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Lemon balm: The fine among the medicinal plants
Lemon balm is one of the most important medicinal plants we have! Its balancing and calming effect makes it an excellent medicinal plant for issues that affect the nervous system. However, there are several plants of this. However, medicinal plants that are additionally given such enormous importance in gynecology are not many. Their relaxing nature combined with their antiviral powers make them absolutely indispensable in modern naturopathy, especially in this area.
Facts about lemon balm
Did you know that...
... lemon balm was also used in the past against the appearance of gray hair?
... lemon balm as aromatherapy is supposed to be good against dementia because it promotes memory?
...people planted fields of lemon balm in ancient times to provide food for honey bees? In the name it shows up to this day because "lemon balm / melissa" means nothing other than honey bee!
What is lemon balm?
Lemon balm is a perennial that grows up to 90 cm high and belongs to the labiates family. It has been used as a medicinal plant for over 2000 years and originates from the eastern Mediterranean region. Its name lemon balm derives from Greek meli=honey and melissa=bee, as the plant was used as a pasture for bees. Melissa plants can grow very old with up to 30 years. Their root is a rhizome and therefore very branched in the ground. The lemon balm can also overwinter well due to the rhizome and is therefore winter-hardy in our country.
Its distinctive fresh fragrance is remarkable. It can be infused freshly harvested as a tea, used as a room fragrance or chewed for digestion.
Its flowers are delicate, small and white. Between June and August the plant blooms, giving the otherwise evergreen plant an ornamental appearance.
Medicinally used are the leaves, fresh and dried. It became known in modern times as the main ingredient of Klosterfrau Melissa spirit, a recipe developed by a Cologne nun in the early 19th century. Melissa spirits still have their firm, justified use in naturopathy and are particularly popular in the treatment of nervous and digestive disorders.
General and healing properties of lemon balm
Nerve-strengthening
Lemon balm is nervine and soothing. Lemon balm calms the nervous system and regenerates the existing resources. Its soothing power relaxes the stomach so helps with abdominal colic.
Cramp
Melissa is antispasmodic. During menstruation, many women suffer from pain and cramps in the abdomen. Melissa tea and oily rubs with lemon balm oil reduce cramps and soothe the event.
Antiviral
Lemon balm is antiviral. Especially herpes and influenza viruses show high sensitivity to lemon balm preparations. Therefore, lemon balm is recommended both for cold sores, genital herpes, HPV and colds.
Flatulent
Lemon balm is anti-flatulent. Many cases of flatulence are caused by too much tension in the unconscious muscles of the digestive organs. Melissa relaxes these and thus restores the natural function.
Melissa officinalis: Ingredients
The strongest signature of lemon balm is undoubtedly its fragrance. It is absolutely unique and immediately rises to the nose. Responsible is the very expensive essential oil of lemon balm. One kilo of oil costs around 6000€. Often lemon balm oil is therefore replaced by other oils (not equivalent).
You can find the following ingredients in lemon balm:
- Essential oils (0.8% Citral, Geranial, Neral, etc.)
- 4% Labiates tannins such as rosmarinic acid
- Chlorogenic acid
- Caffeic acid
- Flavonoids
- Triterpenes
Lemon balm: Effect for body and mind
Lemon balm is primarily about relaxation and all its facets. Both on a mental and physical level, lemon balm is used naturopathically in this context.
It is one of the most important plants for calming the nervous system and treating stress and its symptoms. Very nervous temperaments swear by the effect of lemon balm and like to use it to calm down. Often these people are plagued by nervous tics, restlessness, sleep disorders and vegetative heart palpitations. Already the regular consumption of lemon balm tea or alternatively a daily aromatherapy can lead to significant improvements here.
Another big point are problems in the field of digestion, so intestinal spasms, bile duct spasms, constipation and heartburn in the stomach. These are indications that should make one reach for lemon balm as the remedy of choice. Melissa is therefore also a very common ingredient in bitter elixirs or medicines that are intended to promote digestion. It has a relaxing effect on the involuntary muscles of digestion, calms the stress nervous system and thus improves the function of the stomach and intestinal tract.
Due to its relaxing effect, lemon balm is also popular in the evening, to improve falling asleep and sleeping through the night. For this purpose, you can simply put a fragrance lamp in the bedroom.
Melissa is a distinctly women's remedy. In fact, a large part of the lemon balm spirit preparations are bought by ladies. Some because they have also come to know lemon balm as a suitable medicinal plant during menstruation and the cramps associated with it, others to nurse their (husband's) strained nerves.
