The Hero That Is Lemon Balm

Kelsey Ligon

June 17, 2015

condorseed.com

Backstory

I've decided to do a series on some different herbal remedies to explain how they have been used in the past and how they are currently being used.  First up: lemon balm.

The Traditional Hero

Lemon balm, one of the great heroes of lore, has been used over the centuries by hundreds of physicians to banish anxiety, boost memory, protect sleepers, and propel digestion.  It bears the mint family crest.  Its given botanical name is Melissa, which is Greek for “bee,” chosen for its general sweet nature and healing properties.

Lemon balm has been found far and wide to be a natural savior to its people.  In France, King Charles V drank lemon balm tea for his health.  In Greece, lemon balm was sacred to the temple of Diana and was likely used by her followers.  In the Middle East, Arab physicians prescribed Melissa, the honey leaf, for those suffering from melancholy. 

The Real Hero (Research done on lemon balm)

Lemon balm has been found to be useful for a variety of ailments, but what the Ancient Greeks, Medieval French, and traditional Arab physicians didn’t know was that the range of uses was even greater. 

Studies have found that tea prepared with lemon balm helps aids subjects in sleep, helps keep subjects focused, and removes agitation.  These applications can help in a wide variety of medical issues.

According to a 2003 article in the Journal of Neurology, a mixture with lemon balm reduced dementia and agitation in Alzheimer’s patients.  It has also been found to treat overactive thyroid. 

In one study, researchers tested children 12 years and under that suffered from anxiety and insomnia, and they found that lemon balm greatly reduced symptoms.  For children 12 and under that suffered from a lack of focus, lemon balm decreased this from 75% to 14%.  For overly hyperactive children, lemon balm decreased their hyperactivity from 61% to 13%.  Finally, it decreased symptoms of impulsiveness from 59% to 12%. 

These studies show just how impressive the minds of ancient physicians were.  They observed the effects of lemon balm and regularly prescribed it.  Their use inspired contemporary researchers to determine just how effective lemon balm could be, and their results have shown that lemon balm is still a very reliable treatment for numerous ailments.

References:

Wolsey, Lindsay.  “Lemon Balm.”  Herbal Legacy Newsletter.  March 2005.

Woodard, Stephanie.  “Ancient Remedies Modern Cures.”  Prevention.  Feb. 2009, Vol. 62 Issue 2, p. 102-108.