January 29 2025 Lunar Cycle
LEMON BALM
Melissa officinalis
Common Name
Lemon balm, melissa, balm mint, balm, sweet balm
Parts Used
Leaves, aerial parts
Native To
Southern Europe and the Mediterranean Basin to Central Asia (Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew [RBGK], n.d.).
Geographic Distribution
Lemon balm has been introduced to other parts of Europe, Russia, New Zealand, North America, and South America (RBGK, n.d.).
Botanical Description
Lemon balm is a lemon-scented perennial with a square stem characteristic of the mint family and simple, opposite, slightly toothed leaves; the small flowers are usually white, sometimes with a slightly pink or yellow hue, and are held in the leaf axils (Wisconsin Horticulture, n.d.).
Key Constituents
Volatile oils, flavonoids, polyphenols, tannins, triterpenic acids (Hoffmann, 2003).
Sustainability Issues
None known.
Harvesting Guidelines
Harvest aerial parts just before the flowers open, which is when volatile oils are at their strongest concentration (Chevallier, 2000).
Uses
Lemon balm is a cooling nervine with a strong lemony smell and a more mild lemony but deliciously pleasant flavor. This popular mint family plant, whose genus name Melissa means "bee" in Greek (Ravindran, 2018), is an easy addition to the garden, producing thick beds of fragrant leaves that impart a delightful scent on your hands if you gently tousle the plants (Groves, 2019). As the name suggests, bees adore lemon balm’s tiny but sweetly scented flowers, and legend has it that medieval beekeepers rubbed crushed lemon balm in hives to encourage nesting (Grieve, 1931/1971). Lemon balm loves dappled sunlight and moist but well-drained soil; it can be started from either seed or root division and may spread quickly in optimal growing conditions (Groves, 2019). Herbalist and historian Maud Grieve (1931/1971) tells us that lemon balm was a common herb found in potpourri and that its name refers to its "honeyed sweetness" (p. 76).
Lemon balm makes a delicious tea from either fresh or dried leaves (Gladstar, 2012). Its appealing taste makes it a favorite among children and those with sensitive palates, and its addition to formulas can disguise the bitterness or strong taste of other herbs (Artemisia, 2019). Its sweetness lends itself well to glycerites and infused honey (Gladstar, 2012; Masé, 2013). It can also be prepared as a cold infusion (Neves, 2020), which makes a refreshing beverage in the warm summer months.
Lemon balm has been used to lift the spirits for many centuries, even predating the Middle Ages (Ehrlich, 2011). Lemon balm is synonymous with the word uplift in the minds of many herbalists. Truly a balm to the spirits, lemon balm is used to soothe anxiety, nervousness, and depression (Groves, 2019); it is said to gladden the heart and bring light where there is darkness and softness where there is tension. This herb is sometimes called a nervous system trophorestorative (Hoffmann, 2003), a word indicating that over time, an herb tonifies, nourishes, and restores balance to the body, usually with an affinity to a particular organ or body system (American Botanical Council, n.d.).
In a clinical trial by Kennedy et al. (2003), mood was assessed in 20 healthy individuals given a single dose of standardized lemon balm extract in capsule form. The researchers found a significant increase in “calmness” in those given lemon balm extract compared to placebo, with the best mood-modulation effects occurring at a dosage of 300 mg (Kennedy et al., 2003). In 2004, the same researchers published the results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, balanced crossover experiment and found that a dose of 600 mg of lemon balm extract resulted in ameliorated negative moods following laboratory-induced stress and was associated with significantly increased feelings of calmness and decreased feelings of alertness among participants. In addition, those who took a lower dose of 300 mg were significantly faster at mathematical processing with no reduction in accuracy (Kennedy et al., 2004).
Lemon balm is a popular children’s herb and is used to calm restlessness and nightmares (Gladstar, 2012). It is also employed to improve memory and concentration (Easley & Horne, 2016) and is sometimes used in cases of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as well as Alzheimer’s disease (Winston & Maimes, 2019). One clinical study found that a combination of lemon balm leaf and valerian (Valeriana officinalis) root extracts significantly improved social behavior and symptoms in children under 12 with hyperactivity, concentration problems, and impulsiveness (Gromball et al., 2014). Other researchers are starting to look to lemon balm as an aid for those with dementia and Alzheimer's disease; one study found that patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease who took a standardized lemon balm extract for 4 months showed significant improvements in cognitive function and less agitation compared with those given a placebo (Akhondzadeh et al., 2003).
Lemon balm is a lovely ally for those with sleep disturbances, especially in combination with sedative herbs like valerian (Valeriana officinalis) and passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) (Groves, 2019). A placebo-controlled study by Taavoni et al. (2013) investigated the effects of a formula containing valerian and lemon balm extracts taken by women experiencing sleep disruption associated with menopause and found significantly improved quality of sleep among those taking the herbs compared with the placebo group, with no reported side effects.
As a carminative and antispasmodic, lemon balm is also used to ease digestive issues including spasms and flatulence; due to its mild antidepressant properties, it is especially indicated for digestive upset related to anxiety or depression (Hoffmann, 2003). The antispasmodic nature of lemon balm is thought to stem from its volatile oils citral and citronellal (Chevallier, 2000).
Lemon balm may not be the first herb one thinks of as an antimicrobial; however, the essential has shown antimicrobial activity in vitro against Candida albicans and gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus (Hăncianu et al., 2008). Herbalists also commonly make use of lemon balm’s antiviral action to address issues such as cold sores, shingles, and chicken pox (Chevallier, 2000). Lemon balm’s antiviral action is attributed to its polyphenol content (Gladstar, 2012). Topical applications of lemon balm on herpes simplex sores have been shown to improve healing time (Koytchev et al., 1999) and authors Pizzorno et al. (2016) note that the herb can reduce the recurrence of cold sores.
