Lemon balm

Melissa officinalis

Lemon balm is a hardy lemon-scented perennial that was a favorite with bee-keepers in ancient times. They would rub some of the crushed fresh leaves on beehives to encourage bees to return to their hives and bring others with them. In fact, the generic name Melissa comes from the Greek word for bee; another common name for it happens to be "bee balm." Lemon balm has upright, hairy, branching stems that reach a yard in height. Light green toothed ovate leaves grow in opposite pairs at each joint. White or yellowish two-lipped flowers appear from June to September and form in small loose bunches at the axis of the leaves, which emit a strong lemon scent.

Lemon balm is an excellent remedy for soothing the nerves and lifting the spirits. Lemon balm has a particular affinity with the digestive system, where it calms and soothes nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, colic, dysentery, colitis and any stress-related digestive problems. The bitters gently stimulate the liver and gallbladder and enhance digestion and absorption. Lemon balm makes a useful remedy where nervousness or depression affect the action of the heart, causing heart pains, palpitations or an irregular heartbeat. In the reproductive system, lemon balm relaxes spasm causing period pain, and relieves irritability and depression associated with PMS. Lemon balm also helps regulate periods and has been used traditionally to relax and strengthen women during childbirth and to bring on the afterbirth. Both postnatal and during menopause lemon balm can help relieve depression. The relaxant effects of lemon balm help relieve pain and spasm in the kidneys and urinary system. Lemon balm makes a good remedy for headaches, migraine, vertigo and buzzing in the ears, and when combined with linden blossom it can help reduce blood pressure. In hot infusion it causes sweating, reducing fevers and making a good remedy for childhood infections, colds and flu, coughs and catarrh. Its relaxant and mucous-reducing properties are helpful during acute and chronic bronchitis, as well as harsh irritating coughs and asthma. Lemon balm makes a good remedy for allergies and its antiviral action makes it excellent for cold sores.

In the nervous system, the oil is the main agent used to calm and soothe, and has a relaxant effect on the muscles. This has been supported by research, where melissa has been used in states of excitability, palpitations, depression, and headache. The polyphenolics, especially the rosmarinic acid, are responsible for an antiviral action: a cream made from lemon balm has been shown to be affective against herpes simplex, more commonly known as cold sores. The duration of the outbreaks have been halved and the outbreaks themselves become less frequent. Lemon balm also has an action on the thyroid by reducing over-activity of the gland (hyperthyroidism). In the reproductive system, lemon balm has been used in the menopause to ease symptoms, including hot flushes and anxiety, and to regulate periods, as well as alleviating period pains.

Other names

• Bee Balm
• Blue Balm
• Common Balm
• Cure-all
• Dropsy Plant
• English Balm
• Garden Balm
• Honey Plant
• Melissa
• Sweet Balm

Parts used

Aerial parts, essential oil.

Uses

Traditional uses - Lemon balm has always been taken to lift the spirits. Taken regularly, it was believed to encourage longevity. Other traditional uses include healing wounds, relieving palpitations and relaxing the heart, and treating toothache.
Modern relaxing tonic - Lemon balm is a relaxing tonic for anxiety, mild depression, restlessness, and irritability. Lemon balm reduces feelings of nervousness and panic and will often quiet a racing heart, being a valuable remedy for palpitations of a nervous origin. Lemon balm is also useful when over anxiety is causing digestive problems such as indigestion, acidity, nausea, bloating, and colicky pains.
Cold sores - Lemon balm relieves cold sores and reduces the chances of further outbreaks.
Hormonal herb - Following the discovery of its antithyroid effect, lemon balm  is given to people with an overactive thyroid.
Other medical uses - Lemon balm is a first-aid remedy for cuts and insect stings and is good for fevers.
Lemon balm is also used to treat barber's itch.
Culinary uses - Add fresh or dried lemon balm leaves to salads, sandwiches, marinades, sauces, soups, stews, stuffing for pork, veal, or poultry, vegetables, egg dishes, jams, jellies, and herbal vinegar, in particular tarragon vinegar. As the taste of lemon balm is rather delicate, feel free to use it more generously than you would other more robust herbs.
When using fresh leaves, crush them first to release the lemony flavor.
Make a refreshing tea by pouring boiling water over a handful of fresh leaves.
Steep for a few minutes. Sweeten with honey or sugar to taste.
Add lemon balm to summer punches and soft drinks.
Lemon balm oil is used as a flavoring in various liqueurs, including Chartreuse and Benedictine.
Craft uses - Include fragrant lemon balm leaves in potpourris and sachets.

