Lemon balm can be made into a nerve tonic that brings calmness and detachment, and aids with sleep issues like insomnia. It can also soothe digestive disorders. Infusions or tinctures are made from the leaves which are harvested before flowering.
Lemon balm's other common names include balm, common balm, or balm mint. The scientific botanical name is Melissa officinalis. Other names include Bálsamo de Limón, Cure-All, Dropsy Plant, Honey Plant, Melisa, Melissa, Melissae Folium, Mélisse, Mélisse Citronnelle, Mélisse Officinale, Melissenblatt, Monarde, Sweet Balm, Sweet Mary, Toronjil.
Key Points
- native to Europe, naturlized into North America and other places
- slightly edible for flavoring in smaller amount
- calming effects to help with sleeping
History
The name melissa comes from the Greek and means "honeybee", due to the abundance of nectar in the flowers int he white flowers that also attracts bees.
Where is it found?
Lemon balm is in the mint family and native to south central Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, Iran, and Central Asia, and has been naturalized into North and South America and elsewhere.
You can find it in waste places and derelict land near human habitats. It's also found in many gardens as a perennial.
What's it used for?
Lemon balm is moderately edible, but in small doses. Leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. It has a pleasant lemon aroma and flavor that can be added in salads and cooked foods. Tea is made from the dried leaves.
Lemon balm is said to help with digestive issues, like upset stomach, bloating, intestinal gas (flatulence), vomiting, and colic. It can help with pain like menstrual cramps, headache and toothache. It can also help with mental disorders, including hysteria and melancholia. Calming effects can be experienced to treat anxiety, sleep problems, and restlessness. Other uses include for Alzheimer's disease, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), an autoimmune disease involving the thyroid (Graves' disease), swollen airways, rapid heartbeat due to nervousness, high blood pressure, sores, tumors, and insect bites.
Are there any risks?
Eating lemon balm can result in increased appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness, and wheezing. This has happened to me when chopping up a bunch to add to a plate. I had nausea, abdominal pain and dizziness. I don't recommend using much of the raw leaves for a single individual. Only use a few. Applied to the skin, it can cause irritation and increase cold sore symptoms.
Pregnant women should avoid, but it seems safe for children.
Those with diabetes should watch out as lemon balm can lower blood sugar levels. If going into surgery, it can cause excessive drowsiness when combined with medications. Thyroid disease is worsened with lemon balm as it reduces thyroid hormone levels. Sedative medications will be amplified with lemon balm use.
References:
Previous posts on Getting to Know Herbs:
Hawthorn | Chickweed | Northern Bayberry | Lady's Mantle | Hyssop | Burdock | Catnip | Lavender | Yarrow | Marshmallow | Skullcap | Codonopsis (Poor Man's Ginseng) | Schisandra | Rhodiola | Canadian Goldenrod | German Chamomile | Blue Vervain | Blessed or Holy Thistle | Common Horehound | Cayenne | Ashwagandha | Gotu Kola | Common Verbana/Vervain | Holy Basil | Sweet
Annie | Globe Artichoke | Butterfly Weed / Pleurisy Root | Joe-Pye Weed / Gravel Root | Valerian | Malva/Mallow | Boneset | Elecampane | Lungwort | Cramp Bark | Motherwort | Common Plantain | Eleuthero (Siberian ginseng) | Black Cohosh | Common Bearberry | Mahonia Mountain Grape (Oregon Grape) | Blue Cohosh | Goldenseal
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