This gentle herb also may not be on the forefront of people's minds when considering protection from radiation, but a study by Zeraatpishe et al. (2011) suggests strong potential for lemon balm as a radioprotectant that shields DNA from radiation-induced damage. Researchers gave 55 radiology workers 2 cups of lemon balm tea per day for a month, taking measurements of their plasma before and after the tea. They found that after just 1 month, the antioxidant activity increased and DNA damage decreased. In the end, there was "a significant improvement in plasma levels of catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase and a marked reduction in plasma DNA damage, myeloperoxidase, and lipid peroxidation" (Zeraatpishe et al., 2011, p. 205). These findings led the researchers to conclude that lemon balm tea improved markers of oxidative stress and DNA damage associated with low-dose radiation and may be helpful for radiation protection among radiology staff (Zeraatpishe et al., 2011).
References
Akhondzadeh, S., Noroozian, M., Mohammadi, M., Ohadinia, S., Jamshidi, A.H., & Khani, M. (2003). Melissa officinalis extract in the treatment of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease: A double blind, randomised, placebo controlled trial. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 74(7), 863-866. https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.74.7.863
American Botanical Council. (n.d.). Terminology. https://www.herbalgram.org/resources/terminology-page/
Artemisia, A. (2019). The herbal handbook for homesteaders: Farmed and foraged herbal remedies and recipes. Voyageur Press.
Chevallier, A. (2000). The encyclopedia of herbal medicine. DK Publishing.
Easley, T., & Horne, 2. (2016). The modern herbal dispensatory: A medicine-making guide. North Atlantic Books.
Ehrlich, S.D. (2011). Lemon balm. University of Maryland Medical Center. https://accurateclinic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Lemon-balm-University-of-Maryland-Medical-Center.pdf
Gladstar, R. (2012). Rosemary Gladstar’s medicinal herbs: A beginner’s guide. Storey Publishing.
Grieve, M. (1971). A modern herbal. Dover Publications. (Original work published 1931)
Gromball, J., Beschorner, F., Wantzen, C., Paulsen, U., & Burkart, M. (2014). Hyperactivity, concentration difficulties and impulsiveness improve during seven weeks' treatment with valerian root and lemon balm extracts in primary school children. Phytomedicine, 21(8-9), 1098-1103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2014.04.004
Groves, M.N. (2019). Grow your own herbal remedies: How to create a customized herb garden to support your health and well-being. Storey Publishing.
Hăncianu, M., Aprotosoaie, A.C., Gille, E., Poiată, A., Tuchiluş, C., Spac, A., & Stănescu, U. (2008). Chemical composition and in vitro antimicrobial activity of essential oil of Melissa officinalis L. from Romania. Revista Medico-Chirurgicala a Societatii de Medici si Naturalisti din Iași, 112(3), 843-847.
Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical herbalism: The science and practice of herbal medicine. Healing Arts Press.
Kennedy, D.O., Scholey, A.B., Tildesley, N.T., Perry, E.K., & Wesnes, K.A. (2003). Modulation of mood and cognitive performance following acute administration of Melissa officinalis(lemon balm). Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior, 72(4), 953-964. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0091-3057(02)00777-3
Kennedy, D.O., Scholey, A.B., Tildesley, N.T., Perry, E.K., & Wesnes, K.A. (2004). Attenuation of laboratory-induced stress in humans after acute administration of Melissa officinalis(lemon balm). Psychosomatic Medicine, 66(4), 607-613. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.psy.0000132877.72833.71
Koytchev, R., Alken, R.G., & Dundarov, S. (1999). Balm mint extract (Lo-701) for topical treatment of recurring herpes labialis. Phytomedicine, 6(4), 225-230. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0944-7113(99)80013-0
Masé, G. (2013). The wild medicine solution: Healing with aromatic, bitter, and tonic plants. Healing Arts Press.
Neves, L. (2020). Northeast medicinal plants: Identify, harvest, and use 111 wild herbs for health and wellness. Timber Press.
Pizzorno, J.E., Murray, M.T., Joiner-Bay, H. (2016). The clinician’s handbook of natural medicine (3rd ed.). Elsevier.
Ravindran, P.N. (2018). The encyclopedia of herbs and spices. CABI.
Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew. (n.d.). Melissa officinalis L. Plants Of the World Online [Database]. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:450084-1
Taavoni, S., Nazem Ekbatani, N., & Haghani, H. (2013). Valerian/lemon balm use for sleep disorders during menopause. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 19(4), 193-196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2013.07.002
Winston, D., & Kuhn, M. (2007). Herbal therapy and supplements: A scientific and traditional approach. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Winston, D., & Maimes, S. (2019). Adaptogens: Herbs for strength, stamina, and stress relief. Healing Arts Press.
Wisconsin Horticulture. (n.d.). Lemon balm, Melissa offinicalis. University of Wisconsin-Madison. https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/lemon-balm-melissa-officinalis/
Zeraatpishe, A., Oryan, S., Bagheri, M.H., Pilevarian, A.A., Malekirad, A.A., Baeeri, M., & Abdollahi, M. (2011). Effects of Melissa officinalis L. on oxidative status and DNA damage in subjects exposed to long-term low-dose ionizing radiation. Toxicology and Industrial Health, 27(3), 205-212. https://doi.org/10.1177/0748233710383889
