The name Melissa is Greek and means “bee.” 37 Lemon balm attracts and calms bees, which is why beekeepers have grown it near their hives for more than two thousand years. Lemon balm honey has been highly valued since ancient times and was mentioned by both Pliny and Dioscorides, who said it helped to heal wounds. In the eleventh century, Arab physician Avicenna also sung its praises.
Lemon balm was an important medicinal herb in Europe during the Middle Ages and was one of several plants that became known as a cure-all. Even though English herbalists such as Culpeper and Gerard touted its uses, lemon balm’s popularity was not carried to the New World. It had to wait for the resurgence of interest in herbal remedies to be rediscovered. Lemon balm earned its name because of its honey-sweet lemon flavor and fragrance.
Medicinal Uses
Acne, anxiety, asthma, blood pressure, bronchitis, chest congestion, colds, cough, dermatitis, digestive system support, eczema, fever, flu, headache, herpes, immune system support, indigestion, infection, inflammation, insect bites and stings, insomnia, menstrual cramps, migraine, nervous system support, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), psoriasis, restlessness, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), shingles, skin care, sleep aid, stomachache or pain, stress
Precautions and Contraindications
The herb: May interact with sedatives and thyroid medications.
The essential oils: May cause skin irritation or sensitization in some.
Parts of Plant Used
Herbal remedies: Leaves and stems
Essential oils: Leaves, flowers, and buds
Culinary purposes: Leaves
Growing and Harvesting
Reaching one to three feet tall, lemon balm is a bushy herb with square, branching stems. Its bright green leaves are deeply veined and have toothed edges. The leaves have a noticeable lemony scent especially when brushed against. Small white to yellowish flowers grow in clusters where leaves join the main stems. They bloom from midsummer to early autumn.
|
Type |
Zone |
Light |
Soil |
Moisture |
Height |
Spacing |
|
Perennial |
4 |
Full sun to partial shade |
Loam or sandy loam |
Moderately moist |
1–3' |
12–24" |
Lemon balm does well in partial to filtered shade in southern zones but prefers full sun in northern areas. During the first season, the plant may seem scrawny but it will fill out in its second year. Lemon balm is easy to grow in containers. Lemon balm can be propagated by root division, stem cuttings and layering, and by sowing fresh seeds. While its roots will not take over your garden, it does readily self-seed and can become invasive. Keep an eye on it, especially if you let it reseed. Lemon balm attracts bees and is a good companion to squash and pumpkins because it repels squash bugs.
Both the leaves and stems can be harvested throughout the growing season. It can be cut back to two inches above the ground, which will encourage a second crop. The leaves keep their scent when dried, however, they darken if not dried quickly so you may want to avoid hang drying them. As an alternative, freezing works well.
How to Use the Herb
Anytime you want an herbal tea, lemon balm is enjoyable, but after a hectic day, it can seem magical. It calms both the nervous and digestive systems, quelling anxiety and nervous indigestion. This herb eases headaches, lowers blood pressure, and relieves insomnia. Drink the tea an hour or two before going to bed for help in falling asleep.
2 teaspoons dried leaves and stems, crumbled
1 cup boiling water
Pour the water over the herb, steep 10 to 15 minutes, and then strain.
For headaches, let the tea steep until it’s cool and then drink one cup three times during the day. When dealing with a migraine, use lemon balm on its own or make the tea with 1½ teaspoons of lemon balm and ½ teaspoon of valerian. This combination of herbs is also effective as a sleep aid. Be sure to read the precautions in the profile on Valerian.
The tea is an aid for stomach pains, too. To boost its effectiveness for this purpose, use 2 teaspoons each of dried lemon balm, chamomile, and peppermint in 1 cup of water. Brew a mild tea with just 1 teaspoon of lemon balm to soothe restlessness in children.
When suffering from anxiety, try half a teaspoon of lemon balm tincture in one cup of water three times a day. The tea also relieves PMS symptoms and menstrual cramps. Equally effective for headache and anxiety is a tea made with 1 teaspoon of each of lemon balm and chamomile. Brew an infusion with equal amounts of lemon balm, lavender, and chamomile for the bath to soak away stress. Combine lemon balm with equal amounts of St. John’s wort in a tea to relieve seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
The antiviral properties of lemon balm make it useful in treating herpes and shingles. It relieves the pain and discomfort, and shortens the length and intensity of outbreaks. Brew the Simply Lemon Balm Tea and drink two or three cups a day. Also, use a little of the tea on a cotton ball to apply directly to sores. An ointment made with jojoba and an infusion of lemon balm applied several times a day is also helpful.
For acne, make a vinegar of herbs to dab on pustules, which will reduce inflammation, counter infection, and fight bacteria. Also use this combination of herbs (without vinegar) for a facial steam to help with acne or to use as a general skin cleanser.
Lemon Balm Herbal Acne Vinegar
3 teaspoons dried rosemary leaves, crumbled
2 teaspoons dried lemon balm leaves, crumbled
2 teaspoons dried lavender flowers, crumbled
2 teaspoons dried chamomile flowers, crumbled
¼–½ cup vinegar
Place the herbs in a jar and pour in enough vinegar to cover them. Steep for at least 2 weeks and strain.
The antiviral components in lemon balm make it ideal to ease the symptoms of colds and flu. Combine it with equal amounts of peppermint for a tea to calm coughs, ease asthma attacks, and relieve congestion due to bronchitis. Also use these two herbs for a steam inhalation to help clear the airways. On its own, a lemon balm tea promotes sweating to reduce fever.
Because the antioxidants in lemon balm help support and strengthen the immune system, use a medicinal honey throughout the cold and flu season to help you stay healthy.
Stay Healthy Lemon Balm Honey
4 tablespoons dried lemon balm leaves, crumbled
3 tablespoons dried chamomile flowers, crumbled
1 tablespoon dried lavender flowers, crumbled
1 cup honey
Pour the honey into a slightly larger jar and set it in a saucepan of water. Warm over low heat until the honey becomes a little less viscous. Add the herbs and stir with a butter knife to distribute. Continue warming for 15 to 20 minutes, then remove from heat. Put the lid on when cool. Store out of the light at room temperature for a week. Reheat slightly to strain herbs or leave them in.
Lemon balm is a delightful culinary herb. Sprinkle a few leaves in salads or use them to flavor fish or poultry dishes. Freeze some chopped leaves in ice cube trays to add to drinks. Also when combining herbs to freeze or store together, combine it with dill or mint.
How to Use the Essential Oils
Lemon balm essential oil ranges from pale yellow to full yellow in color. As expected, its scent is lemony but also fresh and herbaceous.
Just as lemon balm tea can be used for herpes and shingles, so too can the essential oil. Mix 1 drop of essential oil in 1 teaspoon of carrier oil and apply to affected areas. This can also be used to relieve the swelling and itching of insect bites and stings. For extra power, blend lemon balm with lavender and St. John’s wort and keep some on hand for first aid.
Lemon Balm Soothing Skin Relief Oil
6 drops lemon balm essential oil
5 drops lavender essential oil
2 drops St. John’s wort essential oil
1 ounce apricot kernel carrier oil
Mix the essential oils together and then combine with the carrier oil.
To calm the inflammation and itching of eczema, psoriasis, or dermatitis mix lemon balm with borage as the carrier oil to soothe the skin. Alternatively, mix the essential oil with sea or Epson salts for a healing soak in the tub. Lemon balm is also effective in a diffuser or with a carrier oil for a calming massage to reduce anxiety, headache, and blood pressure.
37. Michael Castleman, The New Healing Herbs: The Classic Guide to Nature’s Best Medicines (Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, 2001), 305.