Balm

melissa officinalis

Medicinal Action and Use


ACTIONS
anti-bacterial
anti-depressant
anti-histaminic
anti-oxidant
anti-spasmodic
anti-viral
calmative
carminative
diaphoretic
emmenagogue
febrifuge
nervine
sedative
stomachic

USES
Balm is a remedy for common
female complaints and is useful for all sorts
of nervous problems, hysteria, melancholy, and insomnia.

Use balm tea to relieve cramps, dyspepsia, flatulence,
colic, liver, spleen, bladder troubles,
chronic bronchial catarrh, and some forms of asthma.

Try it for migraine and toothache, and, during pregnancy,
for headaches, tension, and dizziness.

Warm infusion has diaphoretic effects.

An infusion of the leaves added to bath water is said
to promote the onset of menstruation.

It is a cooling drink
for feverish colds fever, and flu.

Use the crushed leaves as a poultice for sores,
tumors, swellings, milk-knots, and insect bites.

Balm promotes sweating, and is a valuable
stand-by when fever is present.

Balm is used in herb pillows
because of its agreeable odor.

Experimentally, hot-water extracts have been shown
strongly antiviral for Newcastle disease, herpes, mumps;
antibacterial, antihistaminic, antispasmodic, and anti-oxidant.

Formulas or Dosages
Collect the plant before or after flowering.
The fresh plant is more effective than the dried.

Infusion: use 2 teaspoons chopped herb or leaves
to 1 cup boiling water. Drink warm, as required.
Cold Extract: use 2 tablespoon per cup of cold water;
let stand 8 hours.
Extract: mix 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of extract
in 1 cup water, take up to 3 times daily.

Use the dried herb to make tea,
or drink 1 cup of packaged tea daily.

Tincture: the dose is 1/2 to 1 teaspoon
Powder: take 10-40 grains at a time.

How Sold
Sold in commercial antiviral preparations in Germany.

This herb is widely available in tea, dried herb, and extract.



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