by M. L. Kiser

Created on: January 14, 2010   Last Updated: January 16, 2010

Ah, you've gone into the herb garden and picked some fresh lemon balm.  Its succulent lemony scent quickly fills the air and you breathe in, filling your nostrils with its aroma.

You've had a bad day at work and you need to completely unwind.  Grabbing a handful of peppermint for added flavor, you head on inside to your kitchen to prepare your favorite de-stressing tea.

The white-flowered, Lemon Balm perennial, Bee Balm or (Melissa Officinalis), comes from Europe and is a member of the Mint family is a natural Nervine, which means it helps to calm the nervous system.   As a wonderful tasting tea or tonic it’s great for relieving stress and can be useful as an anti-depressant or tranquilizer for calming anxiety, mood swings and any depression during menstruation as it is very influential on the female reproductive system. 

Also referred to as, “The Elixir of Life” by Paracelsus and a “gift from the heavens” by others, it can be highly effective when combined with Mother-wort, Lavender, Chamomile, St. John's Wort, Valerian and Skullcap.  Along with Peppermint, hyssop and other calming herbs it can also have a milder effect on our mind.  It can also be used as a light sedative or combined with Hops, skullcap, Valerian or even passion flower for stronger sedation.  Although it is well worth mentioning here that Skullcap and Valerian, both toxic in large doses, are very powerful sedatives and really should not be used with like herbs or pharmaceuticals with a sedating effect.  If purchased pre-prepared in teabags they are much safer to use.

It has been used for centuries for emotional and physical ailments and has few or virtually no negative side effects when used by itself.  It can cause some drowsiness, so shouldn't be used before driving or operating machinery, nor with alcohol or pharmaceuticals.  Although when combined with more toxic herbs such as Skullcap, Valerian and even high doses of Chamomile, it is more likely to become an overdose with side effects from the other herbs.

Lemon Balm is also a great cardiovascular and circulatory herb that can lower blood pressure, as well as, improving circulation, calming heart palpitations and helping adjust the thyroid.

It can reduce fever, especially in children.  It also has the ability to strengthen the immune system with its anti-viral properties in order to ward off colds, flu and many viruses.

It improves digestion

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