Properties lemon balm
- Nerve-strengthening
- Soothing
- Decongesting
- Antiviral
- Carminative
Fields of application in naturopathy
Melissa is a plant for the nervous system and for viral issues. All applications revolve around this positive effect on the nervous system and its effectiveness against some types of viruses.
Lemon balm: Effect on stress
Lemon balm has a long history of use for stress. Already Paracelsus praised its effect on the heart in nervous overstimulation. Of course, the stress-reducing effect is not limited to the heart. Lemon balm reduces tensions in the body caused by nervous overstimulation. The tensions can show in the heart, but also in stress-related stomach problems, digestive disorders or sleep problems, lemon balm is a plant that can help.
Lemon balm: Effect on nervousness
Many people suffer from tremendous basic nervousness. Sometimes these people are plagued by it from birth as a type, some develop this basic nervousness through the demands and excessive demands they feel exposed to on a daily basis. Tics develop, such as a nervous twitching eyelid, one is jumpy and sensitive to stimuli. Melissa gently calms here and restores strength to the strained nerves. Warm full baths with melissa oil admixture are recommended here. The warmth and essential oil of lemon balm work hand in hand, deeply relaxing and reducing the frequency and intensity of tics.
Lemon balm for nervous headaches
Headaches often have a strong nervous involvement. Often the neck muscles tense up strongly due to nervous stress and one gets the classic occipital headache. But also a real migraine can have its cause in a strong, nervous tension. The consequences are sensitivity to light, nausea, a strong need for rest and an aura. Treatment with lemon balm has already saved some people from having to take strong medicines and has quickly made them fit for everyday life again.
Lemon balm for sleep disorders
Sleep disorders are usually the result of stress and overstimulation. The daytime consciousness can no longer switch off properly, the head keeps spinning and the tension remains. In this state, one usually finds it difficult to sleep, wakes up more often or simply does not sleep restfully and is still tired in the morning. Lemon balm can be used here well as aromatherapy in the fragrance lamp of the bedroom. The essential oil of lemon balm promotes the production of serotonin in the brain and thus provides rest and relaxation.
Lemon balm for digestive problems
Digestion is a complex system of glands that needs rest to do its work. It is not for nothing that one should take time to eat and then rest for a while. But today we often do not have time to eat. It is done in a hectic pace and thus in a situation in which the body is trimmed for performance. So the digestion is not activated properly at all and is attacked by the food. It is now prone to cramps and maldigestion, which can manifest in abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea. Lemon balm has a relaxing and soothing effect on digestion, allowing the muscles of the digestive organs to relax and the glands to release their digestive secretions with enzymes.
Lemon balm: Effect on cramps
Many cramps have a stress component, which can be used as a cause for the cramps. However, ladies' periods are also frequently accompanied by cramps. In gynecology, lemon balm is therefore of outstanding importance and is a frequent ingredient in tea mixtures or drops prescribed for such menstrual cramps.
Lemon balm for herpes viruses
An important property of lemon balm is that it has antiviral activity. Especially the different types of herpes viruses are sensitive to treatment with lemon balm in the laboratory and in practice. For example, lemon balm is successfully used for cold sores.
But also in the treatment of shingles, you should think about Melissa oil. On the one hand it is extremely skin caring, on the other hand it kills herpes viruses. As a result, the inflammation and the (nerve) pain decrease and the wound of shingles can heal quickly.
In recent years, human papilloma viruses have always been a topic of discussion, as they are believed to be responsible for the development of cervical cancer. HPV also belongs to the herpes viruses and lemon balm shows a positive effect here in the laboratory with regard to the reduction of existing viruses. In some specialized pharmacies there are very good vaginal suppositories that contain Melissa oil and are designed for the treatment of HPV.
Notes on the use of lemon balm
Melissa can be taken regularly over a longer period of time. Especially with nervous tension a regular intake makes sense and is also indicated.
In case of acute problems in the digestive tract, the preparations should be taken several times a day before meals.
To improve the quality of sleep is recommended to take or put a fragrance lamp just before sleep.
Lemon balm during pregnancy & lactation
Melissa is completely safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It is even said that its calming effect would have a positive, balancing effect not only on the mother, but also on the (unborn) child. Therefore, especially in the case of very restless unborn babies or infants should be considered lemon balm.
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