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Health benefits of Lemon balm

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Health benefits of Lemon balm

Lemon Balm Quick Facts
Name: Lemon Balm
Scientific Name: Melissa officinalis
Origin South-central Europe, North Africa, the Mediterranean region, and Central Asia
Shapes Small nutlets that are lanceoloid-ellipsoid and smooth
Taste Sweet, sour
Health benefits Useful against diabetes and Alleviate Muscle Pain, Aches
Melissa officinalis, commonly called lemon balm, Balm, Bee balm, Sweet balm, common balm, Garden Balm, Melissa, balm mint, blue balm, heart’s delight, cure-all and  dropsy plant is a bushy herbaceous perennial of the mint family that is typically grown in herb gardens and border fronts for its lemon-scented leaves. The plant is native to south-central Europe, North Africa, the Mediterranean region, and Central Asia but has escaped gardens and naturalized in many parts of the U.S. (Eastern, Midwestern and Pacific Northwest states). Genus name comes from the Greek word Melissa meaning a honeybee, also the name of a Cretan princess who first discovered how to obtain honey.

Lemon Balm was used as far back as the middle Ages to reduce stress and anxiety, promote sleep, improve appetite, and ease pain and discomfort from indigestion (including gas and bloating, as well as colic). Even before the middle Ages, lemon balm was steeped in wine to lift the spirits, help heal wounds, and treat venomous insect bites and stings. Today, lemon balm is mixed with other calming, soothing herbs like valerian, chamomile, and hops, to promote relaxation. It is also used in creams to treat cold sores.

Plant Description

Lemon Balm is a bushy perennial herbaceous plant that grows about 70–150 cm tall. The plant is found growing in thickets, fence rows, abandoned home sites, vacant lots, and areas along roadsides, banks of ponds, floodplain areas along drainage canals, and waste areas. It has fibrous and rhizomatous root and stem is light green, 4-angled, single-furrowed along their sides, and glabrous to finely hairy. Pairs of spreading opposite leave occur along these stems, becoming gradually smaller as they ascend.

Leaves

Leaves are 3½ inch (9 cm.) long and 2inch (5 cm.) across, ovate in shape, and either crenate or crenate-serrate along their margins. Tips of leaves are blunt, while their bases are broadly wedge-shaped to rounded. The upper leaf surface is medium green and glabrous to finely short-hairy, while the lower leaf surface is pale green and glabrous to finely hairy along the veins. Upper leaf surface is wrinkled by indentations along the primary, secondary, and tertiary veins. The petioles are up to 1¼ inch (3 cm.) long; light green, and finely hairy. The leaves have a gentle lemon scent, related to mint.

Flower & Fruit

Flowers are 8-13 mm. in length with corollas that are longer than their calyces. Each flower has a white corolla, a light green calyx with 5 teeth, 4 stamens, and a 4-parted ovary with single style that is cleft toward its tip. Each corolla is tubular-campanulate (tubular and bell-shaped), dividing into a hood-like upper lip and a 3-lobed lower lip. The calyx is angular and trumpet-shaped with 3 smaller upper teeth and 2 larger lower teeth; it is finely hairy along its veins and 4-8 mm. in length. Flowering normally takes place from Jun to October. Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by small nutlets (4 nutlets per flower) that are lanceoloid-ellipsoid and smooth. Although the flowers are ornamentally inconspicuous, honey bees love them. Leaves are edible and may be added to salads, soups, sauces or vegetables. Leaves are also used to flavor teas. Dried leaves may be added to sachets and potpourri. Plants also have a history of herbal medicine usage for a variety of purposes including, inter alia, calming nervous disorders, soothing insect bites and treating colds.

Varieties

The many cultivars of M. officinalis include:

Health benefits of Lemon Balm

Lemon Balm is an ancient herb which was used by the Greeks more than 2000 years ago for numerous medicinal properties that it possesses. This Herb has been known as an active cure for neural disorders. This Herb has been known to contain a tangy smell and is also utilized for the purpose of garnishing and decorating. There have been many advantages of this Herb some of which are known to be mentioned below.

