Lemon Balm helps: Neurotransmitters.Lemon Balm affects brain levels of acetylcholine (ACh).It plays an inhibitory effect on acetylcholinesterase (AChE).AChE is an enzyme that breaks down ACh.Improving memory and cognition. While catnip is typically grayish-green, lemon balm produces bright green foliage, especially when grown in full sun. Both catnip and lemon balm can be propagated from cuttings. Lemon balm has a citrus aroma. Sources date the medicinal use of lemon balm to over 2000 years ago through the Greeks and Romans. It may look plain and unassuming in the garden but gives off a fresh, lemon fragrance whenever anything brushes its leaves. If not, well, there are lots of things to do in life that bring happiness... yourindoorherbs is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com. Lemon balm supplements are widely available and are inexpensive; you can use the study above, 300 to 600mg daily, as a guideline. During summer, small white flowers full of nectar appear. Lemon balm makes a wonderful nerve tonic. However, lemon balm can also be used for curry, stir fry, fresh summer salads (it is a great match with cucumber and tomato). [21], Melissa officinalis is native to Europe, central Asia and Iran, but is now naturalized around the world.[13][22]. It is also grown and sold as an ornamental plant. Native Habitat & Ecology: South East Asia Tasting Note: Lemon scented flavor with a suggestion of mint. The leaves and stems are often grayish-green. Remember to provide light (even artificial if needed) if at least 4 of good sunlight (no cloudy) are provided per day. In US Vietnamese grocery stores is called Kinh Gioi, Vietnamese Lemon Balm or Vietnamese Lemon Mint. differences between fresh and dried herbs, cuttings that are taken later in the year may not take root, Catnip and lemon balm are hardy perennials. Traditionally, an alchemical tincture of lemon balm was the first tincture an aspiring alchemist made. 49 $6.49 $6.49. Today, lemon balm is often combined with other calming, soothing herbs, such as valerian, chamomile, and hops, to promote relaxation. You may need to use less of it when compared to lemon balm if want a closer match to the level of citrus flavor in lemon balm. The plant is used to attract bees for honey production. For the balm mint bush, see, As "Melissa" (Common Blam) in both issues of Gerard's, United States Department of Agriculture, "PLANTS Profile for Melissa officinalis,", Kewe World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, "Lemon Balm: An Herb Society of America Guide", "Evidence-based Traditional Persian Medicine", Lemon Balm: An Herb Society of America Guide, "Essential Oils and Anxiolytic Aromatherapy", http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=MEOF2, "Melissa officinalis L: A Review Study With an Antioxidant Prospective", "THE ESSENTIAL OIL OF LEMON BALM (Melissa officinalis L.), ITS COMPONENTS AND USING FIELDS", "Harmala Alkaloids as Bee Signaling Chemicals", "Comparative study of rosmarinic acid content in some plants of Labiatae family", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lemon_balm&oldid=999000280, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica with Wikisource reference, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2016, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. It is used topically for the healing of shingles, herpes, and herpes cold sores. It has rounded serrated leaves, and it grows in mounding clumps. They’re great fillers for large crowds and better than medications for coughs, runny noses, or... 3 Ways to Identify Full Sun Plants (100+ List: Herbs, Vegetables, and More). Place a lid over the water, but keep it cracked open so half of the water can evaporate. The bees have the right idea: lemon balm is a delightfully edible plant that may have beneficial medicinal qualities. To make lemon balm tea, follow these simple steps. and lemon balm and its cultivars form their own genus (Melissa spp_. Apply the fertilizer once per month during the spring and summer. Lemon balm is an attractive plant, to both humans and bees since antiquity. Catnip and lemon balm plants grow together easily as both plants thrive in full sun and tolerate partial sun. Lemon balm is used in some toothpastes. Lemon balm belongs to the Lamiaceae family, to which other popular herbs like mint and basil also belong. Indeed, growing from seeds, although rewarding, it takes lots of patience and, for herbs such as lemon balm and catnip, a cutting will be fine. Often said to ease stress and anxiety, lemon balm contains a compound known as rosmarinic acidthat appears to have potent antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Lemon Balm Tea. Small white flowers may appear in the summer. However, if you do not have at least 4 hours of sunlight (does not need to be direct) your plant might suffer. Lemon balm is drought tolerant and is useful in xeriscaping. How do lemon balm and lemongrass differ? M elissa officinalis, otherwise known as lemon balm, is a balm plant that’s been used in various applications for centuries. You can either dry the leaves beforehand for a stronger flavor or just drop them in boiling water (after a quick wash). Or just drop them in boiling water ( after a quick wash ) with... 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