© Christian Fischer · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
Menyanthes
CautionFieberklee · (Menyanthes trifoliata)
Bogbean family (Menyanthaceae)
Description
At the fringes of bog pools and shallow wetlands grows bogbean, its three-part, clover-like leaves topped in early summer by delicately fringed white flowers. The leaves are gathered before flowering, from May to July. Their pronounced bitterness comes from iridoid glycosides such as loganin and sweroside, alongside tannins and flavonoids. As a bitter tea or tincture, bogbean holds EMA well-established status among herbal remedies: it is said to stimulate appetite and support digestion by reflexively boosting saliva and gastric juice production. In folk medicine it was also used for fever and joint discomfort. Because the bitter compounds can irritate the stomach and cause nausea or diarrhoea if taken on an empty stomach or in excess, the recommended dose should not be exceeded, and persistent complaints beyond two weeks call for medical advice.
CONTRAINDICATED during pregnancy
Use during pregnancy not recommended - insufficient safety data, reflex stimulation of digestive organs undesirable.
CONTRAINDICATED during breastfeeding
Use during breastfeeding not recommended - insufficient data, bitter principles may pass into breast milk.
CONTRAINDICATED for children
Use in children and adolescents under 18 years not recommended due to lack of data (EMA HMPC).
Loss of appetite and dyspeptic complaints (bloating, flatulence, weak digestion) - bitter tonic taken before meals
Preparation & dosage
Loss of appetite, dyspeptic complaints - classical bitter tincture (stomach bitters) stimulating gastric and bile secretion
Preparation & dosage
Bitter component of stomach bitters and herbal digestive liqueurs to support digestion (digestif)
Preparation & dosage
Traditional folk use for fever (hence the name 'fever clover'), rheumatic complaints and as a spring blood-cleansing tea - no longer supported by EMA
Preparation & dosage
Folk medicine: baths with buckbean infusion for rheumatic complaints and skin eruptions (scrofulous skin conditions) - no modern evidence
Preparation & dosage
Bitter herbal drug - may cause gastric irritation, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea on empty stomach or in overdose. Use only at recommended dose. Consult a doctor if symptoms persist longer than 2 weeks.
⏱ Max continuous use: 4 weeks
Use during pregnancy not recommended - insufficient safety data, reflex stimulation of digestive organs undesirable.
Use during breastfeeding not recommended - insufficient data, bitter principles may pass into breast milk.
Use in children and adolescents under 18 years not recommended due to lack of data (EMA HMPC).
Drug interactions
Antazida, H2-Blocker, Protonenpumpenhemmer (z. B. Omeprazol, Ranitidin)
Bitter principles increase gastric acid secretion and may counteract the acid-suppressing effect of these medicines.
Orale Antidiabetika und Insulin
Bitter principles may affect gastric emptying and glucose absorption - theoretically enhanced or irregular blood-sugar lowering possible; monitor blood glucose more closely.
Eisenpraeparate und andere mineralische Supplemente
Tannin fraction may reduce absorption of iron and other minerals - take at least 2 hours apart.
Contraindications
- Acute gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, hyperacidity, gallstone disease, diarrhoeal conditions, hypersensitivity to the plant.
Harvested part: leaves before flowering
- Time of day:
- May to July, just before or during flowering, in dry weather in the late morning - collect only the trifoliate leaves without petioles.
- Drying:
- Dry quickly and gently in the shade at max 40 deg C, spread loosely on cloths; not in the sun (loss of bitter principles). Store in airtight containers protected from light.
- Time of day:
- June to July during full flowering - collected only for external applications (baths, compresses) in folk medicine.
- Iridoidglykoside (Loganin, Sweroside, 7-Desoxyloganin, Foliamenthin, Dihydrofoliamenthin, Menthiafolin)BitterContent: 1-3 %
Main bitter principles responsible for the extreme bitter value (ca. 1:10,000 to 1:15,000); reflexively trigger secretion of saliva, gastric juice and bile.
- Flavonoide (Rutin, Hyperosid, Trifolioside)FlavonoidContent: Spuren bis 1 %
Antioxidant accompanying compounds; contribute to mildly vasoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects.
- Triterpensaponine (u. a. Betulinsaeure-Derivate)SaponinContent: Spuren
Present in small amounts; support the mucosa-stimulating and secretion-inducing action of the bitter principles.
- Gerbstoffe (Catechin-Gerbstoffe)TanninContent: 3-7 %
Astringent polyphenols; soothe mild diarrhoea and inflamed mucosa, but may impair mineral absorption.
- Phenolcarbonsaeuren (Kaffeesaeure, Ferulasaeure, Chlorogensaeure)Phenolic acidContent: Spuren
Antioxidant accompanying substances with no independent therapeutic relevance in the drug.
- Cholin und Pyridin-Alkaloid Gentianin (Spuren)AlkaloidContent: Spuren
Present in trace amounts; gentianin is mentioned in pharmacognosy as a chemotaxonomic marker.
- [1]MonographEMA HMPC Community Herbal Monograph - Menyanthes trifoliata L., folium(accessed: 2026-05-19)
- [2]MonographKommission E Monographie - Menyanthidis folium (Bitterklee/Fieberkleeblaetter), Positivmonographie BAnz Nr. 22a vom 01.02.1990(accessed: 2026-05-19)
- [3]MonographPlants for a Future - Menyanthes trifoliata (Buckbean/Bogbean)(accessed: 2026-05-19)
- [4]MonographHeilkraeuter-Lexikon - Fieberklee (Menyanthes trifoliata)(accessed: 2026-05-19)
- [5]MonographHenriette's Herbal Homepage - Menyanthes trifoliata (King's American Dispensatory, Felter & Lloyd 1898)(accessed: 2026-05-19)
- [6]WikipediaWikipedia - Fieberklee (Menyanthes trifoliata)(accessed: 2026-05-19)