What to do with lemon balm?
12+ Things to Do With Lemon Balm: 1 Make a sleepy time herbal syrup: 2 Make a lemon balm bug spray: 3 Chop fresh leaves and sprinkle on salads or in baked goods: 4 Make a lip balm for cold sores: 5 Make a glycerite: 6 ... (more items)
What are the health benefits of lemon balm tea?
A hot cup of lemon balm tea is said to help calm nervous energy, promote peaceful sleep, and generally help de-stress. You can use fresh or dried leaves to make your tea, though the dried leaves are more concentrated. Fresh leaves can be added to the water while it boils in order to promote a deeper infusion.
Does lemon balm have antiviral properties?
Shown to possess antiviral properties, lemon balm extract has been found to have antiviral activity against the herpes simplex virus in laboratory studies. For example, a study published in Phytotherapy Research found that lemon balm extract inhibited the penetration of herpes simplex virus type 1 (the virus that causes cold sores) into cells.
Is lemon balm good for memory?
Other early research shows that taking lemon balm in combination with other ingredients seems to improve word recall in adults under 63 years of age. But it doesn't seem to be beneficial in older adults. Diseases that interfere with thinking (dementia). It's unclear if lemon balm helps reduce agitation in people with dementia.
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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.
How do you use lemon balm for anxiety?
How to use: Take 300 to 600 mg of lemon balm three times per day. You can take a higher dose in acute episodes of anxiety.
How do I use the herb lemon balm?
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.
How does lemon balm make you feel?
Beyond the garden, people use lemon balm for a variety of purposes, including for stress relief and to increase mental alertness. Some people also believe lemon balm can improve digestive health and have antispasmodic and analgesic (pain-relieving) effects.
Does lemon balm have side effects?
When taken by mouth: Lemon balm is likely safe when consumed in amounts found in foods. Lemon balm supplements are possibly safe when used at a dose of up to 500 mg daily for up to 6 months. Side effects are generally mild and might include increased appetite, nausea, dizziness, and wheezing.
How long does it take for lemon balm to start working?
You won't have to wait long to start feeling the soothing effects of lemon balm. Its anxiety-reducing influence may be noticeable within as little as 1 hour. The anti-anxiety effects of lemon balm could last about 4 to 8 hours.
Can you drink lemon balm tea everyday?
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.
Does lemon balm lower blood pressure?
Lemon balm may lower your blood pressure and therefore should be used with caution if you are taking medications with similar properties. It can also lower your blood sugar levels and people with diabetes should use lemon balm with care.
What does lemon balm taste like?
What Does Lemon Balm Taste Like? This aromatic member of the mint family has a bright, citrusy taste that brings together the acidity of lemon with subtle hints of mint. Both the stems and fresh leaves of lemon balm have a subtly sweet flavor and can be used in food preparation and medicine.
Is lemon balm addictive?
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.
Does lemon balm calm you down?
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), a member of the mint family, is considered a calming herb. It was used as far back as the Middle Ages to reduce stress and anxiety, promote sleep, improve appetite, and ease pain and discomfort from indigestion (including gas and bloating, as well as colic).
Is lemon balm good for anxiety and depression?
Based on meta-analysis results, lemon balm significantly improved mean anxiety and depression scores compared with the placebo (SMD: -0.98; 95% CI: -1.63 to -0.33; p = 0.003), (SMD: -0.47; 95% CI: -0.73 to -0.21; p = 0.0005) respectively, without serious side effects.
Is Lemon balm tea safe to drink?
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.
How can I calm my nerves naturally?
10 natural remedies for anxietyStay active. ... Steer clear of alcohol. ... Consider quitting smoking cigarettes. ... Limit caffeine intake. ... Prioritize getting a good night's rest. ... Meditate and practice mindfulness. ... Eat a balanced diet. ... Practice deep breathing.More items...
What is Herbal Lemon Balm?
Lemon balm is a perennial herb in the mint family, Lamiaceae. Herbal lemon balm is native through south central Europe, the Mediterranean and into Central Asia. Today it has become naturalized through much of the Americas.
What is Lemon Balm Plant Used For?
As mentioned, lemon balm uses run the gamut from culinary to medicinal. Lemon balm uses in food include as a flavoring in ice cream, fruit dishes, and candies. It is often paired with peppermint as a complimentary flavor in teas.
Lemon Balm Medicinal Use
There are quite a number of medicinal lemon balm uses. Herbal lemon balm is said to aid in digestive ailments such as bloating, colic, indigestions and nausea.
Regarding the Benefits of Lemon Balm
While the jury is out on some of the benefits of lemon balm, for the average healthy adult, using the herb to treat minor discomforts listed above is probably safe. As always, before using this herb or any other it is best to consult with your doctor.
Uses of Lemon Balm
Supplement use should be individualized and vetted by a healthcare professional, such as a registered dietitian nutritionist, pharmacist, or doctor. No supplement is intended to treat, cure, or prevent a disease.
What Are Side Effects of Lemon Balm?
Consuming a supplement like lemon balm may have potential side effects. These side effects may be common or severe.
Precautions
Children, pregnant people, and lactating people should not use lemon balm extracts and supplements until more safety research is conducted. Lemon balm is claimed to be a galactagogue (e.g., a substance that helps with milk supply). However, more research is needed to support this claim. 9
Dosage: How Much Lemon Balm Should I Take?
