You may have noticed from reading some of my past articles that I tend to talk a lot about my favourite herbs and plants that I have strong connection and relationship to. I would like to introduce you to a herb now that has eluded me for my entire career and love affair with the herbal medicine world! She is Melissa, beloved of the bees, and she won’t let me grow her. I feel a little like a perverse herbalist having an unrequited love affair with this little belle of the mint family; I have consistently pursued her growth in my gardens over the years, but to no avail...she just wont love me back! I get a little peeved when I read that she is “easy to grow” or “grows abundantly” because I can’t seem to keep her in my garden for more than a few months. It is possible, of course, that the climate here is simply too hot and humid for her, but persist I do!
If you are fortunate to have Lemon Balm growing abundantly in your garden, she prefers to be harvested as a whole plant, rather than taking a few leaves from a variety of plants; cut near the base of the plant, which will allow for a complete reset for her next year of growth. If drying, simply hang upside down in a cool, darkened space where there is sufficient ventilation.
Lemon Balm has long been cherished and revered for its ability to calm and relax the mind and the body. It is safe to use for babies, the elderly, and everyone in between. The leaves are best picked and used fresh (in my dreams!) and can be made into an infusion (tea) or an ethanol (60%) based tincture. This plant is very high in volatile oils and produces a delightful essential oil with a lemony and slightly minty scent. The dried leaves can also be used, as an oil infusion, for topical use.
This magical and medicinal plant has been used for thousands of years for nervous tension and anxiety, digestion and cramping, as a nutritive and also as an aphrodisiac in love potions. Everywhere I look, Lemon Balm always seems to be described primarily as a calming herb, helping ease stress and overwhelm, relaxing muscle tension and helping bring comfort to chronic fatigue. The lemony fragrance really calms almost every condition you can imagine where stress is at the forefront, whether it be physical, emotional, psychological or pathological. Even the pure aroma of this plant is enough to relax and soothe frayed nerves.
Due to its relaxing and calming qualities, Melissa can also be used as a sleep aid; in fact, it is one of the herbs I use regularly in my Sleepy Tea blend.
Lemon Balm can be identified by its lemony fragrance and its square shaped stems and opposite pairing leaves. When she flowers, Melissa produces the most sweetest little white flowers, which are incredibly attractive to bees, hence her name (in Greek) meaning “honey bee”. Lemon Balm is a favourite plant of
bees; not only does she produce abundant nectar, but she has also been used by bee-keepers to prevent bees from swarming. She was so revered by the monastic order in France, that Charlemagne ordered every monastery to grow Melissa in their gardens.
As an anti-viral, Lemon Balm is most beneficial in the treatment of the herpes virus, offering relief to painful cold sores and other herpes outbreaks such as shingles, chicken pox and genital herpes. I recommend taking it orally and also applying topically (diluted) to the affected areas. It is a well researched herbal medicine and studies have shown the use of Melissa officinalis to relieve symptoms of the herpes virus, such as itching, burning, swelling and sharp nerve pain, and to also quicken the healing time of the sores.
High in antioxidants, studies have shown Lemon Balm to reduce the damage of free radicals, oxidative stress and DNA damage caused by radiation (X-rays, microwaves, mobile and hands free phones etc).
I cannot think of a more appropriate herb for these times. Could we not all use a little Lemon Balm TLC right now?!
Blessed Be!