While lemon balm essential oil is obtained through a long process of steam distillation that concentrates all of plant’s constituents, lemon balm oil is usually made by macerating or softly heating the crushed leaves and stems in a carrier oil in order to extract their properties.
What can you do with lemon balm oil?
- It can help relieve stress.
- It can help reduce anxiety.
- It may boost cognitive function.
- It can help ease insomnia and other sleep disorders.
- It may help treat cold sores.
- It may help relieve indigestion.
- It can help treat nausea.
- It may help minimize menstrual cramps.
How do you harvest lemon balm oil?
The best time to harvest lemon balm is right before the plant blossoms—this is when the oil that creates its signature flavor is at its most potent. You can harvest small amounts of lemon balm for use throughout its growing season by snapping off a few leaves at a time.
What can I do with fresh lemon balm?
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:
What part of lemon balm is medicinal?
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is an herb from the mint family. The leaves, which have a mild lemon aroma, are used to make medicine and flavor foods.
What can you not mix with lemon balm?
Lemon balm may potentially interact with the following medications: Sedatives and thyroid medications: Lemon balm may interact with sedatives and thyroid medications. If you are taking sedatives (for insomnia or anxiety) or medications to regulate your thyroid, ask your doctor before taking lemon balm.
What does lemon balm do to the liver?
Lemon Balm and Its Constituent, Rosmarinic Acid, Alleviate Liver Damage in an Animal Model of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis. Nutrients.
Will lemon balm grow back after cutting?
To keep plants vigorous, thin plants out in mid-summer by cutting out stems to open up the plant to better air circulation. Lemon balm can also be cut back to about one-half its height to encourage fresh, vigorous new growth. Watering after this heavy pruning helps the plant recover quicker.
Can I still use lemon balm after it flowers?
Keep plants well watered during dry spells in summer, and cut back after flowering to encourage a fresh flush of leaves. Lemon balm will self-seed readily, so if you don’t want more plants, remember to remove the faded flowers before they set seed.
Can you eat the stem of lemon balm?
The whole plant is edible, though its the tender leaves you are after. Lemon balm has a long history of a wide array herbal medicine uses, in particular for soothing, calming and raising the spirit – just one smell of the crushed leaves does all of these for me.
How do you process fresh lemon balm?
Dry lemon balm in a dehydrator to quickly preserve it.
Spread the lemon balm in a single layer on dehydrator trays on put them in your machine. You can dehydrate sprigs of lemon balm or just the leaves. Set your machine between 95 and 115 °F (35 and 46 °C) for 1 to 4 hours.
How do you harvest lemon balm without killing the plant?
To harvest lemon balm for tea and other uses, simply pinch off sprigs from the plant. You can remove sprigs as soon as the plant starts growing, though it’s usually best to wait until it’s grown at least a few stems. Tie the sprigs together and dry them in a warm area.
Is lemon balm invasive?
Lemon balm is part of the mint family, and spreads just like mint and become very invasive.
Is lemon balm psychoactive?
These psychoactive properties, along with lemon balm’s safety profile over a wide dose range, may provide a unique pharmacological alternative for specific psychiatric disorders.
Who should not drink lemon balm tea?
Current research suggests that individuals who take glaucoma or thyroid medications or use other types of sedatives should not take lemon balm. 1 It’s important to remember that lemon balm cannot replace any treatment plan prescribed by your healthcare provider.
Can you eat the leaves of lemon balm?
Add whole lemon balm leaves to green salads, or chiffonade the leaves and scatter them over a fruit salad for added zesty flavor. Lemon balm also pairs beautifully with poultry—try adding sliced leaves to chicken salad, fish dishes, and even vegetable dishes to serve on the side.
Can you drink lemon balm tea everyday?
While more studies are needed to determine how lemon balm tea may help individuals, it does appear that the tea is safe for most people to consume. A person should consult their doctor if they have an underlying condition, such as a thyroid issue, before regularly consuming lemon balm tea.
Can you rub lemon balm on your skin?
Lemon balm is also a popular natural treatment for several common skin conditions. As an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agent, it helps to reduce the swelling and reddening of the skin that is common in conditions including acne, shingles, chicken pox, eczema and psoriasis.
Can lemon balm cause thyroid issues?
Thyroid disease: Don’t use lemon balm. There is a concern that lemon balm may change thyroid function, reduce thyroid hormone levels, and interfere with thyroid hormone-replacement therapy.
Does lemon balm raise 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.
Is lemon balm an anti inflammatory?
The use of herbs to relieve pain has a long history in the world of medicine. The fact that the essential oil of lemon balm has anti-inflammatory properties supports the traditional use of this herb in the treatment of numerous diseases associated with inflammation or pain (Bounihi et al., 2013).