Loving Lemon Balm, Part 1
Spring is here and the Lemon Balm is flourishing in my garden. Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) is in the mint family and a common weed in the Bay Area. It looks like a mint, but the leaves when crushed give off a lovely lemony scent.
Lemon balm is a great herb to introduce to your garden. It is easy to grow, (as a weed, it needs virtually no care) and it has a broad range of medicinal value. It has so many applications that I am dedicating two blogs to its uses.
USES FOR LEMON BALM, PART 1
• Lemon Balm is a nervine, which means it is a nourishing tonic to your nervous system. Taking lemon balm has a very centering, grounding & calming effect. It can help relieve anxiety and worry and even can help back off a panic attack.
• Lemon Balm also can help to lift your spirits and is mildly anti-depressant.
• In the digestive tract, lemon balm is also very useful. It helps with gas and intestinal spasms, colic in babies, & tension in the gut. Lemon balm can also ease a headache you get from eating too much or from eating food that you are allergic or intolerant too.
• Lemon Balm is a great herb for women too. It helps to regulate and balance the menstrual cycle. With its nervine properties, it is also helpful in PMS. In menopause, lemon balm can be combined with motherwort and used to aid hot flashes, night sweats and heart palpitations. Lemon Balm is also safe for pregnant women.
HOW CAN YOU USE LEMON BALM?
Lemon balm makes a great tea or tincture. You can make a tea of the fresh leaves, or dry and store them for future use. I prefer the taste of lemon balm tea from leaves slightly wilted or dry.
The best way to tincture lemon balm is from the fresh plant.
Lemon balm is also great for baths. It is a very healing plant and I have prescribed it in baths for women suffering sexual trauma.
Lemon Balm Aromatherapy: Just pick some lemon balm, rub it in your palms, and inhale! Its lovely lemon scent will pick up your spirits and clear you mind.
To be continued……stay tuned for more uses on Lemon Balm!
Tags: herbal medicine, lemon balm
