Grow Your Own Mosquito Repellent

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Lemon balm is frequently used in combination with other medicinal herbs. Though studies of these are limited, lemon balm has been tested alone, or with other herbs for the following:

Anxiety. Two studies conducted at the University of Northumbria in England found that a standardized lemon balm extract improved participants’ moods, with no decrease in mental alertness at certain dosage levels. “The results suggest that low doses of lemon balm may enhance calmness and high doses may have a mild sedative effect,” writes Christina Chase for the American Botanical Council.

Cold Sores. Topical applications of lemon balm have proven effective at treating cold sores (oral herpes). A study published in the journal Phytomedicine found that a cream made with lemon balm extract reduced the number of blisters in an outbreak, if used early. Celeste Robb-Nicholson, editor in chief of Harvard Women’s Health Watch, writes: “A safe long-term treatment [for cold sores] is topical application of lemon balm. It doesn’t prevent cold sores, but it appears to speed healing.”

While lemon balm creams may be hard to find in the United States, Tucker recommends making a cream formulated with 1 percent dried lemon balm. (For detailed advice on making herbal products, try Richo Cech’s Making Plant Medicine, Horizon Herbs, 2000.)           

Sleep. A Swiss study published in the journal Fitoterapia showed that a combination of lemon balm and valerian root improved sleep quality as compared to a placebo group. Another study published in Phytotherapy Research found that the lemon balm/valerian combination reduced anxiety among healthy participants who were subjected to laboratory-induced stress.

Indigestion. Lemon balm is recommended by herbalists for digestive disorders, especially anxiety-related dyspepsia, since its antispasmodic properties are thought to calm indigestion. A German study examined 120 patients with functional dyspepsia who were given a preparation containing lemon balm as the main ingredient. After eight weeks, 43 percent of participants on active treatment reported complete relief from their symptoms.

Other than the possibility of an allergic reaction, lemon balm has few side effects. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration classifies it as “generally recognized as safe.”  The German Commission E recommends a dosage of 150 to 450 milligrams of the herb per cup of tea, taken daily as needed. However, if you are pregnant or nursing, avoid taking the herb in large quantities. Lemon balm may also interfere with thyroid hormones, so speak to your doctor before taking lemon balm if you take thyroid medication.

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