Lemon Balm 100 g, 50 g, 25 g

Lemon Balm – 100 g ($12.99), 50 g ($8.99), 25 g ($5.99)

Benefits:
Research has found that lemon balm has a mild sedative effect, antibacterial and antiviral properties, and an ability to relieve cramps and gas. It is used to heal wounds, ease indigestion, relieve menstrual cramps, fight cold sores, relax nerves, soothe and prevent insect stings, and prevent insomnia. It has also been used for hysteria, melancholia, headaches, and high blood pressure. The tea is also recommended for inducing perspiration and relieving fever due to colds and flu. Externally, lemon balm has been used for rheumatism, nerve pains, as an insect repellent, and for stiff neck. Homeopathic remedies use lemon balm for menstrual irregularities. It is approved by the German Commission E for nervousness and insomnia. This herb is gentle enough for babies and children.

Alzheimer’s Disease. In one study, lemon balm was used in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease and participants showed improved cognitive function after sixteen weeks of treatment • Anxiety and stress. Lemon balm teas have been used for generations to relieve anxiety and sleeplessness. In one study where healthy volunteers were stressed under controlled laboratory conditions, a mixture of lemon balm and valerian soothed them and made them less anxious. Each participant took increasing doses of both herbs and was measured serially. The best combination for alleviating anxiety and inducing calmness was at 600 milligrams of a tablet that had 120 milligrams of valerian with 80 milligrams of lemon balm. Other studies have found that when used with valerian, lemon balm hastens sleep and relaxes muscle tension in persons with attention deficit disorder (ADD), without daytime drowsiness. (See VALERIAN.)

Herpesvirus Infection. Treatment of herpes infections is complicated by the fact that the virus can become resistant to drug treatment. Lemon balm expands the possibilities of treatment and is useful when prescription treatments fail. It kills off the virus in the test tube in as little as three hours. In one double-blind study, 116 people with herpes received either a placebo or extracts of lemon balm at a concentration of 1 percent in a cream base. The group receiving the active cream experienced significantly greater improvement in symptoms on day two compared to the group receiving the placebo cream. (Herpes outbreaks are usually most painful on the second day after the outbreak.) By day five of the study, 50 percent more individuals in the lemon balm group were symptom-free than in the placebo group. People using lemon balm also experienced less scarring than those using the placebo. This indicates that people who used lemon balm suffered less damage to skin cells. Almost identical results were found in a second clinical study. In addition to shortening the healing period, treatment with lemon balm prevented spread of the infection and quickly relieved the itching, burning, tingling, swelling, stabbing, and redness of a herpes outbreak. Lemon balm has an advantage over other treatments in that it does not induce drug resistance in the virus over time. In addition, a chemical constituent of lemon balm, rosmarinic acid, acts against viruses, yeasts, and bacteria in the laboratory.

Lemon balm contains antiviral properties that may help protect against herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), the virus that causes cold sores.

A 2023 review of research suggests that it may prevent the virus from binding to cells in the body and replicating. It may even be effective for acyclovir-resistant strains of HSV-1 or virus strains that are resistant to an antiviral medication.

The authors noted that lemon balm cream helped prevent the virus cells from multiplying.

However, this research is based on test tube studies, so more research is needed to determine whether lemon balm is effective against HSV-1 in humans.

Cold sores love to crop up at inconvenient times (like right before an important event). And you might be able to get rid of that cold sore faster with a bit of help from lemon balm. A study found that lemon balm has antiviral activity that can inhibit the Herpes simplex virus. Another study found that applying a cream that contained lemon balm cleared up cold sores faster than a placebo. And there’s also evidence that lemon balm has anti-inflammatory properties, which could help soothe skin.

Lemon balm benefits also extend into topical applications due in part to the herb’s antiviral qualities. Specifically, when applied directly to the skin, it is useful to help treat the herpes virus.

While there is no permanent cure for herpes, treatment methods generally involve finding ways to decrease the frequency and duration of outbreaks. Researchers that have studied the efficacy of lemon balm on herpes labialis, or cold sores have found 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 it works to achieve this, studies point to no risk of a resistance to the herpes virus forming after repeated uses. According to various sources, it seems its effects on the herpes simplex virus are related to its antioxidant compounds, like tannins and polyphenols.

Insomnia. Lemon balm may make you sleepy, although it works differently than sedative medications. When used as an herbal sleep aid, it seems to help reduce insomnia symptoms and sleep disorders, including during menopause when symptoms such as anxiety, hot flashes and restlessness are very commonplace.

