Is lemon balm safe for cats?
Lemon balm is safe for cats. You can allow your feline pal to eat chopped fresh leaves or ground dried leaves. They are not toxic. Although it is not poisonous to kitties, give them only a small amount. A half a teaspoon to one teaspoon depending on the size of your furry friend.
Is lemon balm safe to eat?
Lemon balm is LIKELY SAFE when used in food amounts. It's POSSIBLY SAFE in adults when taken by mouth or applied to the skin in medicinal amounts, short-term. It's been used safely in research for up to 4 months. Not enough is known about the safety of lemon balm when used long-term.
What is a lemon balm?
Lemon balm ( Melissa officinalis) is a perennial herbaceous plant in the mint family and native to south-central Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, Iran, and Central Asia, but now naturalized elsewhere. It grows to a maximum height of 100 cm (39 in). The leaves have a mild lemon scent. During summer, small white flowers full of nectar appear.
What does a lemon balm plant smell like?
The leaves have a mild lemon scent similar to mint. During summer, small white flowers full of nectar appear. It is not to be confused with bee balm (genus Monarda), although the white flowers attract bees, hence the genus Melissa (Greek for "honey bee").
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Can you eat lemon balm leaves Raw?
How to Use Lemon Balm. As a general rule of thumb, treat lemon balm as you would any other fresh herb. It works especially well in place of mint, offering bright, fragrant notes. Add whole lemon balm leaves to green salads, or chiffonade the leaves and scatter them over a fruit salad for added zesty flavor.
Is lemon balm edible?
Edibility – 5/5 – Strongly aromatic, reminiscent of sweet lemon, with menthol qualities (without actually being “minty”). The whole plant is edible, though its the tender leaves you are after.
Is lemon balm a sedative?
It is not recommended to drink alcohol and use lemon balm as they are both sedatives (substances that cause sleepiness).
Is lemon balm safe for tea?
Lemon balm tea is generally safe for consumption when consumed in small to moderate quantities. As with many teas and herbal remedies, lemon balm tea may cause adverse reactions in certain individuals.
What happens if you smoke lemon balm?
In the research, they gave the mixture to two groups, and reports showed that participants noticed favorable effects on different aspects of their moods and lower anxiety levels. Likewise, herbal smoking blends containing lemon balm may be able to offer similar effects for those dealing with anxiety.
How many lemon balm leaves can you eat?
Capsules: Take 300 to 500 mg dried lemon balm, 3 times daily or as needed. Tea: 1.5 to 4.5 grams (1/4 to 1 tsp.) of dried lemon balm herb in hot water. Steep and drink up to 4 times daily.
Is lemon balm addicting?
Although Melissa officinalis is preferred by many people as an alternative to pharmaceutical drugs, it should be noted and explained to patients that the herb may have a dependency risk and can lead to withdrawal symptoms when consumption is abruptly discontinued.
Can lemon balm worsen anxiety?
Researchers for one pilot study believe the herb makes the neurotransmitter gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) more readily accessible in the brain. (GABA helps regulate your body's stress response.) It should be noted, however, that too much lemon balm (exceeding 0.6 grams) can actually lead to feeling more anxious.
Does lemon balm keep mosquitoes away?
Lemon Balm The lemon scent, which repels the bugs, is powerful. It rubs off very well onto the skin. Lemon balm repels mosquitoes and gnats.
What can you do with lemon balm leaves?
What to do with the leaves? They're great for cooking. Use lemon balm in place of lemon peel in recipes and to flavor soups, sauces, vinegars and seafood. Or add it to your favorite sugar cookie dough for a delicious lemony tea cookie.
Can I use lemon balm instead of mint?
Mojito recipes can call for mint leaves, but you can swap mint for lemon balm. You can use lemon balm in your meat-flavored dishes and still achieve a delightful flavor. Note that the difference between mint and lemon flavors is significant. So make sure to use the right flavor that matches the goal of your recipe.
Is Lemon balm tea same as lemongrass?
Lemon balm has a lighter flavor than lemon grass, but it gives off a very zesty scent that makes it perfect for aromatic teas. It won't alter the flavor of your tea as much, but it will add just the slightest lemony tang that gives you the hint of acid you want.
What is lemon balm good for?
