Lemon Balm - Melissa Officinalis
This Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) monograph is an excerpt from the 1999, first edition of Dr. Sharol's book "Herbal Medicine From The Heart of The Earth." You can purchase the 2020, third edition of this book with an expanded materia medica/monograph section, herbal formulas and directions on making herbal products in Dr. Sharol's Book Store. You receive free shipping in the USA. The expanded 3rd edition materia medica, and additional herbal tidbits are also available as a kindle ebook at Amazon and details on this e-book are here.
Lemon balm - Melissa officinalis in the Lamiaceae or Mint family
Part used: Flowering herb.
Taste/Smell: Slightly lemon smell and taste, sweet, sour, aromatic.
Tendencies: Slightly warm.
Dosage: Infusion: 1 tablespoon per cup of water; or 1:0.8 fresh + dry liquid extract: 10-60 drops 1-4 times per day in a little water.
Mental picture and specific indications: Lemon balm is indicated with anxiety, restlessness, palpitations, headache, depression, hypertension and irritability associated with stress or hyperthyroidism.
Use: (a) Nervine, (b) Sedative, (c) Mild antidepressant, (d) Mild antispasmodic, (e) Vasodilating hypotensive, (f) Carminative, (g) Diaphoretic, (h) Antiviral.
Lemon balm is used for digestive problems, especially if due to nervousness. It is used as a hot tea for colds, migraines, insomnia, depression and hypertension especially if associated with stress. The essential oil has been used externally to treat herpes simplex with positive results in multiple clinical trials.
The diagnostic picture for Lemon balm is one associated with hyperthyroidism: anxiety, restlessness, palpitations, headache and irritability. It interferes with the binding of TSH to thyroid cell membranes, inhibits iodothyronine deiodinase, thereby preventing incorporation of iodine into T4 synthesis and peripheral conversion of T4 to T3 and blocks the thyroid binding of the stimulating auto-antibodies found in Graves' disease.
Contraindications: Lemon balm is contraindicated with hypothyroidism and in pregnancy unless used under the guidance of a qualified health care practitioner.
If you are looking for directions on making teas or tinctures, please see our "Making Herbal Products" page.
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Copyright 1999 by Sharol Tilgner, N.D. (ISBN 1-881517-02-0) - all rights reserved.
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