Combining lemon balm and valerian have been studied as a treatment for insomnia. A double-blind study of twenty people with insomnia compared the benefits of 0.125 milligram of the sedative triazolam (Halcion) against placebo and a combination of valerian and lemon balm. The herbal combination was found to be as effective as the drug.

A study suggests the herb’s anti-anxiety effects could help you catch some ZZZs. If you have occasional insomnia due to mild anxiety, lemon balm could be helpful. And you may not experience next-day grogginess like you can with some sleeping pills. anxiety and sleep disorders can be complex; it can take some time to find the right herb to calm you to lead to relaxing sleep. While more research is still needed, lemon balm’s calming effects may help promote better sleep.

A 2019 study in 80 people who underwent coronary bypass surgery and took 500 mg of lemon balm leaves three times daily for 7 days determined that 54% of the participants had improvements in sleep and 49% had improvements in anxiety levels. The authors noted that the changes in participants’ sleep quality were significant compared to a control group. Another 2019 study in children suggests that lemon balm may also have a benefit in treating teeth grinding during sleep.

Mood, Concentration  There’s some evidence this herb helps improve hyperactivity, concentration problems and impulsiveness in elementary school children. Taken internally in food products, it also seemed to enhance mood and/or cognitive performance, as demonstrated in a study involving young adults.

It has potential to improve problem solving, math skills, concentration and alertness.

Anxiety  Traditionally, lemon balm herbal preparations have been used to treat anxiety and insomnia. Its mild sedative effect is a well-known feature. One of the best-known effects of lemon balm is its ability to combat stress and anxiety. These claims seem to stand up to scientific scrutiny, as well as extend beyond treating general anxiety.

A lab study suggests that taking lemon balm can increase levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter (brain chemical) that has a calming effect. The brain function study also found that participants who drank the lemon balm extract reported higher levels of feeling calm and at ease. If you have mild anxiety or are dealing with a stressful situation, lemon balm may provide some relief.

Depression  Depression affects millions of people — and many look to “natural” remedies before trying prescription medications. While lemon balm isn’t a depression cure, it might help with mild cases. Research suggests that lemon balm may help improve symptoms of depression, compared to a placebo. It might also boost serotonin, a neurotransmitter you need for mood regulation. A non-human study found that lemon balm increased serotonin levels. Combining this herb with other remedies, like mood-boosting foods and regular exercise, could help with mild depression.

But if you have more severe symptoms that are interfering with your life, seek medical care. Depression is a potentially serious disease and natural remedies aren’t always enough.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Lemon balm stops spasms and relieves pain caused by IBS. The form of the herb that had this antispasmodic action is the essential oil, which may be strong enough to break up spasms but not so strong as to cause constipation. However, no human data are available.

Digestion  If you’re bloated or your gut feels unsettled, lemon balm could be a helpful remedy. Some research suggests that the herb can help calm spasms or colic in your gastrointestinal (GI) tract, relieving mild tummy troubles.

Many over-the-counter herbal digestive remedies contain lemon balm. These products can bring relief from occasional gas or indigestion. Often, these remedies also contain ginger, mint and other herbs, so check the ingredients to know what you’re actually ingesting.

If you have ongoing digestive issues like abdominal pain or acid reflux, don’t rely on lemon balm to solve the problem. See your physician to find out the causes of any chronic GI issues so you can get treatment if needed.

People have historically used lemon balm as a traditional remedy for digestive issues.

A 2023 study that conducted both test tube and animal experiments sought to understand the reason for the possible benefit.

Their study in rats suggests that ethanolic extract and phenolic compounds in lemon balm may have gastroprotective properties against alcohol-induced ulcers and anti-inflammatory properties, respectively. Consuming lemon balm may help protect against future alcohol-induced ulcers.

Because of its antioxidant activity, this extract has a potentially protective effect on the gastrointestinal system. In randomized interventions where a formulation containing lemon balm (often with other herbs) was given to colicky infants for several days to weeks, for example, researchers observed significant reductions in crying time and fussiness, which are commonly used clinical proxies for relief of digestive discomfort in babies, suggesting a beneficial effect on gut‑related symptoms in humans.

There is also some evidence that lemon balm products, as well as peppermint and angelica root, may be useful in creating herbal remedies for constipation.

