Lemon Balm Leaf, aka Melissa (Melissa Officinalis)

Description ShareTweetPinLinkedInPrintEmail Lemon Balm Leaf, aka Melissa (Melissa Officinalis) HERB COMMON NAME :  Lemon Balm (aka Melissa) HERB SCIENTIFIC NAME :  Melissa Officinalis OTHER NAMES :  Balm, Common Balm, Balm Mint, Blue Balm, Dropsy Plant, Garden Balm, Sweet Balm, Melissa, Sweet Melissa, Bee Balm, English Balm, Balsam, Lemon Balsam, Heart’s Delight, Tourengane, Oghoul FAMILY :  Lamiaceae ASSOCIATIONS & CORRESPONDENCES : Element: Water Planet: Jupiter Day: Monday Direction: West Zodiac Sign: Cancer  Chakra: 2nd Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana) Energy: Yin Gender: Feminine Rune: Uruz Tarot: (18) the Moon Tarot Animal: Bee Sabbat or Holiday: Ostara / the Spring Equinox (btw March 19-23) Deity or God / Goddess Association: Aphrodite, Artemis, Diana, Ēostre, Hecate, Circe, Medea   Parts Used:  Leaves Description:  Lemon Balm is found in abundance in mountainous regions of Europe and is now naturalized elsewhere. The common name for this herb stems from the word “balsam” in reference to its sweet aroma. The essential oil is used in aromatherapy and is very pleasant used in potpourris. Its genus name (Melissa), which is Greek for “honey bee,” alludes to the fact that bees flock to its flowers. This herb has been grown for bees since the time of the ancient Greeks. In the past, new hives were rubbed with it to get bees to move in, and it was also traditionally planted around hives. Today we now know that Melissa officinalis produces volatile oils that mimic the honeybees’ pheromone responsible for communicating hive location and food sources. The flowers are tiny but make a ton of nectar. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. Because the leaf of the plant has a very strong lemony odor and flavor, it is harvested as a salad herb and vegetable. Dried lemon balm herb is used to flavor wines, vinegars, breads, sauces and other foods. The whole plant of Lemon Balm, dried or fresh, is used to make cool refreshing drinks or warm relaxing teas. It gives a nice lemony sweetness to black tea, and it has long been an ingredient in various medieval herbal liqueurs, such as Benedictine and Chartreuse, and it is also an ingredient in Carmelite water. It was also a favorite herb of the alchemist Paracelsus and is the focus of his primum ens melissa, an alchemical medicine that he called the source of all life. One of Lemon Balm’s key qualities is as a gentle tranquilizer. Lemon Balm is mildly sedative and antidepressant, and is said to soothe symptoms of stress, help you relax, and boost your mood. A 2004 study found that taking lemon balm eased the negative mood effects of laboratory-induced psychological stress. Participants who took lemon balm self-reported an increased sense of calmness and reduced feelings of alertness. Lemon balm is also used to help reduce symptoms of anxiety, such as nervousness and excitability. It contains a volatile oil citral and citronella which is strongly antispasmodic and also aids insomnia. Avicenna, an 11th century Arab herbalist, said “it causeth the mind and heart to become merry”. For allergies, Lemon Balm has shown to have mucolytic properties, which means it can help break up mucus and decrease excess mucus production. Lemon Balm’s antihistamine action is also useful in relieving eczema. It may also be beneficial to those with Grave’s disease. Studies indicate that the herb slightly inhibits the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and restricts Grave’s disease, a hyperthyroid condition. It helps relieve menstrual cramps, upset stomach, and colic in babies. Lemon Balm leaf tea is also good for fevers, colds, flu, mumps, indigestion, headache, rheumatism, and neuralgias. The leaves and young flowering shoots are antibacterial, antispasmodic, antiviral, carminative, diaphoretic, digestive, emmenagogue, febrifuge, sedative, and tonic. Anti-viral properties are mainly due to the oxidation products of caffeic acid and its derivatives. Its antibacterial action makes it useful in a nice mouthwash. It has tonic effects on the heart and circulatory system. The leaves are reputed to lower blood pressure. Lemon Balm tea has been shown to inhibit the division of tumor cells. Added to bath, Lemon Balm relieves muscle tension and soothes irritated skin. Lemon Balm oil is often added to skin preparations and perfumes. There is a centuries old tradition of applying fresh crushed leaves to wounds and insect bites. The essential oils of Lemon Balm in the fresh plant, particularly citronella, make it a most effective insect repellent when crushed and rubbed on skin or clothes. Research has shown that Lemon Balm contains polyphenols, and used topically it can significantly help cold sores, the herpes simplex virus, and other external viral infections. It can also be used topically to help reduce swelling associated with gout. Historical Uses:  nervous system tonic, relaxant, carminative, sedative, diaphoretic, febrifuge, antidepressant, depression, anxiety, stress, shock, restlessness, nervousness, moodiness, sedative, tranquilizer, insomnia, sleeplessness, relaxation, headache, palpitations, anti-viral, anti-microbial, anti-thyroid, Grave’s