Common Name: Lemon Balm or Balm or Melissa
Latin Name: Melissa officinalis
Annual/Perennial: Perennial
Sun/Shade: Shade to part Sun
Height/Width: 2 feet
Bloom Time: harvest early summer to early fall
Zone: 4-8
Parts of Plant Used: Leaves, Flowers, Stem, fresh and dried
Medicinal Benefits: anti-inflamatory, antispasmodic, antimicrobial, antihormonal, antioxident, anti-inflamatory, colds, fevers, digestive issues children’s remedy, heart tonic, lowers blood pressure, relaxing tonic, mild sedative, cuts, scrapes, astringent, expectorant, dieuretic, immune system, insomnia, anxiety, nervous tension, nightmares, digestive, cold sores, aid to longevity, deters moths.
Ways to Use: tea, tonic, cream, infused oil, infused wine (with honey and raisons), salve, salad, medicinal food
Recipes: Tea for Headaches – Equal parts Lemon Balm, Chamomile, Lavender flowers and leaves. 1 TBS combined to 8 ounces just under boiling, purified water. Steep 5-10 minutes. Strain and sweeten with honey if desired.
Tea Tonic – 1 tsp Lemon Balm leaves/flowers, 1 tsp Tulsi leaves/flowers, 1 small piece of ginger root chopped, 8 ounces just under boiling purified water. Steep for 5-10 minutes. Strain and sweeten with honey if desired.