For example, lemon balm tea benefits seem to include fighting abdominal pain and discomfort after eating, constipation, and bloating. This may in part be due to the tea’s calming effects on the nervous system.

Brain  Lemon balm may have beneficial neurological effects. Older research, as reported in a 2022 review, suggests it may improve memory and cognitive function in people with and without Alzheimer’s disease. However, most studies on these effects in human participants were small, older studies.

The authors of a 2021 review of the cardioprotective effects of lemon balm in mice suggest that lemon balm contains compounds that may reduce oxidative stress. Oxidative stress may worsen or increase the risk of certain diseases, including:

• cardiovascular disease
• diabetes
• neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease

Many studies highlighted in this review were conducted on animals, not humans. Additional high quality studies in human participants are still needed to support lemon balm’s benefit on oxidative stress.

A small human study found that lemon balm improved mood and cognitive (thinking) ability. The participants consumed a lemon balm extract and then completed different tasks on a computer, such as memory and math problems.

This herb shows promise as a cognitive enhancer, but we need more studies to determine how it works. In the meantime, try using lemon balm when you need to focus and see if it helps.

Heart, Liver  Lemon balm may have cardioprotective benefits, according to a 2021 review of research. It may help reduce heart palpitations and improve levels of:

• high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL)
• low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL)
• triglycerides

The authors of the 2021 review note that additional research in humans is needed to determine dosage, safety, and any cardioprotective potential.

Traditional Iranian medicine has used this herb as a therapy for some time to treat heart palpitations, and science seems to back up this use. It may have a positive impact on the mechanics and electrical impulses of the heart, giving it power to help regulate heart arrhythmias, aka irregular heartbeat.

In one trial using an orally administered extract of lemon balm leaf, subjects seemed to experience a significant drop in benign heart palpitation episodes, which is believed to be tied to its ability to enhance one’s mood.

Another randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial found that supplementing with Melissa officinalis leaf powder for two months significantly reduced low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and the liver enzyme AST in patients with borderline hyperlipidemia, suggesting improvements in cardiovascular risk and signs of liver function compared with placebo.

A 2024 meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials including 302 participants reported that lemon balm consumption was associated with significant decreases in total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL levels, which are established risk factors for atherosclerosis and heart disease.

Antibacterial  There’s some evidence that lemon balm products, including kombucha (a fermented drink that contains probiotics), have antibacterial qualities that may help naturally fight infectious bacteria.

Lemon balm oil specifically shows a high level of antibacterial and antimicrobial activity against candida. This is a common yeast infection that causes a number of candida symptoms, including exhaustion, brain fog, digestive problems and a weakened immune system.

A comparative study published in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies demonstrated that ethanolic extracts and essential oils of lemon balm exhibit significant antibacterial activity against human-pathogenic bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, in laboratory assays, supporting its traditional use as a natural antimicrobial agent.

Diabetes  Supplementation with Melissa officinalis extract has been shown to help improve glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes. In a 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 62 diabetic patients, those taking 700 milligrams a day of lemon balm had significantly lower fasting blood glucose and reduced HbA₁c levels compared with placebo, along with improvements in beta-cell activity and some cardiovascular risk markers, suggesting potential anti-diabetic effects in humans.

Does lemon balm work for weight loss? Because it has anti-inflammatory effects, can help you cope with stress, improves digestion and supports metabolic health, it may be useful for maintaining a healthy weight.

It’s not a magic bullet but help with weight loss might be a potential secondary effect.

Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory  This herb can help fight free radical damage in ways that may prove to be remarkable in natural health.

Perhaps most notably in this particular benefit of lemon balm is its potential impact against a specific kind of cancer known as glioblastoma multiforme. This fast-spreading cancer usually begins in the brain and has no known effective treatments.

A 2014 study found that lemon balm essential oil caused apoptosis (spontaneous cell death) in these cancer cells and stopped the expression of a protein known as multidrug resistance associated protein 1 (MRP1). This is especially important considering that MRP1 is partly responsible for the drug resistance cancers develop to traditional treatment methods, such as chemotherapy.

Other studies have found lemon balm products to have apoptotic effects on other cancer cell lines, including a type of cancer affecting the organ lining separating the organ from the rest of the body, MCF-7 (a breast cancer cell line), a colorectal cancer cell line, the most common liver cancer cell and two different types of leukemia cells.

