Lemon Balm or Melissa officinalis
Scientific Name: Melissa officinalis
Family: Lamiaceae (Mint family)
Native To: the Mediterranean and Central Asia
Growth: Grows up to 2 feet tall, with small white or pale yellow flowers that attract bees
Lemon balm, a member of the mint family, with a pleasant lemony scent, found its way to the dozens of dishes of European and Asian cuisine. It pairs well with fish and poultry, it gives salads, fruit dishes, and desserts, providing a refreshing lemony aroma
Apart from its culinary fame, this versatile herb has long been used as a remedy to alleviate stress, promote sleep, and improve digestion.
Lemon Balm Health Benefits
Restores sleep
Its calming effects work by boosting GABA levels in the brain. GABA is a neurotransmitter, which prepares your body and brain for sleep, reducing agitation, promoting muscle relaxation, and counters excitatory neurotransmitters, such as glutamate, noradrenaline, serotonin, and orexin.
Taking lemon balm 30-60 minutes before bedtime, either as a tea, tincture, or capsule can be a great natural way to improve your sleep.
Scientists suggest that lemon balm may be effective in reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms. Due to the high level of variability of these studies, please consult with your doctor before starting using herbal supplements for mental health.
Improves digestion
Melissa can balance the stimuli that your stomach and intestine muscles receive from the nervous system, reducing cramps, bloating, and indigestion.
Lemon balm has antispasmodic properties that can help calm “the storm” in your digestive tract. It promotes bile secretion, which helps your gut break down fat. The bile also helps to absorb fatty acids, which your heart uses as a source of energy and fat-soluble vitamins that would pass through your digestive tract otherwise.
So the herb helps to harmonize four out of six main digestive functions:
- Secretion
- Motility
- Digestion
- Absorption
Cures Sore Throats
Lemon balm can help soothe a sore throat. Its natural anti-inflammatory and antiviral qualities may reduce throat irritation and fight bugs causing them.
When prepared as a warm tea or gargle solution, lemon balm creates a soothing coating on the throat that can temporarily relieve pain and discomfort.
The terpenes, which are somewhat more abundant in Melissa than in any other representative of mint family, possess anti-inflammatory properties. They are also responsible for the lemon notes, that talk well to your nose and palate.
The herb contains compounds like rosmarinic acid that help reduce inflammation in mucous membranes.
Where Can I buy Lemon Balm
You can find lemon balm in several places:
- Garden centers and nurseries – Live lemon balm plants are commonly sold in the herb section
- Grocery stores – Dried lemon balm in the spice section or fresh leaves in the produce department
- Health food stores – Typically carry dried lemon balm, teas, tinctures, capsules, and essential oils
- Online retailers – Sites like Amazon, Etsy, or specialty herb shops offer all forms of lemon balm
- Farmers markets – Local growers often sell fresh lemon balm plants or harvested leaves
- Herbal specialty shops – Offer high-quality dried herbs, tinctures, and other preparations
If you’re looking for lemon balm for medicinal purposes, health food stores and herbal specialty shops typically carry the highest quality options. For culinary use, grocery stores or farmers markets are good options.