Lemon Balm Tea: How to Brew from Leaves and Bags

Lemon Balm tea has long been used as a soothing bedtime beverage. Passed down as a cultural tradition from as far back as the Middle Ages, this potent drink can induce sleepiness, calm nerves, and even ignite the healing process.

Today, modern research has illuminated how this minty herb is able to generate profound benefits for mood. Lemon balm teas and supplements have also been shown to boost overall cognition and memory while fighting depression.

Let’s explore how lemon balm is able to achieve these effects. We’ll examine the pharmacology and benefits of this common plant, as well as safety and dosage issues. You may never look at your evening cup of tea the same way!

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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A Traditional Healing Remedy

Lemon Balm tea and other remedies made from the organic, minty Melissa Officinalis plant have recorded use dating back as far as ancient Turkey and Greece several thousand years ago.

It was incorporated into Greek myth as a healer of battle wounds, and was used similarly in real life. Lemon Balm leaves were used to treat injuries and imbalances of the skin such as gout.

Its tradition was brought to Europe in the Middle Ages, when it was also extracted into oils and balms for use as a daily elixir for overall health and happiness. Toothaches, bites, and baldness were among its applications.

In the modern era lemon balm has been employed as a holistic treatment for sleep, PMS, headaches, inflammation, high blood pressure, and fever. Recently, it has gained traction as a gentle psychoactive mood enhancer.

Lemon Balm Tea Ingredients and Effects

Every cup of Lemon Balm tea contains a wealth of psychoactive ingredients which naturally and safely interact with brain chemistry to produce its effects. The calming action of the herb comes from Rosmarinic acid, which supports increased GABA levels by inhibiting GABA transaminase.

GABA is the brain’s natural mechanism for calming over-firing nerve cells.

Terpenes in the plant generate anti-inflammatory soothing effects which stabilize agitated brain tissue. The compound Eugenol is an analgesic which can numb irritated or strained muscles. Tannins can fight bacterial infections and viruses, helping maintain the health of neural structures and processes.

One of the most striking effects of lemon balm leaves is their interaction with nicotinic and muscarinic receptors. This action makes the brain more amenable to acetylcholine effects. This critical neurotransmitter nurtures brain tissue and enhances overall communication. Growth of neural structures is encouraged and sensory sensitivity is sharpened.

Lemon Balm is also classed as an adaptogen, making it a leading weapon against environmental stressors.

Modern Benefits of Lemon Balm

All of the above ingredients combine to create potent benefits from even a single cup of lemon balm tea. A noted anti-anxiety therapy, this tea can instantly soothe nerves and even mute the intensity of a panic attack. It cuts stress in general, and can lower tendencies toward depressive thoughts.

The relaxing benefits can result in better sleep and relief from insomnia. The cholinergic qualities of the herb make it excellent for improving memory and creating the sense of fluid thoughts.

The plant has been used experimentally as a treatment for memory symptoms relating to Alzheimer’s Disease. Its use as an aromatherapeutic element in this regard is very popular.

In the body, lemon balm cuts inflammation, fights illnesses caused by virus or infection, heals bites, lowers overall blood pressure, and improves heart health. It is an effective pain killer, and even improves digestion. One of the most popular recent uses for the herb is to fight cold sores and herpes outbreaks.

Of course, a cup of commercial lemon balm tea is typically a mild form of the herb. These benefits can be fine tuned and amplified by taking Melissa Officinalis as a standalone supplement or extract, and working with the dosage to achieve optimum results.

Is Lemon Balm Safe For Daily Use?

For thousands of years, people from many cultures have taken some form of Lemon Balm, for a broad variety of reasons. The remedy has survived this long largely because it is so very tolerable by humans.

It does cause significant relaxation and makes sleep easy, so it should not be taken while driving, etc. But aside from rare cases of light dizziness and nausea, there are almost no side effects to worry about with this supplement when it is used appropriately by healthy individuals.

The only area that requires extra caution is the mixing of Lemon Balm tea and other variants of the herb with prescription sedatives. Drugs like anti-seizure pills, anti-anxiety meds, muscle relaxers, sleeping pills, Ativan, Klonopin, phenobarbital, and some anti-histamines are not safe to mix with Lemon Balm, as the result may be too sedating.

Otherwise, the supplement can be taken safely every day by most individuals. Check with your doctor for personalized advice on supplements that are safe for you to use.

What if Lemon Balm Tea is Not Strong Enough?

The typical recommended dose of Lemon Balm to treat stress and anxiety is 300 – 500 mg per day. The average cup of Lemon Balm tea contains only 100 mg. So, a good dose would have to consist of several cups of tea to be effective.

As this may not be practical, many people opt to take Lemon Balm in powdered form. It is also frequently consumed as part of a mood enhancement combo product, such as New Mood. For more intense anti-stress benefits, stronger anxiolytics like L-Theanine might be worth looking into.

But for everyday stress management and general cognitive support, Lemon Balm makes a great daily supplement, in any form.

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