DESCRIPTION

An evergreen plant with an intense lemon smell. The square-shaped stem is erect with branches.

It has large, long-oval shaped, paired leaves; the upper side of these being slightly hairy.

The groups of flowers bud axially, the corolla is white or pink, bilabiate and tubulous.

The plant is found between sea-level and an altitude of 1,000 metres, in cool and shaded places with a mild or warm temperature, as it does not withstand strong frosts.

COLLECTION AND PRESERVATION

Lemon balm must be collected when it's dry to avoid the darkening of the plant material while drying.

The exterior part of the plant is collected when it is about to flower and must be dried in the shade at a temperature of less than 35ºC.

It must be preserved in tightly closed containers, protecting the plant from the light and damp. Plastic containers must be avoided as lemon balm contains essential oil.

It has a pleasant spicy, aromatic lemon smell and tastes slightly bitter and somewhat sharp.

PART USED

The leaves and flower heads. 

ACTIVE INGREDIENTS

Lemon balm's essential oil has a very complex composition, highlighting the citral and citronellal aldehydes and diverse alcohols.

Lemon balm's essence composition depends on various factors: climate, geographical, etc. In certain climate and cultivation conditions, high essential oil concentrations can be achieved, as in the case of Spain.

PROPERTIES AND INSTRUCTIONS ACKNOWLEDGED TRADITIONAL USE

According to ESCOP, it's internal use is recommended for stress, restlessness and irritability, and to treat digestive disorders, such as minor spasms.

Externally, it is used as an antiseptic and healing agent for the treatment of herpes labialis. The standard dry lemon grass extract that is applied externally as a cream, acts as protecting agent against the simple herpes virus infections; being more effective when the treatment is started at an early stage.

According to the European Commission, it should be used for sleep disorders caused by nervousness and gastrointestinal alterations.

COMMON USE

It is also used for colds (as a diaphoretic, tranquiliser) and circulatory disorders (palpitations, migraines, etc.).

Lemon balm is also a very gentle plant as, when used as an herbal tea, no contraindications, secondary effects or important interactions are known. 

COMBINATIONS

It has achieved very good results when combined with other sedative plants such as valerian root.

PRESENTATION

In teabags for herbal teas, a fresh plant suspension, a liquid extract, essential oil, etc.

DID YOU KNOW ?

The most renowned way of preparing this plant is as "Agua del Carmen" (Carmen's Water).

The bare-footed Carmelita monks have been preparing this "water" since 1611 and since 1794, diverse Spanish pharmacopoeias have been dispatching the formula for the preparation of lemon balm spirit or lemon balm water containing: lemon balm, lemon rind, orange skin, coriander, cinnamon and 80º alcohol. It is mainly used for indigestion, nervous breakdowns and dizziness.