Another popular, aromatic herb that has a long history of use for its medicinal benefits and calming effects is lemon balm.
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a perennial, herbaceous plant that is a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae). It has a square stem and heart-shaped leaves with serrated edges that have a mild lemon scent. During the summer, small white flowers will bloom. It is a bushy plant that grows upright and can reach a height of two to three feet tall. Lemon balm can be found growing wild throughout the world.
Let’s investigate the health benefits of lemon balm as well as how to grow, harvest, and use this powerful herb in and around your home.
Health Benefits of Lemon Balm
Lemon balm has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-depressant benefits. It contains compounds including terpenes, flavonoids, tannins, and rosmarinic acid which can help prevent cell damage from free radicals. Using lemon balm to calm the mind and body has been done for centuries all over the world.
Using Lemon Balm to Calm the Mind
Lemon balm is one of the best herbs to relieve anxiety, depression, and stress. According to one eight-week study of 80 participants, researchers noticed a significant reduction in depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep disturbances compared to the placebo group. Another study involving participants with Alzheimer’s disease showed improvements in brain function, decreased agitation, and improved mood.
Using Lemon Balm to Calm the Body
Research suggests that lemon balm may support digestive health, improve heart health, protect the liver, relieve cold sores, regulate blood sugar, lower blood pressure, reduce PMS symptoms, regulate the thyroid, reduce inflammation, and boost the immune system. The compounds in lemon balm may help the body naturally fight bacterial and viral infections.
Lemon balm is not only beneficial to humans, but to animals as well. It’s non-toxic and can be safely given to a variety of animals, including chickens, cats, and dogs. Lemon balm is used to promote calmness, relieve stress, improve sleep, and support digestion. It can even help with minor wounds and skin irritations by promoting healing and reducing the urge to itch. Lemon balm should only be given to animals occasionally and in moderation. Please check with your veterinarian to make sure it’s right for them.
Growing and Harvesting Lemon Balm
Lemon balm is one of the easiest, fastest plants to grow from seeds and cuttings. It can be grown in the ground or in containers. The plant grows fast and can become invasive if not controlled. The plant prefers rich, well-drained soil, and full sun to partial shade, but it will grow in almost any soil. Lemon balm is a hardy, cold tolerant herb that makes a great addition to any home or garden.
To harvest, just pinch off the leaves you need during the growing season. Be gentle though, the leaves bruise easily. Fresh leaves can be frozen or dried. Harvest mature leaves for drying and dry within two days at about 90 degrees. This can be done by hanging it in the sun, using a dehydrator, or by putting your oven on the lowest setting and cracking the door open.
Ways to Use Lemon Balm
Lemon balm has been used for centuries to attract pollinators, like honeybees and butterflies as well as repel pests. The leaves can be eaten fresh and are used to flavor dishes and make herbal teas. The compounds can be extracted from the leaves and used to make medicines, tinctures, salves, and oil. The oil can then be used to make lip balm, soap, perfume, and toothpaste.
The most popular way to use lemon balm and reap the many benefits this powerful herb offers is to make tea. This method is also used on animals, just let it cool, and add it to their food or water. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 tablespoon of dried herb or a ¼ cup of fresh leaves and allow it to steep for about 15 minutes. Then strain, add a little honey for sweetener if desired, and enjoy.
Lemon Balm Safety
Lemon balm is generally safe and well-tolerated by most people and animals. It may have an affect on thyroid hormones, so it should be used with caution if you have severe hypothyroidism or are taking thyroid medication. Always check with your healthcare provider before starting any new herb or supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, nursing, or taking prescription medications.
Our Personal Experience
While researching different herbs, we ran across lemon balm. It’s in the mint family, easy to grow, has a lot of benefits, and we could use it in a variety of ways. We bought one starter plant and put it in the greenhouse. After a while, we were able to harvest the plant to make tea, tinctures, and more lemon balm plants. When the temperatures were right, we planted two in the ground and used the fresh leaves in our tea.
This winter we continued our research on this wonderful, aromatic herb. The two of us made a tincture with glycerin and a tincture with alcohol. We also found a delicious tea that contains elderberry, lemon balm, and ashwagandha. It has proven to be very helpful during these cold months. Brian and I are excited to get outside and play in the garden this spring. Lemon balm is one of the herbs we will be growing and eating fresh.