Throughout time, man has found endless benefits in nature. There are many plants with nutritional properties and that have innumerable healing properties. So much so, that scientific studies carried out have allowed man to manufacture drugs with compositions based on different species of natural plants.
These plants provide all their benefits directly. In fact, many of them you can grow and consume in a simple way from the comfort of your home. Some of these plants are lemon balm, chamomile and valerian.
In this article we want to provide you with all the necessary information about lemon balm and the properties it provides for the good health of your body.
What is lemon balm?
Lemon balm is one of the most used and known medicinal plants by humanity. Although it is also known by other names (such as “melisa” or “lemon leaf”), this plant is characterized by its powerful calming and sedative properties. It is a medicinal plant par excellence, with yellow and white flowers.
The name “lemon balm” comes from the Greek word “melissóphyllo”. