15/11/2025
🍃 LEMON BALM 🍃
(Melissa officinalis)
Lemon balm was one of the very first herbs I tinctured, freshly made from a patch I had growing in the garden. You could say that it was my “gateway herb” into medical herbalism.
At that time I was beginning to learn about the medicinal applications of plants, which had stemmed from a combination of my work as a pharmacy technician and my love of growing and using food as medicine. It was the natural next step.
I’d found some lovely books on home remedies and lemon balm really shouted out to me - I was struggling with abdominal discomfort, stress and cold sores that pop up when I’m run down… it was the perfect herb for me at that time. Although I now have a much more extensive knowledge of herbs I still regularly come back to this one.
Why?
Well, what’s not to love?! Lemon balm contains rosemarinic acid, volatile oils, and flavones (such as luteolin). These constituents are antioxidant, antiinflammatory, anticarcinogenic, antibacterial, neuroprotective, antiallergic and specifically antiviral against herpes simplex.
It terpene aldehydes are gently stimulating as a nervine and is viewed by some as having adaptogenic properties.
As a member of the lamiaceae (mint) family, it is cooling and indicated for digestive as well as mental health. There is crossover here between western herbalism and TCM in that grief (not just that of loss but also when something is “giving you grief”) and letting go are linked to the large intestine, therefore a herb that works on digestive health will also influence mental wellbeing. If you prefer the more clinical/scientific way of looking at this link - consider that bitter foods stimulate both digestion and the vagus nerve (that trendy one linked to parasympathetic “rest and digest”).
I could wax lyrical about the amazing potential found in this little leaf and would wholeheartedly recommend having it in your garden - although be warned that as a mint family member it will happily take over!
Finally, as with all herbal medicine, please be aware that there are often potential contraindications so it is wise to consult a medical herbalist before use.
