Melissa officinalis L.
Lemon balm
Folklore –
Where is it referred to in the Tozfot?
Who are the people who use it?
For what medical purpose is it used?
Uses –
In the treatment of –
Description – A perennial herb of the Labiatae family whose 100-200 cm high. The plant grows mainly in the Lowlands, mountainous areas, in valleys and the Golan Height, near freshwater source and in shaded maquis. The branch has four sides; it is long and ramified, emerging from a short, but highly branched and dense, root system. The leaves are opposite, egg or heart shaped, in a greenish-yellowish shade. The leaf border is denticulate, with a hairy underside. Lemon balm flowers from May to September. The labiatae flowers are small ranging from white to pinkish. Glands containing ether oils, with a lemon scent cover the plant. The plant is collected throughout the year.
Reference and Folklore – The source of he Melissa is in Greece, meaning "honey-bee". The subtle lemon scent attracts large swarms of bees, from which the plant gets its name.
Melissa is not referred to in Jewish literature. B. Tchzike claims, that the plant Symlek that appears in the Jewish literature is Melissa: " Thee Symlek is Blessed upon it creator of perfumed trees" (Brachot XLIII, LXXII)
From Maimonides - "Baderngovia, also said "Badernebovia (fragrance of a Citron). And this is a kind of plant that is named by us "Citronic vegetable-grass", because his scent is like that of the Citron. Named in Egypt "Al-Tronagan" and his Persian name is Mrmahor".
" He who advises to drink the " drink that fills the heart with happiness" for encouragement and so forth, also he that advises to use vinegar or with apple drink Turtle-dove Tongue juice and Basslicon seed and Lemon balm seed, is correct in all of this, and true it is".
" And the first hot, first dry, drugs, from what they are usually accustomed, they are twenty-five drugs, and they: … Melissa".
Folk medicine – Lemon Balm is widely accepted in the folk medicine of many Western Jewish community's and the Arabs living in Israel, as a remedy for cough, hemorrhage, depression, stomach ace, fever, contractions of the womb, disturbance in the period, insomnia, headache and dizziness, labor, heart disease and helps in wound healing.
Uses – Immerse a handful of leaves in a cup half filed with consumable alcohol and half with water. Immerse for two to three days. This drink is used in treating depression, nervousness, headache and dizziness. Pour a spoonful per cup of water or twenty drops on sugar cubes. Drink the dilution or suck the sugar cubes.
Lemon balm cooked in wine: Cook a handful of lemon balm leaves, in an amount equal to two cups. Stop cooking five minuets after boiled, filter and drink the wine while it is hot. This drink strengthens the heart, cleanses the chest of mucus and heals coughing, reorders the period, sooths headaches and dizziness.
Lemon balm drink for a mother in labor: Drink a remedy composed half of rose water and half of Lemon balm drink mentioned above with a fresh egg. This remedy sooths labor and stops hemorrhage.
Healing wounds: immerse an equal amount of Lemon balm and water for two days, add a quarter of a teaspoon of salt. With this liquid clean the wound and wash it