Meet Melissa officinalis – Lemon Balm
Family: Lamiaceae
Melissa officinalis is a vigorous perennial of the “mint family,” native to Europe, Central Asia and Iran that’s been naturalized all over the globe. In our region her aerial parts die back in winter and return in spring. Its square stems offer opposite ovate-to-heart-shaped toothed and lightly downy leaves that grow 1-3 inches. The plant will grow 1-3 feet, depending on soil conditions. The buds appear yellow and bloom white.
Harvest: Aerial parts – typically before or at bud yet before bloom, summer to autumn. To prevent the plant from spreading, and it will, cut it back at flower, before seeds form, and add the plant matter to your compost, or use as green mulch.
Taste: Sour, with subtle bitters.
Humors/ Energetics: Cool, dry, mildly stimulating
Actions: antidepressant, antispasmodic, anti-microbial (with some recent emphasis on anti-viral), carminative, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, nervine, relaxant, and more.
Constituents: bitters, flavonoids, tannins, volatile oils (citral, citronellal and others), and more.
Contraindications: Rare allergies. May interfere with the action of thyroid hormones. Avoid long-brewed nutritional type infusions of any duration.
Rosalee de la Foret writes, “It is often said that Lemon Balm is contraindicated for people with hypothyroidism. Prior to writing this I asked around the herbal community and several herbalists reported using lemon balm with people who had under-active thyroids and it did not change their thyroid blood tests. If you have an under-active thyroid you probably don’t want to consume this plant in excess.” We’ll revisit this topic and Rosalee’s perspective in the “Uses” section.
Uses:
To open, I’m inspired to share that Hildegard von Bingen expressed this of lemon balm, “Lemon balm contains within it the virtues of a dozen other plants.” So, yeah: This botanical holds within it some interesting Medicine and offers many potential uses.
Melissa has proved helpful for anxiety and insomnia, and seems to blend nicely with other nervines for both enhancing flavor and desired action. It’s also a useful addition to formulas that address symptoms that are triggered or exacerbated by anxiety (and depression). I’ve been known to blend her with motherwort (Leonurous cardiaca), not just for the calming actions, but specifically when working through distasteful interpersonal challenges. This blend is very tasty to me, and it calms and soothes my heart and being, helping me to stay centered and grounded in grace and compassion, which I’ve been known to desperately need in certain intense instances. Lemon balm has been noted as useful in harmonizing heart palpations, and I imagine its antispasmodic actions may play a role here… and synergizes the same action on the heart that motherwort offers. Kiva Rose has said of lemon balm, “I personally use it for panic attacks with heart palpitations where the panic is very buzzy feeling.” I love the buzzy reference here, because bees love this plant (thus its name), as do their keepers.
David Hoffman writes that it “has a tonic effect on the heart and circulatory systems and causes mild vasodilatation peripheral vessels, thus lowering blood pressure.”
Clients have found the relaxing nervine actions of this plant helpful alone and in formulas dealing with anxious insomnia, where thoughts flare (think fire) and jolt them to wakefulness, and keep them awake. A squirt of tincture quiets and cools their response enabling them to return to rest.
Henriette Kress suggests tucking a lemon balm bag under your pillow to help you fall asleep.
When adrenal stress is presented, a tincture blend with milky oats (or oat straw, if milky oats aren’t at hand) can be supportive for cooling and calming the nervous system and the feelings that often feed the stressful fight or flight reactions.
It’s been claimed that lemon balm has beneficial impacts for dealing with hyperactivity, though I’ve not witnessed this, either first or second hand, so if you do, please let me know about your experience.
Matthew Wood writes of lemon balm’s ability “to calm and relax conditions of mild nervousness and upset” adding that, “the sour lemon balm is cooling, in addition to relaxing, and therefore sedates through reducing the excitation of heat as well as nervousness.”
Some of the considerations stated thus far might inspire you to think of it as useful in working with stress headaches, shoulder/upper-back tension – internally and externally. And you’d be right. It blends nicely with betony (stachys officinalis)and/or blue vervain (verbena hastada) for these purposes.
Rosalee de la Foret writes, “Heart palpitations, nervous tension, insomnia, and hyperactivity are all classic indications for lemon balm and these combined describe what some people experience when their thyroid becomes overactive, such as in Grave’s disease. In fact, a blend of lemon balm, bugleweed (Lycopus spp.) and motherwort (Leonorus cardiacus) is a classic western formula for a hyperactive thyroid.” This symptom picture is not uncommon during menopause, when (from my way of thinking) the whole of the endocrine system is re-harmonizing, which includes thyroid involvement. So, that’s worth keeping in mind.
The anti-viral actions of lemon balm have been lab tested as well as clinically and experientially validated, especially in dealing with the herpes simplex virus. I had one client, several years back, who swore by it in managing genital outbreaks, externally as a sitz bath and wash, and internally as a tincture (as part of a formula). Lemon balm has been reported to lesson the severity and duration of outbreaks as well as serve to prevent them. Another client who experienced mouth sores used a diluted tincture as a mouth rinse (alongside other treatment), and now rarely experiences outbreaks, yet (last I heard) continued using the mouth rinse.
