Lemon balm
Plants

Facts about Lemon balm

We found 15 facts about Lemon balm

Melissa officinalis

Lemon balm has been known for more than two thousand years and was appreciated by the ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean basin. Despite the passage of time, it is still widely used in both folk medicine and dentistry. It has a wide range of uses from skin problems to digestive ailments, PMS to stress and sleep problems.

Melissa is also used in the cosmetic industry, gastronomy and even beekeeping.

It used to be grown only in the subtropical climates of Europe, but is now grown all over the world.

Lemon balm
1
It grows wild in the subtropical zone of Europe and Asia.

It is characteristic of the landscape of the Apennine Peninsula, the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Central Asia.

2
It was introduced to central and northern Europe around the 7th century.

It was used extensively by medieval herbalists and monks. It came to North America with the European colonists.

3
Lemon balm has been used since ancient times.

It was used by the Greeks and Romans; references to lemon balm appear in the Historia Plantarum, one of the most important ancient natural history books, by Theophrastus of Eresos. The book was written between 350 and 287 BC.

4
Since the Renaissance, it has been used to attract honey bees.

Some believed that bees would never leave the garden where lemon balm grew. 

5
It was a favorite plant of the Tudor dynasty.

The Tudors ruled England from 1485 to 1603, and according to historical accounts, they ordered lemon balm leaves to be scattered on the floors of royal residences.

6
It is used in cosmetology.

It can be used for oily hair and skin care.

7
It is good for sleep.

Lemon balm may help you fall asleep. A 2006 study showed that lemon balm combined with valerian significantly reduced symptoms of anxiety and sleep problems by more than 70%.

8
Speeds up the treatment of herpes.

External application of lemon balm ointment results in a milder course of the disease and faster recovery. It has also been found that herpes outbreaks are less frequent after treatment with the ointment.

9
Some studies suggest that it may help with nausea.

However, it is important to note that most of the studies used a mixture of other herbs, so the direct effects of lemon balm are not yet known in detail.

10
It may relieve symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and menstrual cramps.

A 2015 study of one hundred teenage girls for three consecutive menstrual cycles showed that the group taking lemon balm experienced a significant reduction in uncomfortable symptoms.

11
Its calming effect can be used to support the treatment of neurosis or depression.

It reduces anxiety and helps with sleep.

12
Eugenol, found in lemon balm, has antiseptic and anesthetic properties.


It is used in dentistry to decontaminate dental canals and as an ingredient in dental cement. It is too toxic to be used on a large scale, but the concentrations used in dentistry are low enough to cause no side effects.

The discovery of eugenol, however, made it possible to develop anesthetics such as propofol, a popular drug that causes rapid and brief unconsciousness.

Eugenol is also used as a flavoring agent in the perfume and food industries.

13
Lemon balm also contains tannins, substances that denature proteins.

They are used, for example, in tanning, where tannins are responsible for protecting animal tissues by denaturing collagen fibers.

14
The oil extracted from lemon balm has many uses.

It has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. It is used to treat eczema, acne, and minor cuts and wounds. It also has a calming effect, improves concentration and lowers blood pressure.

15
The largest producers of lemon balm are Egypt, Hungary, and Italy.

The leaves of the plant are harvested in July and August on dry days to prevent them from blackening when exposed to water.

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