Lemon balm for an all-natural sense of calm
4 min
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Just the thought of sipping some tea with lemon balm inspires the senses. After all, the plant is considered a natural remedy to slow down, calm down, and relax. But what is it exactly, and what other properties can lemon balm boast? Let’s take a look.
What is lemon balm?
Although they have nothing in common visually and are not botanically related, lemon and lemon balm share a name, probably due to their fruity-fresh scents and aromas, which come from the essential oils citral and citronellal. Beyond that and its slightly bitter taste, lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is pretty far away from the citrus.
Lemon balm is a plant within the mint family. Most people probably know it as a culinary herb that can enhance both savory and sweet dishes. Whether as a spice, an additive in alcoholic beverages, or in medicines, it’s only its leaves that are used.
The plant itself can grow up to one meter high and is visually striking with a slightly pointed, egg-shaped leaf. Lemon balm is a plant with a long tradition that come a long way, originally from the eastern Mediterranean. It was celebrated by the ancient Greeks and Romans as not only a spice, but especially as a medicinal plant. In the early Middle Ages, for example, it was extremely common in any monastery garden.
The effects of lemon balm in the body
It’s said lemon balm contains several positive health benefits. Its oils are said to help promote concentration and have an anti-anxiety and calming effect on irritated nerves, as well as a balancing effect on the nervous system. When steeped as a tea, it’s a popular remedy to simply wind down, relax, and revitalize the senses. Our sleep and digestive system are also said to benefit from the herb. If any of these are familiar to you as premenstrual syndrome symptoms, you could do worse than to try a cup of melissa officinalis tea. Goodbye gas and bloating!
And the herb aids not only our insides, but the surface too. In fact, melissa officinalis is said to help with a nagging issue that many of us are familiar with: cold sores. Fever blisters have certainly driven some of us up the wall, but thankfully lemon balm can come to the rescue to fight herpes simplex viruses, as suggested by some laboratory research. So, when you’re looking for a cream to soothe your next cold sore, why not check if there are any containing lemon balm?
Lemon balm: A natural sleep aid?
We’ve all had times in our lives where stress has kept us up late, tossing and turning. No matter how tired you are, falling sleep seems impossible, and when you finally doze off, you wake up again all too soon.
With lemon balm, some of those nervous, restless nights could be a thing of the past, precisely due to its calming properties. In a study conducted by the San Martino University Hospital in Genoa, Italy, for example, taking lemon balm extract was observed to have a positive effect on participants’ anxiety and sleep problems. In some participants, insomnia disappeared completely, and others’ conditions improved significantly.
But the popular plant isn’t a miracle cure-all. If insomnia plagues you over a long period of time, ask your doctor for health information and get to the bottom of the problem with them.
Lemon balm as a natural remedy
Lemon balm has long been known as a healing agent and has been popular in natural medicine for quite a while – for example, as already mentioned, when it comes to restlessness or gastrointestinal complaints. Some use the plant as a natural booster to treat cold symptoms, cognitive function, bronchitis, or even abdominal cramps. Just as the uses differ, so do the forms of application.
For external use, lemon balm may be part of a tincture or a compress as a way to relieve bruises or insect bites. But probably the best known way to enjoy it is prepared as a tea, either on its own or mixed with other herbs.
Preparation: How to use lemon balm
Now we get to the exciting, hands-on stuff. How do you use lemon balm? In the kitchen, of course, it’s mainly used to conjure up a distinctive flavor to dishes. Here you can trust your instincts and season everything from salads and soups to poultry, fish and mushroom dishes, cottage cheese and sauces with it.
It can even be used to give pesto a very special flavor. In lieu of the usual version with basil, simply change up the recipe a bit, by chopping fresh lemon balm leaves and mixing them with olive oil, garlic, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts or cashews, a little lemon juice, and a pinch of salt – and then puree. It makes the perfect topping for our Protein Pasta.
But this herb can also be sweet! It gives desserts like ice cream, sorbets, jams, or even fruit salads a very special and refreshing taste. But whatever the plant is used for, we have one small recommendation to keep in mind. It shouldn’t be cooked, as its unique aroma can get lost pretty quickly. Your taste buds will be most pleased when it’s used fresh.
Last but not least, good old lemon balm tea is a must. For this, you can use either fresh or dried leaves, which you can find in the pharmacy or health food store. Simply pour boiling water over it, let it steep for about ten minutes, sit back, and enjoy.
You should, however, only indulge in this pleasure once in a while or for a limited period of time. Experts advise not to use lemon balm tea for long periods of time, because the pyrrolizidine alkaloids it contains could be harmful to your health and have side effects if consumed in excessive quantities.
Summary
- Lemon balm is used both as a kitchen herb and as a natural healing remedy.
- It can be processed in different ways – for example, you can make a compress, tincture, tea, or seasoning from it.
- Due to the essential oils it contains, the plant is said to have some health benefits, including on mood and cognitive performance, and anti-stress effects.
- Among other things, lemon balm may have positive effects on digestive problems, agitation, and insomnia.
Sources for this article
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