Lemon balm is a commonly used medicinal herb that also goes by the names bee balm, honey plant and sweet balm, according to Medicinal Herb Info. The tender leaves and stems of the herb are the portions used in various herbal preparations. Before beginning to take lemon balm or any other medicinal herb or supplement, consult with your health care provider for instructions.
Lemon Balm & Pregnancy
The website for the National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine lists lemon balm as one of the herbs that seems to be helpful in treating sleep disorders. Drugs.com says that lemon balm cream has shown some promise in treating the herpes virus or cold sores, but still needs more research to determine its effectiveness for this use. Besides these uses, the UMMC site lists anxiety and indigestion as conditions helped by the use of lemon balm. However, none of the sources advises pregnant or lactating women to use lemon balm. There simply isn't enough research yet to determine its safety for use while pregnant.
Research
So far, there is little research into the efficacy of lemon balm as a medicinal treatment. And there is almost no research at all to determine its safety for use while pregnant or nursing. Because of the lack of solid research, the UMMC website recommends that pregnant or breast-feeding women avoid drinking lemon balm tea.
Possible Side Effects
Both the UMMC and the Drugs.com websites advise pregnant or nursing women to avoid the use of lemon balm. Other than that, the herb seems to be very safe and has shown very few side effects.
Potential Interactions
Even though lemon balm tea is considered to be generally safe except during pregnancy, the UMMC site cautions that people taking thyroid medications or any form of sedatives should not drink lemon balm tea. The tea may interact harmfully with the medications. If you have questions about whether lemon balm will interact with other herbs or medications you take, you can discuss it with your pharmacist or health care provider.
Forms Used
Lemon balm is easily obtained in dried form and bought in bulk, according to the UMMC website. But it's also available as tea, capsules, extract, tincture and oil. The site says that lemon balm can often be found as an ingredient in homeopathic remedies or as aromatherapy essential oil.
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