publication

Released

IDs

Mitigation Potential of Herbal Extracts and Constituent Bioactive Compounds on Salmonella in Meat-Type Poultry

Orimaye OE, Ekunseitan DA, Omaliko PC, Fasina YO

Animals (Basel)

03-Apr-2024

PMCID:	PMC11011123
doi:	10.3390/ani14071087
PMID:	38612326

Biological Control and Habitat Management for the Control of Onion Thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), in Onion Production in Quebec, Canada

Gagnon AÈ, Fortier AM, Audette C

Insects

27-Mar-2024

PMCID:	PMC11050518
doi:	10.3390/insects15040232
PMID:	38667362

Phytocompounds targeting epigenetic modulations: an assessment in cancer

Khan A, Khan A, Khan MA, Malik Z, Massey S, Parveen R, Mustafa S, Shamsi A, Husain SA

Front Pharmacol

26-Mar-2024

PMCID:	PMC11002180
doi:	10.3389/fphar.2023.1273993
PMID:	38596245

Project-specific bumble bee habitat quality assessment

Robinson JL

MethodsX

19-Jan-2024

PMCID:	PMC10832483
doi:	10.1016/j.mex.2024.102571
PMID:	38304394

Thymoquinone: A Promising Therapeutic Agent for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer

Kurowska N, Madej M, Strzalka-Mrozik B

Curr Issues Mol Biol

23-Dec-2023

PMCID:	PMC10814900
doi:	10.3390/cimb46010010
PMID:	38248312

Ethnobotanical, Phytochemical, and Pharmacological Properties of the Subfamily Nepetoideae (Lamiaceae) in Inflammatory Diseases

Ortiz-Mendoza N, Martínez-Gordillo MJ, Martínez-Ambriz E, Basurto-Peña FA, González-Trujano ME, Aguirre-Hernández E

Plants (Basel)

02-Nov-2023

PMCID:	PMC10648697
doi:	10.3390/plants12213752
PMID:	37960108

Are Plant–Soil Feedbacks Caused by Many Weak Microbial Interactions?

Aaronson JK, Kulmatiski A, Forero LE, Grenzer J, Norton JM

Biology (Basel)

27-Oct-2023

PMCID:	PMC10669423
doi:	10.3390/biology12111374
PMID:	37997973

Enhanced Natural Strength: Lamiaceae Essential Oils and Nanotechnology in In Vitro and In Vivo Medical Research

Kowalczyk T, Merecz-Sadowska A, Ghorbanpour M, Szemraj J, Piekarski J, Bijak M, Śliwiński T, Zajdel R, Sitarek P

Int J Mol Sci

17-Oct-2023

PMCID:	PMC10607815
doi:	10.3390/ijms242015279
PMID:	37894959

The most polyphagous insect herbivore? Host plant associations of the Meadow spittlebug, Philaenus spumarius (L.)

Thompson V, Harkin C, Stewart AJ

PLoS One

04-Oct-2023

PMCID:	PMC10602594
doi:	10.1371/journal.pone.0291734
PMID:	37792900

Contrasting effects of bioenergy crops on biodiversity

Haan NL, Benucci GN, Fiser CM, Bonito G, Landis DA

Sci Adv

22-Sep-2023

PMCID:	PMC10516493
doi:	10.1126/sciadv.adh7960
PMID:	37738354

Phenology and foraging bias contribute to sex‐specific foraging patterns in the rare declining butterfly Argynnis idalia idalia

Chmielewski MW, Naya S, Borghi M, Cortese J, Fernie AR, Swartz MT, Zografou K, Sewall BJ, Spigler RB

Ecol Evol

18-Jul-2023

PMCID:	PMC10353922
doi:	10.1002/ece3.10287
PMID:	37475725

Interactions between large‐scale and local factors influence seed predation rates and seed loss

Calixto ES, Maron JL, Hahn PG

Ecol Evol

28-Jun-2023

PMCID:	PMC10307795
doi:	10.1002/ece3.10208
PMID:	37396025

Thymoquinone Ameliorates Carfilzomib-Induced Renal Impairment by Modulating Oxidative Stress Markers, Inflammatory/Apoptotic Mediators, and Augmenting Nrf2 in Rats

Qadri MM, Alam MF, Khired ZA, Alaqi RO, Khardali AA, Alasmari MM, Alrashah AS, Muzafar HM, Qahl AM

Int J Mol Sci

25-Jun-2023

PMCID:	PMC10342029
doi:	10.3390/ijms241310621
PMID:	37445797

Current State of Knowledge Regarding WHO High Priority Pathogens—Resistance Mechanisms and Proposed Solutions through Candidates Such as Essential Oils: A Systematic Review

Romanescu M, Oprean C, Lombrea A, Badescu B, Teodor A, Constantin GD, Andor M, Folescu R, Muntean D, Danciu C, Dalleur O, Batrina SL, Cretu O, Buda VO

Int J Mol Sci

04-Jun-2023

PMCID:	PMC10253476
doi:	10.3390/ijms24119727
PMID:	37298678

The influence of climate warming on flowering phenology in relation to historical annual and seasonal temperatures and plant functional traits

Geissler C, Davidson A, Niesenbaum RA

PeerJ

21-Apr-2023

PMCID:	PMC10124540
doi:	10.7717/peerj.15188
PMID:	37101791

Phytochemical Profile Top

Add a new one!

Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.