In one study looking at how the antioxidants in this herb affect oxidative stress caused by low levels of radiation, lemon balm had remarkable results, including a significant improvement in blood levels of other cells. The study looked at supplementing the diet of medical professionals consistently exposed to low levels of radiation with lemon balm showed that it may be an effective way to protect them against unhealthy levels of oxidative stress.

The study also showed lemon balm could naturally regulate a very important substance called superoxide dismutase. This enzyme, known in short as SOD, is vital to understand in terms of oxidative stress because the naturally occurring SOD can cause a number of different types of cell damage.

However, it is possible to regulate it naturally, using substances such as lemon balm that keep it in check.

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of 80 adults with chronic stable angina published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, three grams per day of Melissa officinalis for eight weeks significantly decreased serum markers of oxidative stress and inflammation compared with placebo. Specifically, it reduced malondialdehyde (a marker of lipid peroxidation) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), while increasing antioxidant paraoxonase-1 activity and improving lipid profiles, indicating antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in humans.

In addition to providing antioxidant support, it has the potential to act as an anti-inflammatory agent. Reducing chronic inflammation helps protect against disease and relieve pain.

Overactive Thyroid  Thyroid conditions affect a decent portion of the population of the United States, and one of the two common thyroid conditions, hyperthyroidism, can benefit from lemon balm.

Lemon balm is one of the treatment methods that natural health practitioners tend to use when attempting to regulate overactive thyroid. Research suggests that lemon balm stops the components that over-activate the thyroid from binding with the thyroid receptor, specifically in patients with Grave’s disease.

In fact, in one report, two individuals with Graves’ hyperthyroidism who took a homeopathic tincture containing lemon balm and another plant experienced normalization of thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins and returned to normal thyroid function over many months. However, this was not a controlled clinical trial and involved combined herbs rather than lemon balm alone, so firm conclusions about lemon balm’s effect on human thyroid regulation require more vigorous human research.

Pain  According to a 2015 study, lemon balm (taken in capsule form) effectively reduced PMS symptoms in high school-aged women. That’s not all.

Another clinical trial published in the Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research found that Melissa officinalis extract significantly reduced the severity of pain associated with primary dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps) compared with placebo. In this double‑blind study of 110 women with moderate to severe menstrual pain, those who took 330 milligrams of lemon balm extract three times a day for three days at the onset of bleeding reported significantly greater reductions in pain scores on a visual analogue scale than the placebo group, showcasing the herb’s antispasmodic and analgesic effects.

In addition, in a randomized, single-blind, clinical trial of 110 postpartum mothers experiencing after‑pain, oral Melissa officinalis capsules provided greater pain relief over 24 hours than the standard analgesic mefenamic acid, indicating lemon balm’s potential to naturally soothe painful uterine cramping post‑delivery.

If you have a toothache, apply a small amount of lemon balm oil to the painful area. You can also inhale the oil or dab it on your temples and neck to help fight headaches.

Recommended Use
Lemon balm is available in creams for application to the skin and in tablets and teas to be taken internally. Lemon balm tablets are usually taken for insomnia or stress and frequently combine lemon balm with valerian. Animal studies indicate that lemon balm can increase the sedative effect of barbiturates. You should therefore avoid lemon balm tinctures and teas if you take barbiturates for anxiety or insomnia. Lemon balm creams do not interact with barbiturate drugs.

People with glaucoma should not use essential oil of lemon balm until more studies are conducted. Studies in laboratory animals suggest that it may raise pressure in the eye.

Botanical Name: Melissa officinalis
English: Lemon Balm, Melissa, Balm Lemon
Also, known as: Alahana, Appiastro, Badarendjabouya, Badranjbuyeh, Balm, Balm mint, Bee balm, Blue balm, Citrounelo, Common balm, Mallisa, Melissa, Melisse, Melissenblätter, Cure-all, Dropsy plant, Erva cidreira-miuda-de-folha, Billilotan, Sitroenkruid, Citronnelle, Folia citronellae, Franjmeshk, Garden-balm, Herzkraut, Hhashyshat ennahhl, Touroudjan, Turungan, Zitronenkraut, Honey plant, Lemon balm, Limiera, Limouna, Limounneta, Melissenkraut, Melisso, Melliss, Ponciarada, Pouncinado, Sidrunmeliss, Sweet balm, Toronjil, Toronjil-cidrado, Cedronella, Citromfülevél, Citronelle, Citrounado, Citrounela, Zitronenmelisse, Zitronen-melisse, Erba cedrata, Badaranj, Baadranjboyaa, Mélisse, melissa, cedronella, Mountain Balm, Sweet Mary, and Toronjil.
Habitat: Western Asia and the eastern Mediterranean
Origin: Bulgaria