Habitat & cultivation

A native of southern Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa, lemon balm now grows throughout the world.
Lemon balm grows best in rich, moist, well-drained, slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil. Tolerated pH range is 4.5 to 7.6.
Prefers full sun, but will do well in partial shade.
Plant seeds indoors, about 8 to 10 weeks before your last spring frost date. Seeds need light to germinate, so plant to a depth of no more than 6 mm (1/4 inch). Seedlings emerge in 8 to 10 days. Transplant seedlings outdoors after danger of frost is passed.
Space plants about 45 to 60 cm (18 to 24 inches) apart.
Seeds can also be planted outdoors in late fall, to lie dormant through the winter and germinate in the following spring.
Can also be propagated by stem cuttings and root division. Take stem cuttings from vigorous summer growth. Divide roots in spring or fall, ensuring that each divided section has 3 or 4 buds. If you divide roots in fall, plant divided sections early enough to allow them to become established. Mulch for winter protection.
Encourage tender growth by dividing plants in spring or fall every 3 or 4 years.
Pinch pack tops to increase the foliage and to discourage flowers from developing.
Weed regularly, but be careful not to injure the shallow roots.
Once established, lemon balm self-sows freely and will spread if unchecked.
Attacked by chewing and sucking insects, but generally pest-free. Susceptible to powdery mildew late in the season.
In very cold areas, mulch the plants well to protect the roots.
Plants grown indoors require at least 5 hours of direct sunlight or 14 to 16 hours of artificial light daily. Keep the plants pruned back to about 20 cm (8 inches), and harvest while young.

Research

Volatile oil - German research has shown that the volatile oil, and in particular citral and citronellal, calm the central nervous system. The oil  is also strongly antispasmodic.
Polyphenols - Polyphenols are antiviral. In particular, they combat the herpes simplex virus, which produces cold sores. In one research study, the average healing time of cold sores was halved to about 5 days and the time between outbreaks doubled.
Thyroid - Lemon balm inhibits thyroid function.

Constituents

Lemon balm contains volatile oil (inc. citronellal), polyphenols, tannins, bitter principle, flavonoids, rosmarinic acid.

How much to take

A simple tea, made from 2 tablespoons of the herb steeped for ten to fifteen minutes in 150 ml of boiling water, is often used. A tincture can also be used at 2-3 ml three times per day. Highly concentrated topical extracts for herpes can be applied three to four times per day to the herpes lesions. Lemon balm is frequently combined with other medicinal plants. For example, peppermint and lemon balm together are very effective for soothing an upset stomach. Valerian  is often combined with lemon balm for insomnia and nerve pain. Bugleweed (Lycopus virginicus) and lemon balm are usually used together for Grave's disease.

Side effects

No significant adverse effects from lemon balm have been reported. Unlike sedative drugs, lemon balm is safe even while driving or operating machinery. Lemon balm's sedating effects are not intensified by alcohol. Persons with glaucoma should avoid lemon balm essential oil, as animal studies show that it may raise pressure in the eye.
Some people may experience dermatitis after excessive contact with lemon balm.
Honeybees like lemon balm, so be careful there are none on the plants that you pick.

Applications

LEAVES:

INFUSION - Take for depression, nervous exhaustion, indigestion, nausea, and the early stages of colds and influenza. Best made with fresh leaves.

TINCTURE - Has a stronger but similar action to the infusion. Best made from fresh leaves. Small doses (5 - 10 drops) are usually more effective.

COMPRESS - Use a pad soaked in the infusion to relieve painful swellings, such as gout.

OINTMENT - Use for sores, insect bites, or to repel insects.

INFUSED OIL - Use hot infused oil as the ointment or as a gentle massage oil for depression, tension, asthma, and bronchitis.

ESSENTIAL OIL:

OINTMENT - Combine 5 ml oil with 100 g ointment base for insect bites or to repel insects.

MASSAGE OIL - Dilute 5 - 10 drops oil in 20 ml almond or olive oil, and use for tension or chest complaints.

Collection & harvesting

For immediate use, harvest young leaves anytime during the growing season. Cut leaves early in the morning after the dew has evaporated. Handle the fresh leaves carefully as they bruise and become discolored easily.
Leaves are at their best early in the year. As the leaves age, the fragrance deteriorates and they begin to taste stale and musty, so cut back the plan's regularly to ground level to produce fresh shoots.
To dry lemon balm, cut the plants back to ground level as the flowers begin to appear. Hang the harvested plants to dry in a shady, airy location. Once the leaves are crisply dry, store in airtight jars.
Freeze leaves in ice cubes.

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