MELISSA- (Lemon Balm)

(Labiatae/Lamiaceae)

A genus of three species of perennials that occurs throughout Europe and central Asia. M. officinalis, native to southern Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa, has been cultivated for over 2000 years. It was originally grown as a bee plant, which probably gave rise to its name, since "Melissa" is the Greek word for "Honey-bee." Arab physicians promoted its therapeutic uses in the 10th and 11th centuries. The Romans brought it to Britain where it was a valuable strewing herb and a favorite in the kitchen. It was praised as a wonderful medicine to clear the mind, improve memory and lift the spirits and recommended to Oxford students in the 16th century to drive away "Heaviness of mind" and "Sharpen the understanding." In the middle ages, It was favored by the Arabs for their "Elixirs of life" and in 17th-century Paris, Carmelitenuns made it into Carmelite tea to promote longevity.

M. officinalis contains a lemon-scented volatile oil that has anti-viral activity. Commercial sources of oil are often adulterated with oils of Citrus limon or Cymbopogon citratus. The Swiss physician Paracelsus (1493-1541) called it "The elixir of life" and believed the herb could completely revive a man. The London Dispensary endorsed this view in 1696: "Given every morning, will renew youth, strengthen the brain and relieve languishing nature." John Evelyn (1620-1706) described it as "Sovereign for the brain, strengthening the memory, and powerfully chasing away melancholy." It was reputed to be among the regular morning teas imbibed in the thirteenth century by Llewelyn, Prince of Glamorgan, who lived to 108 years, while John Hussey of Sydenham, England, lived to be 116 after 50 years of breakfasting on Melissa tea with honey.

Today, M. officinalis has proved its benefit to the nervous system and is used internally to lift depression and calm anxiety, release tension and enhance relaxation and restful sleep. It is excellent for improving concentration when studying or working, for soothing stress or exam nerves and relieving nervous headaches and neuralgia. Taken internally, it has a particular affinity for the digestive system, calming tension and soothing irritation and inflammation, and is good for nervous indigestion, colic, wind, nausea, diarrhea, and any stress-related digestive disorder. It calms the heart and relaxes spasm in the reproductive system that causes period pain. M. officinalis can relieve symptoms of PMS and if taken prior to childbirth will ease the birth and lessen pain. In hot tea it reduces fever and clears catarrhal congestion and it is an excellent remedy for a whole range of allergies such as hay fever and eczema.

Melissa officinalis

(Lemon balm, balm, Melissa)

This herb has always been taken to lift the spirits. Taken regularly, it was believed to encourage longevity. Other traditional uses include healing wounds, relieving palpitations and relaxing the heart, and treating toothache.

Lemon balm is a relaxing tonic for anxiety, mild depression, restlessness, and irritability. It reduces feelings of nervousness and panic and will often quiet a racing heart, being a valuable remedy for palpitations of a nervous origin. Lemon balm is also useful when over-anxiety is causing digestive problems such as indigestion, acidity, nausea, bloating, and colicky pains.

Lemon balm relieves cold sores and reduces the chances of further outbreaks.

Following the discovery of its anti-thyroid effect, the herb is given to people with an overactive thyroid.

Lemon balm is a first-aid remedy for cuts and insect stings and is good for fevers.

Lemon-scented perennial with a 4-angled stem and ovate, toothed leaves 1 1/4-3 in. (3-7 cm.) long. Insignificant pale yellow flowers are produced in axillary clusters in summer.

HEIGHT:       12-36 in. (30-80 cm.),    SPREAD:  12-18 in (30-45 cm.).

PARTS USED: Whole plant, leaves, oil.

CONSTITUENTS: Volatile oil up to 0.2% (citral, caryophyllene oxide, linalool, and citronellal), flavonoids, triterpenes, polyphenols, tannins.

KEY ACTIONS:  Relaxant, antispasmodic, increases sweating, carminative, anti-viral, nerve tonic.

PROPAGATION:  By seed sown in autumn or spring, or by division or stem cuttings in autumn or spring. Self seeds freely.

SPACING:      12-24 inches apart.

CULTIVATION:  Moist soil in sun or partial (midday) shade. Cut back plants after flowering to produce a fresh crop of leaves. Flowers in midsummer.