Always speak with a healthcare provider before taking a supplement to ensure that the supplement and dosage is appropriate for your individual needs.
What Happens if I Take Too Much Lemon Balm?
As a general rule of thumb, never take more than the manufacturer's recommended dosage on the package. If you experience side effects, stop taking lemon balm and call your healthcare provider.
Interactions
It is essential to carefully read the ingredient list and nutrition facts panel of a supplement to know which ingredients and how much of each ingredient is included. Please review this supplement label with your healthcare provider to discuss any potential interactions with foods, other supplements, and medications.
How to Store Lemon Balm
Store lemon balm according to the manufacturer's directions, as each form of lemon balm will be different. Discard as indicated on the packaging.
1. Make a sleepy time herbal syrup
This is a delicious way to calm and relax everyone from children to adults!
2. Make a lemon balm bug spray
I’ve tried a lot of homemade bug spray recipes and this is my favorite one.
4. Make a lip balm for cold sores
This lip balm recipe was designed especially for my son who developed cold sores triggered by sunshine when he was young.
5. Make a glycerite
Glycerites are a sweet way to dose herbal medicine without the alcohol that regular tinctures contain. Herbal infused glycerin can also be used as an ingredient in lotions, toners and aftershave recipes.
7. Make lemon balm soap
This soap recipe is made with lemon balm tea and naturally scented with lemongrass.
10. Make a ginger & lemon balm cold syrup
This Ginger & Lemon Balm Syrup is a ramped up version of a basic ginger syrup, with lemon balm added for its extra antiviral properties.
11. Make a lemon balm tincture
This is a great stomach soothing, anti-viral concoction, perfect to take when you feel like you’re coming down with a cold or bug.
Garden Bug Repellent
Planting swaths of lemon balm around your house or putting pots of it on your patio can help in repelling bugs. Put the plants in places where they are likely to be knocked, disturbed by passing legs, or can be easily ruffled by hand when mosquitoes are buzzing around.
Pesto
The adventurous among you may have already experimented with herbs other than basil to make pesto, but have you tried lemon balm? Take your favorite vegan pesto recipe and simply swap out the basil for lemon balm. Now, you’ll have a pasta dish that tastes light and lemony fresh.
Bathtub Tea
Lemon balm, used in aromatherapy, is said to have a calming and stress-reducing effect. Fill a small muslin or cheesecloth bag with either dried or fresh lemon balm leaves (if you use fresh, try to crush the leaves a little to help them release their oils) and hang it over your bathtub faucet.
Herbal Vinegar Infusion
Fill a jar with warm vinegar of your choice, add sprigs of lemon balm, and seal it tightly. Leave the jar for a week while the herbs infuse into the vinegar. If you wish for it to be a stronger flavor, simply leave it to infuse further.
Simple Salad
Now you have the dressing, what about the salad? With the warmer weather on its way, soon salads will start to feature on our plates more and more. Adding freshly chopped lemon balm leaves to your mixed salad will liven it up with a tangy twist.
Lemon Balm Ice Cream
And now dessert. Why not try this heavenly OGP no-churn vegan ice cream by Kat Kothgasser? With just five ingredients, you can make a creamy yet refreshing dish for the warmer days to come. Real lemon juice is added to this recipe for an even more intense citrus flavor.
Herb-Infused Sun Tea
With sun tea, as the name suggests, we ask the sun, not the kettle, to brew this summertime beverage for us. Fill a glass jar with water and add a teabag. This does not have to be black tea. Next, add a handful of fresh lemon balm. Screw on a lid and set the jar out in a sunny spot where it can brew in the sun’s rays. Chill before serving.
Brew it into tea
Crush lemon balm leaves into the bottom of a mug and pour hot water over them for a tea that’s just as delicious as your favorite chamomile or lavender blend. Its delightful, citrus-forward flavor adds a little zip in the mornings that can just as easily help you end your day before bed.
Throw some in your water bottle
One of our favorite hacks to drinking more water is to add fresh herbs to our water bottle. Lemon balm is a must for those of us who love lemon water but hate how the pith can make our beverage bitter over time. A few whole leaves of lemon balm in the bottom of your bottle adds a balanced citrus pop to your sipping all day long.
Chew on some for a stomach ache
Lemon balm has been shown to reduce bloating and relieve indigestion. If you find yourself experiencing discomfort, try subbing out your ginger chew for a few leaves of lemon balm. It can also help improve appetite if you find yourself struggling to feel hungry.
Make a balm for cold sores
Since the Middle Ages, lemon balm has been hailed for its medicinal properties. One of the most common uses for it today is in the treatment of cold sores. Next time you have one pop-up, brew about 2-4 tsps of crushed lemon balm leaves in some hot water. Allow it to cool completely, then apply it to the affected area with a cotton ball.
Candy the leaves for a beautiful garnish
Like mint and basil, lemon balm makes a beautiful garnish on pies and tarts. Candy the leaves by brushing them thinly with egg whites then gently coating them with sugar on both sides. Your finished product will be light, crispy, and the most delicious addition to a lemon tart or a key lime pie.
Bake it into cookies or chop it into salads
The culinary uses of lemon balm don’t stop with just candying the leaves. It can be used pretty interchangeably with lemon verbena, a common herb found in a variety of desserts (these cocktail cookies immediately come to mind). If you are less of a baker, try adding some chopped lemon balm leaves to your next mixed green salad.
