- Region
- Europe
- Origin
- Southern Europe, the Mediterranean and western Asia. Melissa officinalis
Europe · Herb · № 85
Melissa officinalis
Herb · Europe
Lemon balm
Melissa officinalis
Traditionally used for restlessness, sleep problems and a nervous stomach; externally for cold sores. Small studies suggest a mild calming effect, but evidence is limited.
Safety notes
May increase drowsiness. Use caution with an underactive thyroid or thyroid medication.
Cautions by tradition (5)
- Herbs for viral infections: Not for children under 12.
- Natural skin and hair care: No honey for children under one year old. The tincture contains alcohol.
- Kallawaya healing in Bolivia: Can strengthen the effect of sedatives.
- Curanderismo of northern Peru: Can make you drowsy; take care with thyroid medication.
- Western herbs in Chinese medicine: Keep sun tea cool and drink it within a day: bacteria grow quickly in lukewarm water.
Preparation
Fresh or dried leaves as tea; externally as a cream. No dosage is given here.
Use in traditions
The Persian physician Avicenna praised it for gladdening the heart. In Europe it was a staple of monastery gardens and an ingredient of Carmelite water. Ody calls it a favourite herb for children and the elderly.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Herbal medicine worldwide
Attributed effects
Calming, antidepressant, stimulates digestion, vasodilating, induces sweating, restores the nervous system, antiviral, antibacterial.
Preparation and amount
Tea of fresh leaves (water just off the boil, covered) for depression, nervous exhaustion, indigestion, nausea and the start of a cold; tincture in small doses (5–10 drops); ointment for ulcers and insect bites (insect-repellent); compress for gout; mouthwash for mouth ulcers; 5–10 drops of oil in 20 ml carrier oil as massage.
Western herbalism
Attributed effects
Carminative, fever-reducing, strengthens the nerves, antiviral; calms nerves and overactive systems (palpitations, overactive thyroid), for stress-related fever and in children, against herpes.
Preparation and amount
Tea (fresh is best): 1 tsp per cup, 6–8 min, 1–3 cups a day; tincture 1–10 drops or 1 dropperful 1–3 times a day; herbal oil 1 tsp 1–2 times a day externally.
Herbs for viral infections
Attributed effects
Calming and antiviral (terpenes, tannins, eugenol); especially against herpes; further for anxiety, sleep problems, restlessness, high blood pressure, insect bites.
Preparation and amount
Capsule or tea (about 28 g fresh leaves with boiling water); 80 mg a day, no longer than 4 months.
Caution: Not for children under 12.
Natural skin and hair care
Attributed effects
Fresh lemon scent; long used for restlessness and a tense stomach. The European Medicines Agency recognises its traditional use for mild stress and digestive complaints.
Preparation and amount
Internal: leaf in herbal tea, herbal honey and a nerve tincture. External: in hair products for oily hair (see the recipes).
Caution: No honey for children under one year old. The tincture contains alcohol.
Kallawaya healing in Bolivia
Attributed effects
In the morning as an invigorating replacement for coffee or tea.
Preparation and amount
Steep a small handful of leaves for 10 minutes.
Caution: Can strengthen the effect of sedatives.
Curanderismo of northern Peru
Attributed effects
Toronjil is the main herb in mixtures for nerves, heart and sleep, for palpitations from stress and for heartache.
Preparation and amount
Steep the leaves briefly, often with pimpinela, cedrón and mejorana.
Caution: Can make you drowsy; take care with thyroid medication.
Western herbs in Chinese medicine
Attributed effects
Cooling on warm summer days.
Caution: Keep sun tea cool and drink it within a day: bacteria grow quickly in lukewarm water.
Folklore and herbal magic
Symbolic meanings from folk use and modern herbal magic. These are handed-down associations, not effects.
Attracts love, helps let go of judgements, deepens spiritual connection, makes dreams come true.
Herbal magic and rituals
Attributed effects
In herbal magic associated with love, compassion and a cheerful mood.
Preparation and amount
Melissa is Greek for 'honeybee': beekeepers rubbed hives with the leaf to attract swarms. In the Middle Ages lemon balm grew in monastery gardens, and from the seventeenth century Carmelites made their Carmelite water (Eau de Mélisse des Carmes) from it.
Tags
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org
- Owen Jackson, Chinese Herbal Medicine (2020)
- Penelope Ody, The Complete Medicinal Herbal (1993; 2017)
- Stacey Dugliss-Wesselman & Susan Gregg, Herbal Remedies Made Simple (2018)
- Rainer W. Bussmann & Douglas Sharon, Medicinal Plants of the Andes and the Amazon (2015)
- Joseph W. Bastien, Healers of the Andes: Kallawaya Herbalists and Their Medicinal Plants (1987)
- Louis Girault, Kallawaya. Guérisseurs itinérants des Andes (1984)