Who doesn’t love a glass of chilled lemon juice on a sunny afternoon? A few sips of this elixir and you will feel revitalized and recharged! Lemon finds its way in myriad uses within the house. People resort to various herbs for their numerous benefits.
However, one exceptional herb, Lemon balm, scientifically described as Melissa officinalis, offers many benefits and has numerous uses. Would you like to know what they are? Do read!
Lemon balm is a part of the mint family. The plant to for attracting bees. It does not grow very tall, and has small yellow flowers that bloom in spring and summer months. The leaves can be yellowish green to dark green, depending on the soil type and climate. Rubbing these leaves on hands exudes a tart and sweet aroma.
Ideally, lemon balm leaves can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days. Dried leaves of the plant can also be preserved in airtight containers.
In the market, you can find Lemon balm leaves in various forms. Dried leaves can be purchased in jars. You can also purchase Lemon balm tea, capsule and essential oil.
The good thing about lemon balm is that nearly all of its parts can be used for healing various conditions and ailments in humans. The leaves, stems and flowers are all beneficial. Even in the ancient Roman civilization, it was used for medical treatments.
Below listed are the top health benefits of lemon balm:
Lemon balm has proven antiviral properties. A number of studies have indicated that the herb can be used to heal cold sores that are caused by Herpes. (1) Using lemon balm based cream on sores brings positive results. Some other studies showed that lemon balm can treat primary HSV-1 infection. This cream also helps in coping with oral and genital herpes, the latter caused by HSV-2. Lemon balm that has 1% lemon extract can considerably bring down the healing time. (2)
Researches have shown that using lemon balm can be helpful in treating dementia and memory loss related ailments. A study carried out by the Northumbria University researchers in 2003 found out that candidates who took lemon balm achieve better marks in memory tests. It is also said to reduce agitation caused by Alzheimer’s disease in those who use the balm.
Owing to growing stress and incessant multi-tasking that people are subjected to nowadays, sleeping problems and anxiety have become common. A number of studies indicate that using lemon balm can be useful for coping with these two problems.
When the herb is used in conjunction with other herbs like chamomile and valerian, the effect is better. (3) A clinical trial carried out by the University of Michigan researchers found the herb to be effective in treating insomnia. The nice thing is its sedative effect, which does not get intensified by drinking.
Unknowingly you get exposed to harmful free radicals every day. These can be damaging for your health. To battle the effects of free radicals, you need antioxidants. Lemon balm contains oodles of antioxidants.
For treating cancer and some other disorders, exposure to radiation becomes necessary. However, people subjected to radiation exposure have to cope with several side effects afterwards. Studies have indicated that using lemon balm can reduce the impact of exposure to radiation. One case study revealed that people who used lemon balm, suffered less from plasma DNA damage.
Drinking lemon balm tea and its infusion can help improve the condition of your digestive health. (4) It has been used since ages to heal gastrointestinal distress, including various stomach problems and indigestion. The herb is also useful in alleviating symptoms of bloating. The essential oils present in the herb help soothe the gastrointestinal tract. This herb is also combined with peppermint and other herbs to effectively treat dyspepsia, which, in layman terms, is nothing but heartburn! (5)
Lemon balm is also used in the preparation of a commercial drug called Iberogast, which is used extensively to treat acute gastrointestinal conditions such as flatulence, colic and an upset stomach.
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