Red Hawk Ridge

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Lemon Balm, Melissa officinalis, is a member of the mint family! This lady has a long history of raising the spirits and comforting the heart. And I’m talking about a long time. Lemon Balm was mentioned in the Historium Plantarum in 300 BC by Greek philosopher and botanist Theophrastus of Eresus. Widely valued for her calming properties, Lemon Balm is a sweet, lemon-scented plant that is easy to grow and safe for kids. Breastfeeding mothers can even drink Lemon Balm tea to help with colicky babies.

Balm is sovereign for the brain, strengthening the memory and powerfully chasing away melancholy.

-John Evelyn (1620-1706)

Melissa comes from the Greek word for bee, which refers to the bees’ attraction to her. Lemon Balm deters mosquitoes and gnats but brings in the bees, making her a great addition to any garden, in my humble opinion. Not to mention, Lemon Balm can grow in just about any soil, as long as she gets enough water. *Mints like moist soil.

As a mint, she is invasive and can take the place over, but I think that’s a problem everyone needs. You can’t have too much Lemon Balm. Of course, if you disagree, you can easily plant in pots to contain this wondering lady.

Other names include Sweet Balm, Garden Balm, and Sweet Melissa.

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Lemon Balm is a perennial with tiny white flowers and deeply veined, toothed leaves that is native to southern Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa but can now be found growing wild worldwide. You can either plant from seed or easily propagate from cuttings. Taking cuttings, stripping off the bottom leaves, and sticking them in water is easy. You will have roots in no time, giving you a plant ready to be planted in the dirt.

Aerial parts can be picked from early summer onward. It is best to pick leaves right before the flowers open when the volatile oils are most concentrated. Dried Lemon Balm does not have a long shelf-life, so making a tincture is the best for long-term medicinal benefits from her. You could also store it in an airtight bag to freeze or puree and pour it into ice trays, but I prefer tinctures.

LEMON BALM CONTAINS:

• volatile oils up to 0.2% (citral, caryophyllene oxide, linalool, and citronellal)
• flavonoids
• triterpenes
• polyphenols
• tannins

ACTIONS:

• relaxant
• antispasmodic
• increases sweating
• carminative (gas reliever)
• antiviral
• nerve tonic

Citral and citronellal, in particular, lend to Lemon Balm’s effectiveness at calming the nervous system. A tincture made with vegetable glycerin is great for hyperactive children if you are against giving any alcohol to children. Some constituents cannot be drawn out with glycerin, but it still makes an effective calming remedy for the kiddos.

Lemon Balm tinctures can help with anxiety and general depression by taking 1/2 teaspoon with water 3 times a day, or you can drink a cup of infusion three times a day for nervous headaches. When making a Lemon Balm infusion, much like Chamomile, you want to put a lid on whatever you are steeping it in to keep the volatile oils from evaporating.

Lemon Balm can inhibit thyroid function by slowing the production of hormones in the thyroid. Do not use internally long-term or if you have thyroid issues like Grave’s disease. Do not ingest Lemon Balm essential oil.

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Per the previous warning, Lemon Balm is the perfect herb for people with an overactive thyroid.

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Polyphenols are antiviral and are great for treating the herpes simplex virus that causes cold sores. A simple infused oil made into a salve or balm can help soothe sores, cut healing time in half, and reduce the chance of future breakouts. The essential oil (5 drops to 1 tbsp. of olive oil) can also help with shingles. Massage into the skin gently.

The tannins in Lemon Balm make it a great wound wash for puss-filled wounds, as they help dry the wounds out. Lemon Balm is a cooling herb that can soothe red-inflamed skin around said wounds.

Lemon Balm is most known as a calming tonic and can be used in infusion or tincture form to reduce nervousness and a racing heart due to panic or other nervous reasons. Anxiety that causes stomach upset, bloating, colicky pains, and other digestive issues can also be soothed with this lovely lady.

FOR FLU RELIEF WITH MUSCLE ACHES AND PAINS:

Combine equal parts (1 teaspoon each to 3 cups water) of Thyme, Lemon Balm, and Elderflower. Steep covered for 10 minutes and drink up to 5 cups a day.

SMOKING LEMON BALM:

You can smoke Lemon Balm! You want to use it in a blend with other herbs, but it can make up to 40% of the blend without being overwhelming. You get the same calming effects as infusions, but it can also cause lightheadedness, so go easy. It is said to contain trace amounts of harmine, which can cause short-term psychoactive effects, but don’t worry, I’m not talking about hallucinating. I will most likely make a post about smoking herbs, and when I do, I’ll link it here, and we will go into greater detail on the subject.

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Many blessings,
Emma Lee Joy