Lemon Balm Tincture

Lemon Balm, Melissa officinalis, is native to the Mediterranean region but easily grown anywhere. Medicinally, Lemon Balm is antibacterial, antidepressant, antihistamine, anti- inflammatory, antispasmodic, antiviral, aromatic, carminative, cholagogue, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, febrifuge, hypotensive (mild), nervine, rejuvenative, sedative, stomachic, and vasodilator. Lemon Balm is great for nervous system complaints because she has antispasmodic properties as well as being a nervine and sedative. This makes her helpful for treating nervousness, anxiety, stress, headaches caused from nervous tension and illnesses that affect the nervous system including chronic fatigue, which is caused by a combination of stress and tension. While soothing the nervous system, she helps you to relax and can help you fall asleep. As an antidepressant, she helps to lift the spirits. As the past Arabic physician Avicenna said, Lemon Balm helps “the mind and heart to be merry.” Lemon Balm makes a great diaphoretic and febrifuge. This means when you have a cold or the flu and are feverish, you can drink an infusion of lemon balm (which is quite tasty) and she will make you sweat (diaphoretic) which will cause the fever to break (febrifuge). When your stomach is not feeling well, Lemon Balm can ease it as she is a great carminative and stomachic. This goes well with helping out the nervous system as when people are tense and nervous, they often also have digestive problems. Lemon balm is an antiviral as well. So, while you are drinking that infusion to lower your fever, she will be fighting off the virus as well! Being an antiviral, she can also help fight off mumps, shingles, chicken pox, cold sores and colds, just to name a few. Lemon Balm also improves concentration, cognitive function and decreases agitation, making her an excellent herb for those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. In Germany, studies have found that Lemon Balm’s volatile oils help to protect the brain from excess external stimuli. For kids who get anxious about taking tests and other school events, drinking Lemon Balm tea will help to calm the nerves, boost their moods and increase their confidence in stressful situations.