David Hoffman writes of its antiviral virtues, “hot water extracts have antiviral properties, possibly due in part to the presence of rosmarinic acid and other polyphenolics. A lotion-based extract may be applied to herpes simplex skin lesions, the antiviral activity having been confirmed in both laboratory and clinical trials.”
Its actions as an emmenagogue are considered mild and helpful in encouraging stalled menstruation, while its antispasmodic actions work to relieve menstrual cramping. Brilliant!
Lemon balm is also respected for its carminative actions to cool and soothe an upset tummy, bloat and digestive cramping. Especially as a tea, it's a great digestive tonic.
Maude Grieve writes of lemon balm’s history of use for wounds and venomous stings, "The juice of Balm glueth together greene wounds,” and adds the opinion of Pliny and Dioscorides that “Balm, being leaves steeped in wine, and the wine drunk, and the leaves applied externally, were considered to be a certain cure for the bites of venomous beasts and the stings of scorpions." So don’t discount its topical potential!
Deb Soule suggests that a tea of “Melissa helps reduce a mild fever and is safe for young children, the elderly, and pregnant and nursing mothers.”
With respect to children, lemon balm really is yummy and that makes it a great choice for kids. As David Winston says, “I am often asked by parents what herbs are safe and effective for children. Though children often deal with the same ailments as adults, the herbal protocol is restricted to what is safe, effective, and in my criteria, what tasted good. One of my favorite herbs for children is lemon balm (Melissa officinalis). Lemon balm helps children with sleep, particularly those who have bad dreams or are scared before bed. It's also great for kids that get angry or anxious, thanks to its calming and mood-elevating properties. For children who have hyperacidity, lemon balm can offer relief from tummy aches, and when used with ginger, can offer great relief from indigestion. Finally, a strong tea of lemon balm can be applied to herpes sores on lips in order to dry out the herpes and make the outbreaks shorter. Melissa is gentle, safe, and effective, making it a great herb for children. Not to mention, it makes a delicious cup of tea!”
The scent of lemon balm is bright and uplifting, and simply having some around, be it fresh or dried, can improve a dark mood. I’ve used this botanical in this way for addressing the symptoms of SAD, as tea, tincture and talisman.
I often add its fresh leaves and flowers to spiritual healing waters, or carry some in a Spirit Bag, and have discovered some profound results with those dealing with anxiety and depression that is rooted in clinging grief.
This modest and ubiquitous plant has some Big Medicine to offer. Get to know her and hold her close.
Dance with Melissa officinalis – Lemon Balm
This fragrant and tasty botanical offers great creative potential for culinary and medicinal applications. Get buzzin’!
Carmelite Water
This alcohol extract dates back to the 14th century when the Carmelite sisters of the Abbey of Saint Just created what’s credited as the first formulation. It was used internally as a general tonic, and externally as a multi-purpose toilet water. I first learned about it years back in reading my first copy of Maude Grieve’s A Modern Herbal. This is one of those formulas that herbalists have been creating for years by this name, and with countless variations. I've made a formula using:
Fresh lemon balm (leaves, and a few budding and flowering tops)
Fresh mugwort leaves (because I love its bitters)
Fresh elder flowers (because it was available)
Fresh lemon zest (organic)
Dried coriander, finger crushed
Grated nutmeg
Clove
Cinnamon chips
Nothing was measured. Lightly packed a jar with the lemon balm, added the mugwort, elder flowers, lemon zest, coriander, nutmeg, cover with an ethanol of choice, and macerate 3-6 days. Add clove and cinnamon and macerate another 3-6days.
Candied Lemon Balm Leaves
Beat an egg white with a tiny bit of water. Dip lemon balm leaves in the mixture, then dip in sugar. Lay the coated leaves on a parchment lined baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in a 200 degree F oven until the leaves look dry, but not browned. Check after 20 minutes and every 5 to 10 after that. – recipe from thenerdyfarmwife.com
And here’s some of the typical herbal ideas with some lemon balm specific twists:
tea / tisane – iced in summer: Oh yeah.
tincture for internal, external and culinary use
water infusion for baths, bathing, foot soaks, and topical washes
cold infused water, for sipping and enjoyment
syrup
jelly
hard candy
popsicles, sorbet, and the like
infused honey
infused vinegar
oxymel or shrub
elixir or cordial
herbal powder
added to homemade fermented beverages, soft and spirited
Ale, wine, mead.
in cooking, as a garnish, in sauces and pesto, in the cavity of roasted poultry, chopped into grain dishes, in salads, butters, puddings, gelatins, ice cream, cookies, scones, pancakes… you get the idea.
infused wine
infused oils, salves, balms, soaps
steams
baths and soaks
dried for stuffing pillows, poppets, and the like
blessing smoke
spiritual baths and healing ceremonies
resources:
Maude Grieve, A Modern Herbal
Rosalee de la Foret, Alchemy of Herbs, herbalremediesadvice.org
David Hoffman, Medical Herbalism
David Winston, his Facebook page
Deb Soule, A Woman’s Book of Herbs
Henriette Kress, Practical Herbs
Matthew Woods, The Earthwise Herbal, woodherbs.com
Personal notes from multiple sources
Personal experience
🕊 Peace
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