Lemon Balm
Lemon Balm is a fragrant herb with its shiny bright green leaves and delicious lemon fragrance.
It originats from the near East and the Mediterranean. Lemon Balm was later brought to Europe by Benedictine missionaries and eventually found its way to North America with the European settlers of the 18th century.
It is easy cultivating at home in almost any garden situation, preferring part shade in hot summer areas.
Lemon Balm is a hardy perennial which thrives in a moist garden soil but will tolerate drought conditions and poor soil with notable success. Being a true survivor lemon balm will gladly self sow throughout your garden to the delight of some and a bit overwhelming for others.
It sends up two-foot spikes of whitish lavender flowers which bees truly love. The best way to use Lemon Balm is fresh picked as a tea or tincture.
The dried herb does not retain the strong lemon flavor or the medicinal properties found therein.
Freezing fresh tea or ground fresh herb is another successful storage method. Historically used as an herb to lift the spirit from melancholy, it continues to be useful in treating mild depression, nervous indigestion, insomnia, migraines, Hypertension, hyperthyroidism and Graves disease.
Research has shown the potential for Lemon Balm to help improve memory and attention span in Alzheimers and Dementia patients.
Used internally and topically Lemon Balm has been effective for Herpes and shingles outbreaks both as an antiviral and lessening the discomfort from the sores themselves while promoting rapid healing.
Helpful for treating colds and flus, Lemon balm promotes sweating and is a mild anti-viral.
Historically, lemon balm is a classic addition to any herb garden, its fragrance filling the air in mid summer and its medicinal attributes are an excellent addition to any herbal medicine chest.