Lemon Balm Plant (Melissa Officinalis) – Beginner’s Guide

The Lemon Balm plant (also known as Melissa Officinalis or Balm Mint) is an organic form of mint which grows as a perennial herb across the planet.

Since the Middle Ages, it has been used as a healing herb to treat wounds and sores. A tea made from Lemon Balm has also been commonly used as a light sedative in various cultures.

Today, we have a new understanding about the relationship between the Lemon Balm herb and important neurochemical functions in human brains. It can be used as a potent mood enhancer which treats a variety of cognitive and emotional disorders.

Read on to find out exactly how this medicinal plant works, as well as the best way to take it for lasting emotional health.

Lemon Balm

Herbal Supplement

Mood

Sleep

Stress

How It Works:

• Helps to support a positive mood
• Promotes healthy sleep patterns
• Alleviates stress and boosts relaxation

Dosage:

Between 1.5 - 4.5 g per day

Safety:

Rated Possibly Safe

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Lemon Balm Plant Guide

Dubbed Melissa Officinalis, the Lemon Balm is a mint herb from the Lamiaceae family of plants. It was initially used in Hellenic Greece as a versatile tonic.

It was applied to cure skin conditions of all kinds, and was served in ritual-like settings to generate relaxation and mental focus.

The next major use of the plant occurs in the 5th century in Europe. At this time, the Lemon Balm plant was extracted into an elixir which is widely prescribed for headache, fever, flesh wounds, and sores.

Over the following centuries, its use evolved into our current applications, which tend to employ the herb primarily for physical and emotional stress relief.

Consuming Lemon Balm Plant for Mood

One of the top uses for the lemon balm leaf is as a mood enhancer. Extracts, oils, and teas of the herb all contain high levels of Rosmarinic acid. This compound works to stop GABA inhibition (by cutting the amount of GABA transaminase in the brain).

By promoting GABA levels, Lemon Balm boosts in the body’s natural mechanisms for stress control, by limiting over-firing of nerves.

The Lemon Balm plant extract also contain ample amounts of Eugenol, a substance which soothes and numbs muscle tissue. Often, stress triggers in the mind can result in involuntary muscle tightening and pinched nerves.

Eugenol addresses these ill mood effects both mentally and physically. It is considered an Adaptogen, which means it naturally and gently fights all types of environmental stress experienced by humans.

A Natural Sleep Aid

Another traditional use for Lemon Balm leaf is as a sleep aid. In fact, tinctures of the plant were prescribed as a remedy for insomnia from the earliest recorded eras of is use. While it is not entirely known how the herb is able to regulate sleep cycles, it is supposed that the numbing and soothing effect of terpenes in the plant combine with its GABA effects to quiet the mind prior to sleep.

Restless thoughts are the main cause of sleeplessness in people who suffer from insomnia. It is common to take Lemon Balm in the form of a hot tea 30 – 60 minutes prior to bedtime. The effect is comparable to a strong cup of chamomile tea.

Lemon Balm and Cold Sores

There is much written about the link between Lemon Balm plants and cold sore relief. Taking a strong dose of Lemon Balm extract at the first signs of an outbreak (usually indicated by a tingle or an itch in the affected area) can stop a sore from developing altogether.

If a cold sore or herpes have already presented as an outbreak or pimples, Lemon Balm can reduce the total amount of time before healing.

It is thought that mental stress plays a huge role in the appearance of these sores. The stress reliving anxiolytic properties of this plant are no doubt part of the reason why it is an effective therapy for the condition.

How to Safely Use Lemon Balm Plant

When taken in supplement form, the best dosage of Lemon Balm extracts tends to fall within 300 – 500 mg per day. These are general guidelines, and lower or higher doses will be required for individual sensitivities and goals. However, even at higher doses, it almost never generates significant side effects.

It is possible to achieve an overly sedative effect when Lemon Balm is combined with prescription depressants such as muscle relaxers and anti-anxiety pills. Medications like Klonopin, Ativan, Ambien, and Zolpiden should not be combined with Lemon Balm or any other natural sleep and relaxation aid.

Rather than taking mega-doses of Lemon Balm, it might be preferable to explore the effects of stronger anxiolytic compounds, such as Sulbutiamine. This energy enhancing form of vitamin B1 improves mental clarity while boosting overall health of neural tissues.

For more gentle effects, the many forms of Lemon Balm plant are perfectly safe for daily stress relief.

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