Lemon Balm
Energetics: Warming, Drying, Relaxing
Actions: Nervine (sedative) (Calms the nerves), Mild Antidepressant, Carminative (Relieves bloating & flatulence)
Melissa, this plant’s generic name, is the Greek word for honeybee - named due to the bee’s love of this fragrant, flowering herb1. Lemon balm is also known as the “gladdening herb”, helping to relieve nervousness, anxiety, and depressive tendencies1. Its bright, aromatic properties also prove helpful for the digestive system, aiding indigestion and flatulence1. With its heart-shaped leaves, it is also known to work as a tonic for the cardiovascular system, all while it lifts the mood and calms the mind2.
- Yarnell, E. (1998). Lemonbalm: humble but potent herb. Alternative and Complementary Therapies, 4(6), 417-419.
- Asadi, A., Shidfar, F., Safari, M., Hosseini, A. F., Fallah Huseini, H., Heidari, I., & Rajab, A. (2019). Efficacy of Melissa officinalis L.(lemon balm) extract on glycemic control and cardiovascular risk factors in individuals with type 2 diabetes: A randomized, double‐blind, clinical trial. Phytotherapy research, 33(3), 651-659.