1. May be useful against diabetes

Diabetes is a widespread problem in Western health. While it’s very common for traditional practitioners to prescribe a number of medications with dangerous side effects to treat it, it’s actually possible to reverse diabetes naturally. Using lemon balm extract may be one effective way to achieve this.

Researchers have verified both lemon balm essential oil and extract their effect on high blood sugar. Both produce similar results by reducing blood sugar levels and reducing oxidative stress related to diabetes.(1), (2)

2. May aid in digestion

Due to its antioxidant activity, lemon balm extract has a potentially protective effect on your gastrointestinal system. It calms digestive issues by preventing gastric ulcers, although this has not been researched long. Some evidence shows that lemon balm, as well as peppermint and angelica root is extremely useful in creating herbal remedies for constipation.(3), (4)

3. Effective in Treating Cold Sores

Research has indicated that the herb can be used to heal cold sores that are caused by Herpes due to its antiviral properties. Using lemon balm based cream on sores brings positive results. Research also showed that lemon balm can treat primary HSV-1 infection. This cream also helps in coping with oral and genital herpes, the latter caused by HSV-2. Lemon balm that has 1% lemon extract can significantly bring down the healing time.(5)

4. Helps Alleviate Muscle Pain, Aches

Lemon balm is effective in reducing the muscle pain and aches that accompany flu. Its antispasmodic action helps reduce muscular spasms. Using Lemon balm leads to sweating when you have a fever, which brings some relief. With sweat, toxins in the body also get discarded. One of its components, eugenol, help in pain reduction.

5. Naturally soothes PMS symptoms

Research carried out at 2015 concluded that, lemon balm when taken in capsule form effectively reduced PMS symptoms in high school-aged women. SO it is quite effective for those women who are suffering from PMS related problems.(6)

6. Regulate overactive thyroid

More than 12 percent of the population of the United States are affected by thyroid problems, and one of the two common thyroid conditions, hyperthyroidism, can benefit from lemon balm.

Extract of lemon balm is one of the best treatment methods to regulate overactive thyroid. Research suggests that these extracts stop the components that over-activate the thyroid from binding with the thyroid receptor, specifically in patients with Grave’s disease.(7)

7. Improve mood, concentration and sleep

Lemon balm has been used to treat anxiety and insomnia since ancient times. Its mild sedative effect is a well-known feature. Lemon balm when given to elementary school children helps to improve hyperactivity, concentration problems and impulsiveness. Taken internally in food products, it also appeared to boost mood and/or cognitive performance in a study involving young adults.(8), (9), (10)

8. Works Wonders for Skin Health

Lemon balm is useful for keeping the skin in good condition, both for women and men. It is ideal to treat skin inflammation. It has strong natural astringents, and hence, using the herb can benefit those with oily and acne prone skin. It helps in cleansing clogged skin pores, which actually cover way to acne and skin rashes.

9. Treats Mouth Infection

To treat oral infections like bleeding gums and bad breath, you can use lemon balm. Mixing a few drops of Lemon balm essential oil to a mouthwash and then use it to gargle will kill the bacteria and freshen up the insides of your mouth.

10. Fights herpes naturally

Because of its antiviral properties, Lemon balm uses also extend its use into topical application. Specifically, when applied directly to the skin, it is a useful herbal remedy to help treat the herpes virus.

When using lemon balm extract in cream form, research shows that the intervals between herpes breakouts become longer, the healing period shortens and the symptoms, such as itching and burning, seem to decrease. Interestingly, because of the way that lemon balm works to achieve this, there is no risk of a resistance to the herpes virus forming after repeated uses. (11), (12), (13)

11. Keeps Nasty Pests and Bugs away

Majority of people choose OTC anti-insect spray and repellent products to destroy insects from households. However, most such insect repellents contain strong chemicals and allergens that can be problematic for users, particularly those with allergies and respiratory issues.

