Lemon balm plant benefits

Read on to learn more about this plant's possible healing powers.

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.

What is lemon balm plant used for?
Is Lemon balm an indoor plant?
Is Lemon balm edible?
How much sun does a lemon balm plant need?
Is Lemon balm bad for thyroid?
Does lemon balm tea make you sleepy?
What insects does lemon balm repel?
Does lemon balm like full sun?
Can I split a lemon balm plant?
Is Lemon balm antiviral?
Can you eat fresh lemon balm leaves?
Is Lemon balm bad for the liver?

What is lemon balm plant used for?

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is an herb in the mint family. It is often used for culinary purposes to make teas, marinate chicken or fish, or flavor baked foods and jams. Lemon balm is also believed to treat a range of medical disorders affecting the digestive tract, nervous system, and liver.

Is Lemon balm an indoor plant?

Lemon Balm Care. A hardy perennial shrub that is tolerant to USDA zones 3 through 7, lemon balm can be grown year-round indoors, as well as outdoors in warmer climates.

Is Lemon balm edible?

When taken by mouth: Lemon balm is LIKELY SAFE when used in food amounts. Lemon balm is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth in medicinal amounts, short-term.

How much sun does a lemon balm plant need?

Growing lemon balm is very easy. The plants aren't picky about where they grow and will grow in almost any soil, but they prefer rich, well drained soil. Lemon balm plants will grow in part shade to full sun, but flourish best in full sun.

Is Lemon balm bad for thyroid?

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 tea make you sleepy?

Lemon balm

This citrus-scented, aromatic herb has been used for reducing stress and improving sleep since the Middle Ages. Evidence shows that lemon balm increases GABA levels in mice, indicating that lemon balm may act as a sedative ( 16 ).

What insects does lemon balm repel?

The lemon scent, which repels the bugs, is powerful. It rubs off very well onto the skin. 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 like full sun?

Perhaps it is in too much sun. Many herbs do well in the sun, but lemon balm needs shade. Especially in areas in which the summer sun is hot, this plant grows best with some shade in the afternoon or in a spot where there are tall trees to lessen the intensity of the sun.

Can I split a lemon balm plant?

Lemon balm can also be propagated by dividing old clumps in spring or early fall, or from cuttings. Replace the plants (if they have lived) after 3-4 seasons, as they generally decline at this time. It may be grown as an annual in areas where it does not survive the winter.

Is Lemon balm antiviral?

Lemon balm, with its antiviral properties, appears to speed the healing of cold sores and reduce symptoms when applied topically as a cream. Lemon balm has antiviral properties.

Can you eat fresh lemon balm leaves?

Lemon Balm can be used both in hot and iced teas and in combination with other herbs such as spearmint. The plant is also often used as a flavoring in ice cream and its also suitable for spicing up chicken and fish dishes. Early fresh leaves can be chopped and added to salads.

Is Lemon balm bad for the liver?

It has been proved that high concentrations of flavonoides increase production of reactive oxygen species by autooxidation (28). These cases show that consumption of high doses of lemon balm hydroalcohoic extract in the short period causes toxicity effects on liver cells.