Name	PubChem ID	Canonical SMILES	MW	Found in	Proof
> Hydrocarbons / Unsaturated hydrocarbons / Branched unsaturated hydrocarbons
Gamma-Terpinene	7461	Click to see	136.23	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730020310 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099434
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty alcohols
3-Octanol	11527	Click to see	130.23	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099434
Heptanol	8129	Click to see	116.20	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099434
Octan-3R-ol	445789	Click to see	130.23	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099434
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Acyclic monoterpenoids
(+)-Linalyl acetate	6999980	Click to see	196.29	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099434
3,7-Dimethylocta-2,6-Dienal	8843	Click to see	152.23	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099434
beta-OCIMENE, (3E)-	5281553	Click to see	136.23	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698091
Citral	638011	Click to see	152.23	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698091 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099434
Geraniol	637566	Click to see CC(=CCCC(=CCO)C)C	154.25	unknown	https://doi.org/10.14255/2308-9628/08.41/8 https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698091 https://doi.org/10.3109/13880208609060888 https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730020310
Linalool	6549	Click to see	154.25	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698091 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099434 https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730020310
Linalool, (+)-	67179	Click to see	154.25	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099434
Linalyl Acetate	8294	Click to see	196.29	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099434
Myrcene	31253	Click to see	136.23	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099434 https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698091
Neral	643779	Click to see	152.23	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698091 https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730020310
Nerol	643820	Click to see CC(=CCCC(=CCO)C)C	154.25	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698091
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Aromatic monoterpenoids
Carvacrol	10364	Click to see CC1=C(C=C(C=C1)C(C)C)O	150.22	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698091 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099434
P-Cymene	7463	Click to see	134.22	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698091
Thymol	6989	Click to see	150.22	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099434 https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698091
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Bicyclic monoterpenoids
(-)-Camphene	440966	Click to see	136.23	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099434
(+-)-alpha-Pinene	6654	Click to see	136.23	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099434 https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698091
Acetic acid 1,7,7-trimethyl-bicyclo(2.2.1)hept-2-yl ester	6448	Click to see	196.29	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099434
alpha Thujene	6451618	Click to see	136.23	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698091
alpha-Pinene, (+)-	82227	Click to see	136.23	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099434
Beta-Pinene	14896	Click to see	136.23	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698091
Borneol	64685	Click to see	154.25	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698091
Bornyl acetate, (-)-	93009	Click to see	196.29	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099434
Camphene	6616	Click to see	136.23	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698091 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099434
CID 44630107	44630107	Click to see CC1(C2CCC1(C(C2)O)C)C	154.25	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698091
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Menthane monoterpenoids
(+)-alpha-Phellandrene	443160	Click to see	136.23	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099434
(+)-alpha-Terpineol	442501	Click to see	154.25	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099434
4-Terpineol, (+/-)-	11230	Click to see CC1=CCC(CC1)(C(C)C)O	154.25	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698091
alpha-PHELLANDRENE	7460	Click to see CC1=CCC(C=C1)C(C)C	136.23	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698091 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099434
Alpha-Terpinene	7462	Click to see	136.23	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698091
Alpha-Terpineol	17100	Click to see	154.25	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698091 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099434
Limonene, (+/-)-	22311	Click to see CC1=CCC(CC1)C(=C)C	136.23	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698091
p-Menth-4(8)-en-3-one	6988	Click to see CC1CCC(=C(C)C)C(=O)C1	152.23	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099434
Pulegone	442495	Click to see CC1CCC(=C(C)C)C(=O)C1	152.23	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099434
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids
Caryophyllene	5281515	Click to see CC1=CCCC(=C)C2CC(C2CC1)(C)C	204.35	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698091
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Germacrane sesquiterpenoids
(S,1Z,6Z)-8-Isopropyl-1-methyl-5-methylenecyclodeca-1,6-diene	91723653	Click to see CC1=CCCC(=C)C=CC(CC1)C(C)C	204.35	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698091
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Tetraterpenoids / Carotenoids / Carotenes
1,3,3-trimethyl-2-[(1E,3E,5E,7E,9E)-3,7,12,16-tetramethyl-18-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohexen-1-yl)octadeca-1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,17-nonaenyl]cyclohexene	152743364	Click to see	536.90	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099434
Beta-Carotene	5280489	Click to see	536.90	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099434
> Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acid derivatives / Carboxylic acid esters
[(3S)-octan-3-yl] acetate	11819488	Click to see	172.26	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099434
3-Octyl acetate	521238	Click to see	172.26	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1099434
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Alcohols and polyols / Secondary alcohols
1-Hepten-3-OL	21057	Click to see CCCCC(C=C)O	114.19	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698091
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbonyl compounds / Benzoquinones / P-benzoquinones
Thymoquinone	10281	Click to see CC1=CC(=O)C(=CC1=O)C(C)C	164.20	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1080/10575639808044955
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbonyl compounds / Cyclic ketones
Jasmone	1549018	Click to see	164.24	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1080/10412905.1992.9698091
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids
Caffeic Acid	689043	Click to see	180.16	unknown	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0305-1978(99)00007-1

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Monarda fistulosa

Table of Contents

Details Top

Ethnobotanical Use Top

General Uses Top

Synonyms Top

Common names Top

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

Forms (abbr. f.) Top

Germination/Propagation Top

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Links to other databases Top

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

Scientific Literature Top

Phytochemical Profile Top

Gallery Top

Contributors Top

Collections Top