Lemon balm - The Romance Herb

Lemon balm - The Romance Herb

Family: Labiatae
Melissa officinalis; also known as lemon balm, bee balm, garden balm, Melissa, melissengeist.
Useful Part: Leaves

The botanical name,  melissa, in Greek for “bee”. Lemon balm has been cultivated in the Mediterranean region for about 2000 years. The Muslim herbalist Avicenna recommended lemon balm “to make the heart merry.” Paracelsus claimed this herb could completely revitalize the body and called it the “elixir of life”, and 14th century French King Charles V drank its tea every day to keep his health. The famous Carmelite Water, first made by 17ty century Carmelite nuns to treat nervous headache and neuralgia, combined lemon balm with lemon-peel, nutmeg, coriander and angelica root. Sacred to the temple of Diana, lemon balm was called “heart’s delight’ in southern Europe. Its virtue of dispelling melancholy has been praised by herbal writers for centuries, and it is still used today in aromatherapy to counter depression. 

Skin care: allergies, insect bites, insect repellent

Respiratory: asthma, bronchitis, chronic coughs; useful for colds and influenza .

Digestive: colic, indigestion, nausea; good for vomiting and indigestion of a nervous origin, relieving spasms and flatulence

Circulatory: a tonic for  the heart, slowing its action, relieving palpitations and lowering blood pressure

Genito-urinary: menstrual problems especially painful periods

Nervous: anxiety, depression, hypertension, insomnia, migraine, nervous tension, shock and vertigo

Emotion: melissa is vivacious and provocative, revitalizing the inner self and calming the senses.  Makes the heart merry and joyful. Also helpful in dispelling a sense of dejection in times of grief or bereavement.  Melissa calms raging emotions, engendering a state of quiet peace.

Other: used extensively as a fragrance component in toiletries, cosmetics and perfumes.  Employed in most major food categories including alcoholic and soft drinks.

Culinary Uses:Fresh lemon balm imparts a subtle lemon flavor and fresh lemon fragrance, making it especially nice for fruit dishes, custards, and tea.  Early fresh leaves can be chopped and added to salads; just cut down somewhat on the vinegar or lemon juice.

Lemon Balm is primarily used in the pursuit of romance.  It is an herb which attracts, and is sometimes made into a charm and worn to bring a lover into one’s life.

Considered sacred to Diana, it is believed that it was once used in her temples.  

Spiritual Properties: Lemon balm has long been known as an herb that balances the feelings and the emotions. It helps resolve moodiness and melancholia. It was sacred to alchemists, and the plant based philosopher’s stone is made from an alchemical preparation of this plant. In a metaphorical sense, Melissa guides us as we traverse the misty emotional state of the Moon and enables us to view our emotions and feelings without getting lost in them. This is an excellent herb for children, who function on Moon energy for the first years of their lives.

OTHER USES: Used in potpourris. In the 16th century, it was rubbed on beehives to encourage the bees to create honey. Because it contains citronella oil it is used in insect repellants.