Lemon balm
Melissa officinalis
also known as Balm, Melissa, Common balm
A lemon-scented mint relative valued in Persian and European medicine for nearly a thousand years. Calming, with a small but solid modern evidence base for sleep, mood, and cold-sore healing.
- Mild calming and anti-anxiety action
- Supports sleep, particularly when paired with valerian
- Eases nervous stomach
- Topical cream supports cold-sore healing
- Boosts the activity of GABA — the body's main calming neurotransmitter
- Some evidence for short-term cognitive support — calmer focus, not stimulation
Active in Rosmarinic acid, Citral, Citronellal, Linalool, Tannins.
Use caution with low thyroid function — high doses may suppress thyroid hormone activity
Use caution with sedative medications
Skip concentrated extracts during pregnancy
Research
- Melissa officinalis L. protects against reflux esophagitis by attenuating NF-κB- and MAPK-mediated inflammation in rats.
- Lemon balm-derived nanovesicles restore mitochondrial function and reduce cytokine production in skin fibroblasts under pro-inflammatory conditions.
- Lemon Balm Attenuates Methotrexate-Induced Testicular Damage Through Modulation of Oxidative Stress and p-p38 MAPK Signaling.
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