General Information:
Melissa officinalis, is an odorous perennial shrub, growing up to 3 feet tall. The plant dies down in winter, but the roots are perennial. The genus name for lemon balm is Melissa, which comes from the Greek meaning “honey bee” or simply “honey.” Lemon balm is a favorite plant of bees. Not only does it produce lots of nectar, but it has also been used by beekeepers to prevent bees from swarming. Several square stems, 10-25 inches long, lemon-scented on bruising. Stems obtusely quadrangular, furrowed pubescent. Lemon-scented leaves 2-10 cm long and about 4 cm wide, broadly ovate to obovate-oval or heart-shaped, base cuneate truncate or cordate at the base, densely pilose on both surfaces, petiole 0.5-3 cm long. White or yellow-tinted, small, two-lipped flowers form small bunches in leaf axils in summer through early fall. Corolla white or pinkish; infundibuliform tube 8-10 mm long; stamens inserted deep in the tube; bractéoles oval-oblong, about 1.5 cm long, pubescent; calyx 5-8 mm long, pubescent outside, pubescent inside with very short hairs, densely pilose in the middle.
It was a common herb in the eighteenth century, as Spirit of Melissa, a tonic made from lemon balm, was often kept in the house. The plant is also known as balm or balm mint but should not be confused with bee balm. The aromatic leaves with their distinctive lemon aroma are used as an ingredient of green salads, fruit salads, desserts, ice cream. The tea of lemon balm, the essential oil, and the extract are used in traditional and alternative medicine, including aromatherapy. Melissa was mentioned by Theophrastus, the father of botany, and Arab and Persian physicians. Lemon balm is used alone or as part of various multi-herb combination products.

 

How to use:
We make these suggestions to help you get the best benefit from the herbs that you’re choosing to improve your health. Also we make these ideas and recommendations so that consuming them easier and better fit into your lifestyle by adding them to the food that you already eat.
For the full health benefit, it is best to consume (or use the whole herb in poultices) the whole herb. All of the compounds in the herb act best together, as nature intends. Extracts draw out the most prominent beneficial compounds and may concentrate them. What is not extracted can be helpful in ways that we do not yet understand.

Cut Pieces or Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use cut pieces or powdered herb.
Food Preparation: You can add powdered or pieces of herb (if the pieces you buy are bigger than you like, a coffee or herb grinder will quickly reduce) to any yogurt, smoothie, apple or other sauces, spreads, salads or other foods more familiar to you that don’t use heat. Heat can be damaging to the beneficial compounds in the herb. Other options like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pasta sauce, soup, cookies and anything else that fits your lifestyle, but minimizing (by adding near the end of cooking) the heat is helpful.
Also, for children, you can mix powdered herb with honey or glycerin to make paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help medicine go down. The resulting liquid is called an electuary.
For seeds in general, but especially small seeds, it’s best to grind these to break the protective hulls a short time before consumption. This makes all the benefits available, rather than some remaining locked inside the hulls that are unbroken by insufficient chewing.
To make adding herbs even easier, you could add a week’s worth of your chosen herb(s) to an amount of, for example, yogurt that you would eat in a week. Mix thoroughly and eat this each day of the week. So you make once /week and just eat each other day.
Hot Infusion: The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. The heat from making tea can degrade some of the beneficial compounds in the herb. This method minimizes this effect. For the full health benefit, it is recommended to consume what is left over after making tea.
Decoctions: Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water, Bring the water to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-60 minutes with the pot covered. Squeeze out as much as liquid as possible. Best practice is to drink the liquid and also consume the solid material that remains. Herb pieces can also be used.
Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use powdered herb.
Capsules: HerbsCrafters makes capsules guaranteed to be filled with the pure herb with no filler or any other products. You can also use powdered herb to make your own capsules at home. These capsules are best taken with liquid to aid in digestion and absorption and to ensure it doesn’t stick in your throat.
Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.
Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot.

Tips:
You can sweeten your herbal decoctions with bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder or licorice root powder.

Precautions:
You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
All information on this website is for educational purpose ONLY.
This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

How Much To Use
It is common that 10g of a fresh herb = 1g when dehydrated.
Recommended daily amount: 1-2 tsp lemon balm (1.5-4 g)/use up to 3 times/day. This can be added to food or to make tea.