This perennial herb can be found in gardens and also in the wild. It is a spreading, bushy plant that can grow up to three ft high and form dense clumps much like mint does. Lemon balm is hairy and has a strong scent of lemons, it produces small white or light pink flowers at the base of the leaves from July to September.
You can find lemon balm herb growing in gardens, parks, and in the wild; in fields, grassland, along hedgerows, along the banks of streams and wasteland, especially if it is close to habitation.
Lemon Balm (Melissa Officinalis)
How To Gather And Store
Collect the leaves from July to September while the plant is in flower, the leaves can be chopped up and frozen or dried in the open air and stored in an air tight jar.
Dried Loose Lemon Balm For Remedies
Lemon Balm Benefits
Lemon balm benefits: Lemon balm herb is useful in combating insomnia, anxiety and mild depression. It can alleviate wind, and help a sluggish digestion, it helps sooth a cold and calm a fever. Lemon balm has antiviral and restorative properties which pep you up if feeling run down, it was the main Ingredient in Carmelite Water, which was made by nuns at the abbey of St Juste in medieval times. Carmelite Water was said to renew youth and was also taken as a restorative cordial.
Lemon balm is a good herb to use in a pot pourrii and can also be used in cuisine as a garnish for drinks, in salads or try it chopped up and added to a cream cheese sandwich.
Lemon Balm Remedies
Relaxing lemon balm tea: Take five lemon balm leaves, place in a mug and pour on boiling water, cover and leave to infuse for ten minutes. Strain and drink at bedtime to help combat insomnia, stress, or mild anxiety.
Calming lemon balm bath: Add a handful of lemon balm leaves and two or three bay leaves to your bath to help sooth frayed nerves, stresses and general aches and pains of the body.
Lemon Blam Warnings!
Do not take continuously for more than one month at a time as lemon balm may reduce hormonal activity in reproductive glands.
Did You Know?
some interesting lemon balm facts
In the olden days lemon balm herb was grown in tavern gardens along with ground ivy and costmary, the leaves of these plants were used to clarify ale.
Lemon balm leaves are rubbed on new bee hives in the hope that the scent will make the bees stay.
Organic Lemon Balm Tea
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