Lemon Balm Uses – Medicinal Benefits and Healing Properties

Historically, the most popular Lemon Balm uses have consisted of calming effects, such as help sleeping and stress reduction.

Today, we know that this simple herbal remedy has a broad range of complex biochemical functions in the brain. Not only can it significantly lift mood, Lemon Balm can be used for memory increase, pain relief, and fighting cold sores.

As with many organic herbal health supplements, Lemon Balm provides a broad range of physical and emotional benefits, when taken in proper doses.

The following will summarize what we know about how Lemon Balm products work, why people use it daily, and how to avoid any safety risks. Read on to find out how to take Lemon Balm to reduce stress in your life, plus info on some other effective all-natural mood lifters.

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 (Melissa Oficinalis) Review

There is a casual connection in the mind of the public between mint-flavored products and soothing relaxation.

It is traditional to drink a hot mint tea prior to bedtime in order to promote restfulness. The Lemon Balm plant, also known as Melissa Officinalis, is a leafy mint bush which has been used as a soother for more than thousands of years.

Originally cultivated for use in ancient Greek god-worshipping ceremonies, the plant gained favor as a cure-all tonic for many skin and pain-related ailments. It was particularly known as a healer of wounds, and was often depicted in mythology as an essential part of battle.

In the Middle Ages, Lemon Balm uses included relief of insomnia, cure for headache, and soother of gout. We still see many of these applications today. The connection between mint plants and healing is not just cultural.

As we’ll see below, several core compounds within plants like Lemon Balm are psychoactive and stimulate powerful stress-relieving effects. This is most evident in the plant’s interaction with stress-fighting GABA receptors. So, when you reach for a minty cup of Lemon Balm tea at bedtime, you can expect relaxing effects with a direct biochemical basis.

Top Lemon Balm Uses

The most popular lemon balm uses all revolve around stress-relief. Lemon Balm is a powerful anxiolytic which can reduce both the mental and physical effects of stress. It can calm nerves after a long day of work or school, making a restful night and good sleep possible.

For this reason, many people take some form of Lemon Balm in the evening just prior to bedtime. When taken daily, the herb can improve thought efficiency and mental focus, without the overly energizing effects of a drug like caffeine.

Senses feel heightened, while irritable feelings are soothed. Overwhelming stress thoughts become manageable before they turn into full-blown panic attacks and physical breakdowns.

Medical Applications

Lemon Balm is still widely used for all of the reasons it has been taken historically. These uses include relief from insect bite, help healing wounds of the skin, and pain relief from small injuries, headaches, or chronic joint pain.

Many people buy Lemon balm to combat cold sores and herpes outbreaks. The herb seems to have an inhibitory effect upon this condition.

Lemon balm can also have anti-aging properties, making it a good daily supplement to prevent common age-related decay of organs, eyesight, and skin. It is also anti-bacterial and anti-viral, further bolstering the health and integrity of skin.

How Lemon Balm Achieves Its Effects

These broad positive effects are generated by the organic compounds found within every Lemon Balm leaf. First and foremost, a compound called Rosmarinic acid inhibits GABA transaminase.

This is important because it protects the healthy levels of GABA in the brain. GABA is the chemical responsible for managing hectic over-firing of nerve cells in reaction to stress.

Stimulating GABA circuits is a prime method for managing stress and anxiety symptoms. For this reason, we consider Lemon Balm an anxiolytic compound. The leaves also contain natural eugenol and terpenes for soothing and numbing injured and stressed muscles. All of these ingredients combine to create Lemon Balm’s famous sedative effects.

Lemon Balm uses for heightened cognition all stem from the herb’s ability to activate nicotinic and muscarinic receptors, which are responsible for processing acetylcholine. This action ensures the healthy growth of neural structures and free communication between them. Strong acetylcholine effects can promote better memory and concentration.

Does Lemon Balm Have Dangerous Effects?

Using Lemon Balm for any number of purposes, from anti-anxiety assistance to insomnia relief, is indeed safe for daily use. There are rarely any significant side effects associated with the herb. Some people with extreme sensitivity to plant-based remedies may experience light nausea or some dizziness when taking Lemon Balm, but this is unusual.

The supplement can be so relaxing that driving or heavy manual labor will become inappropriate. One should never mix Lemon Balm with prescription muscle relaxers, anti-histamines, anti-psychotics, or anti-anxiety meds.

These combinations may prove to be overly sedating and unhealthful. If you are looking for stronger anxiety relief, it would be preferable to try any number of natural anxiolytic supplements which are on the market, such as L-Theanine.

The proprietary emotional balance product New Mood also works for many people, and does contain a dose of Lemon Balm. Overall, this herb has been well-tolerated by a broad range of people, for the entirety of human history. That’s an excellent track record.

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