COMPANION PLANTING:  Planted around beehives and orchards to attract pollinating bees/new members to the colony (rubbed on beehives before introducing a new swarm). It also repels insects.

HARVEST:      Plants (aerial parts) are cut as flowering begins and used fresh, or dried for infusions, liquid extracts, ointments, and tinctures.

Fresh foliage is distilled for oils.

PROPERTIES:   An aromatic, cooling, sedative herb that lowers fever, improves digestion, relaxes spasms and peripheral blood vessels, and inhibits thyroid activity. It has antibacterial, anti-viral and insect-repellent effects

AROMATIC:     Dried leaves are added to potpourris and herb pillows;

Juice is added to furniture polish.

CULINARY:     Fresh leaves give a lemon flavor to salads, fruit salads, jellies, custards, fruit drinks, soups, sauces, mayonnaise, sauerkraut, herb vinegars, poultry, pork, game, & fish, and are an ingredient in "Eau de Melisse des Carmes" (Melissa cordial), liqueurs such as Benedictine and Chartreuse, and wine cups. Infuse fresh leaves for Melissa tea or float in Indian tea.

MEDICINAL:    Internally for nervous disorders, indigestion associated with nervous tension, excitability with digestive upsets in children, hyperthyroidism, depression, anxiety, palpitations, and tension headaches. Externally For herpes, sores, gout, insect bites and as an insect repellent. Combines well with Chamaemelum nobile, Filipendula ulmaria, and Humulus lupulus for nervous indigestion. Oil is used in aromatherapy to relax and rejuvenate, especially in cases of depression & nervous tension.

RESEARCH:

German research has shown that the volatile oil, and in particular citral and citronellal, calm the central nervous system. The oil is also strongly antispasmodic.

Polyphenols are anti-viral. In particular, they combat the herpes simplex virus, which produce cold sores. In one research study, the average healing time of cold sores was halved to about 5 days and the time between outbreaks doubled.

Lemon balm inhibits thyroid function.

KEY PREPARATIONS & THEIR USES:

Essential oil: For shingles, add 5 drops to 1 tsp. olive oil and massage the painful area gently.  NOTE: Do not take the essential oil internally except under professional supervision.

Infusion:  For nervous headaches, drink a cup 3 times a day.

Tincture:  For anxiety and mild depression, take 1/2 tsp. with water 3 times a day.

Lotion: For cold sores, make an infusion and apply regularly.

Juice:  For cuts and scrapes, apply as needed.

Ointment:  Apply to insect stings.

Anxiety, depression & tension: Make an infusion and drink up to 4 cups a day.

Digestive problems due to stress: Make an infusion with a handful of fresh leaves and 150 ml of water, or make an infusion with the dried herb. Drink up to 5 cups a day, or add the daily dose to a bath. Also: This remedy also calms palpitations and encourages sleep.

Cold sores, chicken pox & shingles: Internal: Make an infusion and drink up to 5 cups a day. External: Make a lotion by infusing 1 1/2 tbsp. of fresh or 3 tsp. of dried leaves in 1 cup of water for 10 minutes. Strain and dab onto spots 3-5 times a day.

Flu with muscle aches & pains: Make an infusion using 5g each of Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), Elderflower (Sambucus nigra), and Lemon Balm, to 750 ml of water. Brew for 10 minutes and drink up to 5 cups a day.

Nausea due to emotional problems: Make an infusion with the dried herb or use 2 tsp. of fresh herb per cup of water. Drink up to 5 cups a day.

Stomach-ache, mix 3 parts lemon balm to 1 part of a carminative herb and make an infusion. For the carminative herbs, use Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) seeds, Anise (Pimpinellaanisum), Mint (Mentha spp.) leaves, or Angelica (Angelica archangelica) root. Drink up to 5 cups a day.

VARIANTS:

Melissa officinalis

"All Gold"

This cultivar has bright yellow foliage ideal for brightening up damp, shady corners. It does best in good light, with midday shade, since it scorches in full sun.  Ht: 12-24 in. (30-60 cm.), Sp: 12-18 in. (30-45 cm.).

Melissa officinalis,

"Aurea"

The color fades in summer, but cutting plants back after flowering encourages a new crop of young foliage.  Ht: 12-24 in., Sp: 12-18 in.

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