Lemon Balm

Lemon balm has been a subject on television lately. You may be surprised to find out that it has been around (and probably in your local nurseries and plant shops) for a long time. Its leaves closely resemble the spearmint plant, but it has a sweet lemon essence to it that makes it easily identifiable. The name for lemon balm is Melissa Officinalis, which comes from the Greek for "honey bee," and it does indeed have some of the same tonic properties as honey and royal jelly.

When used as a tea, lemon balm makes a great morning starter drink. It brings that uplift to the spirit we all want, and this makes it a great drink for those who suffer from depression. It is also ideal for anyone who suffers digestive upsets when worried or anxious. Being a member of the mint family, it has a cooling nature, and this makes it a good choice for feverish colds. The tea is best fresh and can be enjoyed hot or cold. It can even be applied as a wash for sores or swellings. To obtain these healthful benefits from fresh leaves, be sure to harvest them BEFORE the plant flowers. 

If tea is not your thing, another option is tincture. Tinctures are made by extracting the therapeutic properties from the leaves into an alcohol, vinegar, or glycerine base. (This base preserves the tonic, giving it a bit longer shelf life than the fresh or dehydrated leaves have.) Tinctures are concentrated, so it takes less to accomplish the same thing as a cup of tea, but in general, can be used for the same reasons and oftentimes in the same ways as the tea. 

A compress can also be made from the tea for painful swellings such as gout. This does not resolve the cause of the gout, but can relieve the discomfort experienced with it. 

For insect repellent or caring for insect bites, ointments can be made and applied liberally on the skin directly. Massage oil is another way to topically apply lemon balm for these things. Topical applications can be quite beneficial for tension, particularly for nervous, restless or agitated children. 

Lemon balm can be found as an essential oil as well. Keep in mind that distilling the oils from leaves and petals and barks of plants can require a lot of plant material, which can make pricing differ from oil to oil. Sometimes, lemon balm essential oil will be labeled as Sweet Melissa, or just Melissa. Because of its relaxing nature, this essential oil is oftentimes quite helpful for menstrual cramps and irregularities. The essential oil can also be dispersed in the air through a diffuser and bring calm to the atmosphere. 

Consider lemon balm in one form or another for these problems:

stress-related facial blemishes
skin inflammationis
insect bites
stress & anxiety

menstrual cramps

fever blisters

shingles pain

spasms

fever

flatulence

stagnant liver function

insomnia

gallbladder complaints

emotional balance