disease, hyperthyroidism, choleretic, antibacterial, emmenagogue, mild analgesic, antispasmodic, anti-histamine, allergies, eczema, hepatic, cardiotonic, menstrual cramps, indigestion, upset stomach, colic, fever, cold, flu, mumps, rheumatism, neuralgia, circulation, high blood pressure, tumors, cancer, muscle tension, irritated skin, wounds, insect bites, insect repellant, cold sores, herpes simplex virus (HSV), skin infection, gout Mystical Attributes:  Lemon balm was a sacred herb in the Temple of Artemis, because the bees favored it more than any other herb. From Arabian herb magic comes the information that lemon balm can be used to influence love.  Use it in love charms & spells to attract a partner. Use in healing spells & rituals for those suffering from mental or nervous disorders. It is also used in magical healing, and Pliny said that its powers were so great that if it was attached to a sword that had made a wound the blood would be immediately staunched.  Though sword wounds are rare today, the lemon balm is still used in healing incenses and sachets. It can also be used in spells to ensure success. Lemon Balm can be combined with chamomile, lavender, and klip or wild dagga for past life regression work. In ancient times Balm was planted by ones front door to drive away evil spirits. Mystical Intentions:  calm, clarity, comfort, concentration, focus, grief, sorrow, loss of a loved one, funeral and burial rites, emotional healing, love spells, attraction, friendship, relationships, heartbreak, health and healing, business success, protection from evil, home protection, opening the heart, sympathy, fairy magic, fae magic, past life reading Taste & Smell:  Lemon Balm leaf has a strong lemony odor and flavor with a hint of mint. Botany, Cultivation & Harvesting:  Lemon balm is native to center-southern Europe and the Mediterranean region, but is mostly cultivated in the United States. It is a perennial herb in the mint family Lamiaceae that grows 1-3 feet high. It is hardy to zone 4. It is a good companion plant for members of the brassica family, and deer don’t usually eat it. At each stem joint, opposite pairs of broadly ovate or heart-shaped, serrate or toothed leaves grow. These leaves not only emit a fragrant lemon odor when bruised, they also have a distinct lemon taste. Lemon balm’s white or yellowish flowers (or rose-colored, or even bluish) grow in loose, small bunches from the axils of the leaves and they bloom from June to October. The lemon balm plant grows well in a partly shaded sheltered position. It can be drought tolerant as it is able to tolerate dry places. It is typically grown in herb gardens providing bushy, lemon-scented leaves. Planted near edges of the garden, traffic flow will release its citrus smell when it is brushed against. It sometimes grows wild in sunny fields and along roadsides. Lemon balm grows in any well-drained soil, but it prefers a light rich moist soil. Lemon balm can be propagated by seeds, cuttings or division of roots in spring or autumn. Barely cover seed to germinate in 1-2 weeks at room temperature. Set out at 12-15″ (30-38cm) apart in full sun or partial shade and rich soil. It grows in clumps and spreads well. Like any mint, it can be aggressive. It spreads by runners and self-seeds. In mild temperate zones, the stems of the plant die down in winter, but happily the root is perennial and will shoot up again in spring. Lemon Balm grows vigorously and care should be taken against placing it where it will spread into other plantings. The plant can be used fresh or dried. For drying, it is harvested just before or just after flowering. Don’t harvest when it’s wet or the leaves will discolor. Dried lemon balm is best stored (as cut pieces or powder) in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Contraindications & Toxicity: Theoretically may interfere with thyroid hormone activity and cause sleepiness. Use caution with CNS depressants and thyroid medications. Do not use in cases of glaucoma as it may increase intraocular pressure.   Constituents: Volatile oils (citral, citronellal, citronellol, geraniol) Flavonoids (luteolin, quercitin, apigenin, kaempferol) Polyphenols (chlorogenic, rosmarinic and caffeic acids) Tannins Bitter principle     Sources: https://spiritartsandherbs.com/sources **IMPORTANT INFORMATON: Products are sold as curio items for entertainment purposes only and based upon historical and magical uses.  We do not imply or guarantee that any items provide specific abilities, powers, outcomes, remedies, or treatments. Any information provided on listings or through private conversation is intended for educational purposes only and are based on historical folklore and traditions, and should not replace the advice of a physician. Use our products at your own risk. By purchasing this item, you understand and release Spirit Arts & Herbs Inc from any liability. 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