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It Smells Great, Boosts Your Mood, And Makes You Catch Better Z's (A Lemon Balm Deep Dive)
There’s an underrated mint in the house: introducing lemon balm!
This leaf, officially called Melissa officinalis, is a calming herb that is (you called it!) a proud part of the mint family[1]. This leaf, which has a refreshing lemony flavor, can be grown worldwide. You might mistake them for wild mint leaves, as they have a similar leaf shape. However, lemon balm is characterized by its sweet and tart scent.
What is Lemon Balm?
Lemon balm is a Jack-of-all-trades (sort of). It was first commonly used back in the middle ages[1]. Since then, it has become a well-loved herbal medicine you can find in cosmetics and furniture polish! Even bees are known to love this beautiful, calming herb.
Aside from its gorgeous scent, lemon balm is rich in benefits, which we will discuss later in this article. You may even decide to mix it with different herbs, such as chamomile, to amplify its effects.
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What Nutrients are in Lemon Balm?
Nutrients make the world go around! Thankfully, lemon balm has no shortage of nutrients.
Lemon balm is famous for being antioxidant-rich.
That’s right!
…This tea is for you if you want to get a hardy dose of antioxidants.
Aside from antioxidants, you’ll find plenty of phytochemicals and flavonoids in lemon balm. These include rosmarinic acid, terpenes, and phenolic acids[2]. You’ll also be able to enjoy Thiamin and Vitamin C.
What Are the Benefits of Lemon Balm?
One of the most incredible things about lemon balm is its many benefits! A primary ailment that it can treat is anxiety. It reduces stress-related symptoms, such as excitability and nervousness[3]. These symptoms can be challenging to cope with. A considerable portion of the population suffers from anxiety. In fact, Generalized Anxiety Disorder affects 6.8 million adult Americans[4].
Aside from reducing anxiety, lemon balm is also known to boost cognitive function. It helps enhance alertness and overall performance. Lemon balm can also help improve sleep, relieve indigestion, and minimize the appearance and pain associated with cold sores[5].
BUT WAIT: It doesn’t stop there. It might be too early to say that this leaf is a power plant, but it does some fantastic things! Add lemon balm to your daily routine, and you may also see an improvement in headaches, menstrual pain, nausea, and indigestion.
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Summary
I’m sure you’ve learned a few surprising facts today! Yes…despite its fruit-themed name, lemon balm is actually in the mint family. Besides just being an herb that smells lovely, it also is packed with plenty of nutrients and antioxidants. Its benefits have an impressively wide range, from anxiety reduction, to cognitive enhancement, skincare, to improving your sleep.
References
- (2020) Lemon balm. Mount Sinai. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/lemon-balm#
- Scholey A, Gibbs A, Neale C, Perry N, Ossoukhova A, Bilog V, Kras M, Scholz C, Sass M, Buchwald-Werner S. (2014) Anti-Stress Effects of Lemon Balm-Containing Foods. Nutrients. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu6114805
- Bauer, B. (2018). Herbal treatment for anxiety: Is it effective? Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/generalized-anxiety-disorder/expert-answers/herbal-treatment-for-anxiety/FAQ-20057945?p=1
- (2007). National Comorbidity Survey (NCS). Harvard Medical School. https://www.hcp.med.harvard.edu/ncs/index.php
- Cronkleton, E. (2019). 10 benefits of lemon balm and how to use it. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/lemon-balm-uses