Lemon balm is said to soothe symptoms of stress, help you to relax, and boost your mood. A 2004 study found that taking lemon balm eased the negative mood effects of laboratory-induced psychological stress. Participants who took lemon balm self-reported an increased sense of calmness and reduced feelings of alertness.
What can I do with lemon balm from my garden?
12+ Things to Do With Lemon Balm:Make a sleepy time herbal syrup: ... Make a lemon balm bug spray: ... Chop fresh leaves and sprinkle on salads or in baked goods: ... Make a lip balm for cold sores: ... Make a glycerite: ... Make a relaxing, tummy soothing tea: ... Make lemon balm soap: ... Make a simple remedy for bug bites & acne:More items...
How do you cook with lemon balm leaves?
What to do with the leaves? They're great for cooking. Use lemon balm in place of lemon peel in recipes and to flavor soups, sauces, vinegars and seafood. Or add it to your favorite sugar cookie dough for a delicious lemony tea cookie.
What are the health benefits of lemon balm?
Studies have shown that the herb is a potential treatment for many issues, from anxiety to menstrual symptoms. If you need to relieve stress, lemon balm can help lower anxiety and nervousness. Some research has shown that lemon balm extract can improve one's mood and attention.
What is the lemon balm?
Lemon balm ( Melissa officinalis) is an herb in the mint family. It is often used for culinary purposes to make teas, marinate chicken or fish, or flavor baked foods and jams.
What is lemon balm essential oil?
It can be consumed as a tea, taken as a supplement or extract, or applied to the skin in balms and lotion. Lemon balm essential oil is also popular in aromatherapy, where it is believed to promote calmness and ease stress.
How to make lemon balm tea?
How do you make lemon balm tea? 1 Start by snipping a few fresh lemon balm leaves. Avoid those that are yellowing, discolored, or have evidence of mold. Rinse the leaves thoroughly, and pat dry with paper towels. 2 Cut or tear the leaves into smaller pieces and place them into a tea infuser. You can even muddle them with the back of a spoon or chopstick to extract more of the herb's oils. Do this last minute; the leaves blacken and dry out if you cut them too far in advance. 3 Pour one cup of hot water over one packed tablespoon of leaves and infuse for about five minutes. You can double or triple the recipe as needed.
How long does it take for lemon balm to stop bleeding?
Serious allergy reactions are rare. Lemon balm may slow blood clotting. If you are scheduled for surgery, stop using lemon balm for at least two weeks to avoid excessive bleeding.
Is lemon balm safe for short term use?
Lemon balm is considered safe for short-term use. Side effects may include headache, nausea, bloating, gas, vomiting, indigestion, dizziness, stomach pain, painful urination, anxiety, and agitation. The risk of side effects tends to increase with the size of the dose. The long-term use or overuse of lemon balm is not recommended.
Does lemon balm inhibit cholinesterase?
Preliminary studies have suggested that citral in lemon balm extract may inhibit cholinesterase, an enzyme targeted by the drugs Aricept (donepezil), Exelon (rivastigmine), and Razadyne (galantamine) used to treat Alzheimer's disease.
Does lemon balm help with irritable bowel syndrome?
There is growing evidence that lemon balm can help treat symptoms of dyspepsia (upset stomach), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and acid reflux. in addition to rosmarinic acid, lemon balm contains citral, citronellal, linalool, geraniol, and beta-caryophyllene, each of which has spasmolytic (anti-spasm) and carminative (anti-gas) properties.
What is Lemon Balm?
Lemon balm is a perennial plant. It was originally native to south-central Europe and the Mediterranean, but it can now be found growing wild throughout the United States and much of the rest of the world.
Benefits of Lemon Balm
There are many purported health benefits of lemon balm. This is a popular herb that has a good amount of human clinical research verifying its benefits.
Lemon Balm Safety
The Botanical Safety Handbook puts lemon balm safety rating of 1, meaning it can be safely used when appropriately consumed. It has an interaction class of “A” which suggests no clinically relevant adverse reactions are expected to occur ( 10 ).
Naming & Taxonomy
Melissa officinalis belongs to the Lamiaceae (mint) family of plants. It’s a herbaceous perennial that grows to about three feet in height.
Lemon Balm Sustainability
Lemon balm is a fast-spreading plant that grows throughout the world. As such, there are no concerns in regards to the sustainability of this plant.
History & Traditional Use
In ancient Greek and Roman medicines, lemon balm was steeped in wine and used orally and topically for wounds and venomous bites ( 9 ).
