This video shows the gathering of lemon balm, and we discuss some of the lemon balm benefits people use this plant for
Here we are on July 4th, standing by lemon balm, or Melissa officinalis, another wonderful mint.
Its aroma is a most pleasant smell to many people. Others might be reminded of Lemon Pledge cleaning spray. It depends on whether you like that smell or not. To me it smells like lemony sweet sunshine.
We make medicine from this plant every year. It goes quickly because of its popularity and diverse medicinal action. There are many lemon balm benefits and uses.
First, it’s an amazing calmative nervine and heart gladdener. It is excellent in formulas for helping with depression. It is an excellent in Seasonal Affective Disorder (SADs) protocols, where people start feeling blue and depressed during the cold and dark of winter arrival. One of lemon balm virtues is that it has the affect of bringing “sunshine” back into your life.
Lemon balm benefits: Nervous system support
Lemon balm is also useful in formulas to help with gently focusing and is often included in Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD, ADHD) formulas. Lemon balm is user-friendly and diverse in nervous system and mental/emotional protocols, but that’s not all…
Lemon balm is also an excellent antiviral herb, and can be found in herbal antiviral formulas — including mine — alongside plants like Saint John’s wort, another great antidepressant and antiviral herb. Often, antimicrobial herbs are unpleasant tasting, like andrographis and isatis. Even other antimicrobial mints, such as thyme, can be intense when taking it in medicinal doses. Very few antiviral herbs are as pleasant and sweet tasting as lemon balm.
Lemon balm also has an ability to depress the thyroid a bit. If you are helping a person herbally who has hypothyroidism, you may want to think twice before using it. However, if they are already on medication, no problem. Also, if it is part of larger formula, then the amount of lemon balm on its own will not be great enough to change thyroid function. In smaller amounts it will be fine. If on the other hand a person has hyperthyroidism, then lemon balm would be excellent in protocols for that.
Lemon Balm Benefits as a Carminative
Like many mints, lemon balm is a serviceable carminative, meaning it eases and enhances digestion. It is also very useful as a children’s herb, like catnip. For children, lemon balm becomes much stronger, acting as a more powerful immune herb while simultaneously easing irritability.
We’re going to make both an alcoholic tincture from it and a glycerin-based extract because it’s so tasty. If we had enough we’d also dry some, as it makes an excellent tea.
To harvest, we’re giving this lemon balm a haircut. 2020 wasn’t exactly lemon balm’s favorite year because it was droughty and very hot and sunny early in the growing season. Lemon balm prefers it a bit cooler and shadier, with more water. Fortunately the weather shifted and our lemon balm rebounded. It is all over the garden and we’re happy for it because we use plenty.
Our lemon balm is an easy garble too, because it’s growing all by itself and is not mixed in with too many other plants. It’ll be easy to clean.
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