Lemon Balm

September 19, 2024

Melissa officinalis

Energetics : Cooling + Drying

Herbal Properties : Analgesic, Antidepressant, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Antiviral, Diaphoretic, Nervine

Lemon Balm is a member of the mint family. It is an herb you can easily grow at home, and it is quite a wonder!  Lemon Balm is antimicrobial and is great topically for skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and overall skin damage (sources 1, 2,3).

Several studies also suggest that Lemon Balm may be beneficial for those with stress, anxiety, & depression (sources 4, 5, 6). This is likely due to its nervine and antidepressant-like qualities. This herb is known to help lift the blues and is commonly used for seasonal depression.

Lemon Balm is a fairly safe herb, even used on children in one study that was done to see if it could help soothe hyperactivity, which it did (source 8).

Lastly, Lemon Balm shows positive effects on those with hyperthyroidism and grave’s disease (source 7). Due to this, those with hypothyroidism may want to exercise caution and avoid ingesting this herb.

Precautions :

May counteract with hypothyroidism if ingested.

Sources :

(1) Lemon Balm’s Antimicrobial Properties

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20201279/

(2) Lemon Balm for Eczema & Psoriasis

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8246655/

(3) Lemon Balm for Skin Damage

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27528586/

(4) Lemon Balm for Anxiety

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16444660/

(5) Lemon Balm for Stress