For a quick mosquito repellent, simply crush a handful of lemon balm leaves in your hand and rub them on your exposed skin. Grow the plants near your backdoor or in your garden, where the leaves will be handy when you need them.
What can you do with dried lemon balm?
Use lemon balm in place of lemon peel in recipes and to flavor soups, sauces, vinegars and seafood. Or add it to your favorite sugar cookie dough for a delicious lemony tea cookie.
How do I use lemon balm?
Adult
- Capsules: Take 300 to 500 mg dried lemon balm, 3 times daily or as needed.
- Tea: 1.5 to 4.5 grams (1/4 to 1 tsp.) of dried lemon balm herb in hot water. Steep and drink up to 4 times daily.
- Tincture: 60 drops of lemon balm daily.
- Topical: Apply topical cream to affected area, 3 times daily or as directed.
Does lemon balm help with mosquito bites?
Lemon balm is a natural antihistamine so relieves the itching caused by a mosquito bite. Treat lemon balm as you would basil. If you have multiple bites, place the leaves into netted laundry bag and place in the bathtub as it fill. The oils will be released into the water and help soothe the all-over itch.
Are citronella and lemon balm the same?
Lemon Balm is a herb that is praised by many for its mosquito and other insect repelling abilities! Some refer to this plant as Citronella Balm.
How long does dried lemon balm last?
Store dried lemon balm for up to 1 year at room temperature.
Pop the dried leaves into a glass storage container with a sealable lid. Then, store the lemon balm in a dry location away from light and heat. Label your lemon balm and use it within 1 year of drying the leaves.
Does lemon balm lower blood pressure?
In this study in people with essential hypertension, supplementation with lemon balm extract led to a reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. This Study Summary was published on January 4, 2022.
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:
How do you store lemon balm?
Storage Tips: Fresh Lemon Balm leaves should be washed and dried, then stored in a clear plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Lemon Balm can also be stored in an infused oil. To prepare, wash and thoroughly dry the leaves then place them in a clean, sterilized glass jar.
Is Lemongrass the same as lemon balm?
Lemon balm has a lighter flavor than lemon grass, but it gives off a very zesty scent that makes it perfect for aromatic teas. It won’t alter the flavor of your tea as much, but it will add just the slightest lemony tang that gives you the hint of acid you want.
What bugs does lemon balm repel?
Lemon balm repels mosquitoes and gnats. Commonly grown as ornamental border plants, marigolds are hardy annual plants which have a distinctive smell which mosquitoes, and some other insects, find particularly offensive.
Does lemon balm repel flies?
Herbs That Naturally Repel Flies
Lemon balm: Lemon balm is really easy to grow and makes a nice companion plant in a mixed pot. Plant it in a border around your patio, to repel biting flies.
Is lemon balm toxic to dogs?
Lemon balm, known scientifically as Melissa officinalis, is a non-toxic herb that can be used on dogs, cats, and even horses. As a supplement for your dog, lemon balm has many benefits that may help with several different conditions.
Does lemon balm repel ants?
Lemon Balm
This member of the mint family emits a clean lemon scent. Mosquitoes don’t like it. Neither do flies and ants.
Is lemon balm invasive?
Lemon balm is part of the mint family, and spreads just like mint and become very invasive.
Can you eat 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.
What animal eats lemon balm?
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Among the insects attracted to lemon balm are tachinid flies, hoverflies and parasitic wasps.
Where do you cut lemon balm?
You can harvest small amounts of lemon balm for use throughout its growing season by snapping off a few leaves at a time. For a bigger harvest, use shears to snip leaves from the center stem, in between side shoots, to continue encouraging bushy, full growth.
Can I hang dry lemon balm?
Air drying
Hang your bunches of lemon balm in a cool dry and dark spot in your house. Drying herbs can take anywhere from a few days to three weeks, depending on the level of humidity in your home. Be sure the leaves are completely dry and brittle before you take them down.
Are there side effects of lemon balm?
Side effects are generally mild and might include increased appetite, nausea, dizziness, and wheezing. There isn’t enough reliable information to know if lemon balm is safe to use for more than 6 months. When applied to the skin: Lemon balm is possibly safe for most adults. It may cause skin irritation.
Does lemon balm make you sleepy?
Traditionally, lemon balm herbal preparations have been used to treat anxiety and insomnia. Its mild sedative effect is a well-known feature.