Lemon Balm

↑About Lemon Balm

Lemon balm, Melissa officinalis, is an herb in the mint family that is commonly used to brew an herbal tea, both on its own and in blends. Lemon balm shares certain components of its essential oil with lemongrass, lemon verbena, and lemon myrtle, but its aroma is usually described as gentler and less intense than these herbs. Of these herbs, it is most closely related to lemon verbena, and not closely related to the others.

Although easy to grow and widely available as plants in nursery centers, it is not as widely available as a dried herb, and is an uncommon ingredient in herbal blends.

Lemon balm can be brewed as a fresh herbal tea, by steeping fresh leaves directly in boiling water, or it can be dried, and the dry leaves steeped.

Growing lemon balm

Lemon balm grows as a perennial, and is very easy to cultivate in moist temperate climates. It grows aggressively and can sometimes become a pest in gardens; it often naturalizes and grows wild in gardens and even in cities. It can be grown easily from seed or from cutting, and tends to grow in clumps.

Medicinal uses

Lemon balm is commonly used as a relaxing herb, to reduce anxiety and improve mood.[1] A small double-blind control study examined the effects of various doses of lemon balm, and found that self-reported "calmness" was increased following even the lowest dose, but at the highest dose, alertness was reduced.[2] The extract of lemon balm was also found in one study to improve cognitive function and reduce agitation among people suffering from mild to moderate Alzheimer's.[3]

Lemon balm is also used in aromatherapy. A preliminary study of people with severe dementia suggested that the aroma of lemon balm can reduce agitation in people with dementia.[4]

Lemon balm also shows evidence of antimicrobial effects. The essential oil was found in one study to have radical-scavenging (antioxidant) properties, as well as anti-bacterial and anti-fungal effects against a number of different strains of bacteria and fungi.[5] The essential oil of lemon balm has also been found to have anti-viral effects against the HSV-2 (Herpes) virus, when used at non-toxic levels.[6]

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