An amazing herb for calming the nervous system, Lemon balm heals through its volatile oils, tannins, and bitters. From the nervous and digestive systems to its antiviral remedy for herpes, warts, shingles, and chickenpox. For myself, I use lemon balm as a tonic nervine remedy. It calms my mind and lifts my spirit. It’s especially beneficial for tension headaches, insomnia, panic attacks accompanied by heart palpitations, and overexcitement or restlessness in children. As a tonic, lemon balm nourishes, strengthens, and restores the nervous system. I use a combination of Lemon Balm, Skullcap and Blue Verbena. I use Lemon Balm so much that my apothecary contains homemade infused oil, ointment, cream, or tinctures made of Lemon Balm.

Lemon Balm affects the heart, spirit, and body. Melissa officinalis grows in my garden and beside my house along the path. I love to nibble its leaves and take a deep breath of its intoxicating aroma. I immediately take a deep relaxing sigh as the weight of this world goes away.

I love using Lemon Balm with St. John’s Wort, and Tulsi in the winter to give my mood a lift when I am affected by SAD (seasonal affective disorder). I have a formula called Happiness with Lemon Balm, Mimosa, Passionflower, and St. John’s Wort.

Another way I use Lemon Balm is for digestive complaints. With food allergies and such in our home, Lemon Balm is my first go-to remedy when the children complain of digestive issues. I make this remedy with glycerin which makes the formula sweeter. The volatile oils have a calming effect on gas, nervous indigestion, nausea, heartburn, pains, and cramping. Lemon Balm helpful in calming infants with colic, as well.

I find Lemon Balm’s use for thyroid issues interesting. I have not fully understood its ability to block the TSH receptors.  Another of Lemon balm’s abilities I have experienced time and time again is its antiviral activity against the herpes simplex virus (HSV), (fever blisters, cold sores) Lemon Balm stops my fever blisters in it tracks. Lemon Balm is an effective remedy for viruses of the Herpesviridae family, including herpes (types 1 and 2), like chickenpox, shingles, mono, and sixth disease (roseola).

TCM: Xiang fang cao

Energy: Sweet and sour, cool/dry

Uses: anxiety, nervousness, viral infections, herpes cold sores, bug bites, digestive issues, fevers, and coughs are just a start!

Antiviral, antispasmodic, antidepressant, antioxidant, carminative, anxiolytic, nervine, radioprotective and Trophorestorative

There is no ending to the goodness of Lemon Balm!

Dried Leaves, 8oz $15.95