You can use lemon balm to drive away various insects from the home. You may also spray lemon balm tincture in the garden and on the indoor plants. It contains a good amount of citronella, which repels insects efficiently. You will be able to keep your home free of insects and save money in the process too.

12. Can Be Used As Natural Room Freshener

Lemon balm can also be used as a natural room freshener. Dried leaves can be used as potpourri. The mixture of fresh lemon balm leaves lightly boiled in water can be sprayed in rooms to spread light mint-type aroma.

13.  Adorning the Garden and Pollinating Trees

No matter how big or small a garden you have, using Lemon balms to decorate it will be helpful. The sweet aroma will keep the garden fragrant, more so when the flowers bloom. It also attracts bees, and hence, having the plant in the garden can in a way help pollinate others trees.

Traditional uses and benefits of Lemon Balm

Ayurvedic Health benefits of Lemon Balm

Culinary Uses

  How to Take It

Pediatric

Lemon balm may be used topically in children to treat cold sores. Speak to your health care provider for suitable dosage for the child’s age.

Adult

For difficulty sleeping, or to reduce indigestion, flatulence, or bloating, consults a knowledgeable provider for the specific dose to best fit your needs. Possible doses may be as follows:

For cold sores or herpes sores, steep 2 to 4 tsp. of crushed leaf in 1 cup boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes. Cool. Apply tea with cotton balls to the sores throughout the day.

12 Things to Do With Lemon Balm

Lemon balm wine (ingredients for 1 gallon)

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Strip the leaves from the stalks (discard the stalks) then wash leaves in cold water. Drain and put into a clean container and pour over 4 pints of boiling water, add one Campden tablet, stir, cover and leave for 48 hours.
  2. Strain the liquor from the leaves (discard the leaves) into a sterilized bin, add rind (no pith) and juice of the oranges and lemon, the washed and chopped sultanas, acids, pectic enzyme, nutrient and yeast. Ferment on the pulp for four days, stirring twice daily, keep well covered.
  3. Strain into jar, add sugar and stir, top up to shoulder with cold boiled water, fit air-lock and leave to ferment out. Rack in the usual way.

This wine can either be served dry as an aperitif, or sweeten to taste and drink as a social type wine.

Can be drunk within three months but improves with keeping for a further three months.

Other Facts

Things That You Need To Be Cautious About

While you can use lemon balm for a lot of medicinal and other needs, a few aspects need to be analyzed beforehand.

1. Drug Interactions

Using lemon balm in combination with specific medications and sedatives is not advisable. Since it previously has sedative properties, using it with OTC sedative drugs can have adverse consequences. While it remains disputable whether it interacts with antiretroviral agents or not, it is better that HIV patient undergoing such therapy, refrain from using the herb.

2. Not Ideal for Glaucoma Patients

Research has found that lemon balm essential oil can cause increased pressure in the eyes. While the study was carried out on animals, it is better that people with glaucoma avoid using the herb. Patients suffering from glaucoma may have interference with their existing medications if they ingest the lemon balm leaves.

3. Not Suitable For People Scheduled For Surgery

People who are likely to undergo surgery, or are in the recuperation period, should not use lemon balm in any form. In those phases, general sedatives are used and addition of lemon balm can prolong sleep.

4. Allergic Reactions

While most people like lemon balm as food or a tea, there are a few who are allergic to the herb. Side effects can include nausea, dizziness and vomiting. However, these can occur when someone has taken a large amount of lemon balm orally.

References:

http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-124103

https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=MEOF2

https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=32565#null

https://www.healthline.com/health/lemon-balm-uses#overview1

https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/292/

http://www.hear.org/pier/species/melissa_officinalis.htm

https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=24036

http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=melissa+officinalis

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c857

http://www.floracatalana.net/melissa-officinalis-l-subsp-officinalis

http://www.umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/lemon-balm

http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/b/balm–02.html

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