When does lemon balm flower?
Pale white labial flowers, which are approximately 1 cm in size, grow from the leaf axils in semi-verticils. Lemon balm flowers anywhere from June to September depending on geographic location.
What is the difference between lemon balm and mint?
Distinguishing Features. This mint has serrated (somewhat) heart-shaped leaves and whorls of small white flowers. Lemon Balm is a fairly typical example of plants in the mint family. Its foliage usually has a mild lemon fragrance, otherwise this plant is rather similar to several other species in the mint family with small whitish flowers.
Is lemon balm a perennial?
Lemon balm is a lemon-scented, aromatic perennial plant that is in the Lamiaceae (mint) family. Although recognized in Canada and the U.S. as a cultivated plant, lemon balm has naturalized in many area far from cultivated gardens. This plant grows in the wild in many countries world wide. Genus name comes from the Greek word melissa meaning ...
Where is lemon balm native to?
Species: M. officinalis. Binomial name. Melissa officinalis. L. Lemon balm ( Melissa officinalis) is a perennial herbaceous plant in the mint family and native to south-central Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, Iran, and Central Asia, but now naturalized elsewhere.
Why is lemon balm used in cancer?
The English botanist Nicholas Culpeper considered lemon balm to be ruled by the planet Jupiter in Cancer, and suggested it to be used for "weak stomachs", to cause the heart to become "merry", to help digestion, to open "obstructions of the brain", and to expel " melancholy vapors" from the heart and arteries.
How much rosmarinic acid is in lemon balm?
Lemon balm leaf contains 36.5 ± 0.8 mg rosmarinic acid per gram. Composition of lemon balm oil. Component. minimum %.
What did John Gerard believe about lemon balm?
He believed that lemon balm had the power to restore health and vitality. Lemon balm was a favourite plant of the Tudors, who scattered the leaves across their floors. It was in the herbal garden of the English botanist John Gerard in the 1590s, who considered it especially good for feeding and attracting honeybees.
How tall is a lemon balm plant?
Lemon balm plants grow bushy and upright to a maximum height of 100 cm (39 in).
What do the leaves of a bee balm smell like?
The leaves have a mild lemon scent. During summer, small white flowers full of nectar appear. It is not to be confused with bee balm (genus Monarda ), although the white flowers attract bees, hence the genus Melissa ( Greek for "honey bee"). The leaves are used as a herb, in teas, and also as a flavouring.
When was lemon balm first used?
The medicinal use of lemon balm can be dated to over 2000 years ago through the Greeks and the Romans. It is mentioned by the Greek polymath Theophrastus in his Historia Plantarum, written in c. 300 BC, as "honey-leaf" (μελισσόφυλλον). Lemon balm was formally introduced into Spain in the 7th century, from which its use and domestication spread throughout Europe. Its use in the Middle Ages is noted by herbalists, writers, philosophers, and scientists. The Swiss physician and alchemist Paracelsus called it the "elixir of life". He believed that lemon balm had the power to restore health and vitality.
Safety
Yes. Lemon balm is safe for cats. You can allow your feline pal to eat chopped fresh leaves or ground dried leaves. They are not toxic.
Melissa oil
Melissa officinalis oil often referred to as Melissa oil has many benefits too. However, before using it, talk to your vet since many essential oils are not safe for cats.
Conclusion
Cats can eat lemon balm in small amounts. It is safe. However, an excessive amount may counteract the various benefits causing stomach upset, diarrhea and vomiting.
Where does lemon balm come from?
Native to Iran, south-central Europe, the Mediterranean region, and central Asia, lemon balm or Melissa officinalis also known as a balm, common or balm mint is a flowering herb that is part of the mint family. Some of the common M. officinalis cultivars include citronella, lime, variegata, Quedlinburger Niederliegende, Aurea, and Quedlinburger.
Is lemon balm safe for dogs?
Lemon balm plant and its essential oil are safe for dogs. Your vet should help you come up with the right dosages depending on your dog’s weight. Finally, high amounts can affect iodine assimilation. Also, avoid its use in dogs that suffer from hypothyroidism.
Is lemon balm good for a kidney infection?
Lemon balm has antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial properties making it good for treating respirator y infections in place of Lasix whose long-term use can damage the heart, kidney and worsen overall health.
