Information on Lemon Balm

Lemon balm, "Melissa officinalis," grows throughout the world in herb gardens, culinary gardens and commercial farms for use in medicines, furniture polish and cosmetics. A member of the mint family, lemon balm's citrus scent and bright yellow flowers attract bees, and its leaves have long been used to treat a variety of medical problems.

History

Lemon balm's history dates back to before the Middle Ages, when herbalists prescribed lemon balm leaves steeped in wine for its calming effects, both on the emotions and on the digestive system. Other traditional folklore uses for lemon balm include soothing bee stings and bug bites, helping to heal wounds, treating heart problems and combating insomnia.

Active Ingredients

Volatile oils in lemon balm leaves contain a number of plant chemicals, called phytochemicals. Monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, which give the plant its pleasant scent, also play a role in relieving gas and soothing anxiety. In addition, lemon balm oil contains tannins, which may contribute to its anti-viral behavior, and eugenol, which is antibacterial, anti-spasmodic and a topical anesthetic, notes Stephen D. Ehrlich, NMD, in an article at the University of Maryland Medical Center's reference database on complementary medicine.

Effects

Several studies support the use of lemon balm to treat cold sores caused by the herpes simplex virus. A review of natural therapies for the virus published in "Alternative Medicine Review" describes two different double-blind studies using lemon balm cream to treat herpes sores, one with 66 participants and one with 116 participants. In both studies, the lemon balm cream was more effective than a placebo, especially when treatment started within the first 72 hours of an outbreak.
A 2006 study in "Phytomedicine" magazine concluded that a combination of valerian and lemon balm reduced restlessness and sleep disturbance in children up to 12 years old with no harmful side effects.
The German Commission E, a regulatory agency established in 1978 to evaluate the effectiveness of herbal and traditional remedies, lists lemon balm as an effective treatment for anxiety, insomnia and gastric upsets.

Availability

You can grow lemon balm in your garden or on a windowsill for a ready supply, or buy dried leaves from an herbal supply house. Several manufacturers sell lemon balm tea, as well as lemon balm extract, tinctures and essential oil.

Dosage

For adults, use 1/2 to 1 tsp. of liquid lemon balm extract daily, 1/2 to 1 1/2 tsp. of lemon balm tincture three times a day or 1 to 3 tsp. of dried leaves in a cup of hot water once a day, recommends James A. Duke, author of "The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook" and architect of the USDA's database of medicinal plants. He also suggests applying lemon balm tea directly to cold sores using cotton balls "as often as you like."