Lamiaceae
Lemon Balm
Melissa officinalis
✓ Generally Safe
Safe in Pregnancy
Native to: Southern Europe, Central Asia, Mediterranean
Also known as: Balm, Sweet Balm, Bee Balm, Melissa
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA
Parts Used
Leaf
Therapeutic Uses
Anxiety, insomnia, stress-related digestive complaints, herpes simplex outbreaks (topical), hyperthyroidism (blocks TSH binding), ADHD in children.
Herbal Actions
Nervine, anxiolytic, antiviral (HSV), antispasmodic, carminative, thyroid-modulating, mild sedative
Active Constituents
Rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, flavonoids (luteolin, apigenin), volatile oils (citral, linalool, geraniol, caryophyllene), triterpenoids
Preparation Methods
☕ Herbal Tea🏺 Tincture⚗️ Essential Oil🧴 Salve/Balm
Traditional Preparation Notes
| Herbal Tea | 2 tsp fresh or 1 tsp dried leaf per 250ml, steep 10 min covered, 3x daily |
| Tincture | 3–5 ml (1:5, 45% ethanol), 3x daily |
| Notes | Fresh herb far superior to dried for volatile oils — use 3x more fresh herb. Freeze-drying best preserves constituents. For herpes: apply cream with 1% lyophilised extract topically 4x daily. |
Safety Information
Safety Rating
✓ Generally Safe
Pregnancy
Safe in Pregnancy
Drug Interactions
Possible — consult doctor
Contraindications: May inhibit thyroid function — avoid with hypothyroidism or thyroid medications. Additive sedation with CNS depressants.
Side Effects: Mild sedation. Paradoxical anxiety in rare cases. GI discomfort with very high doses.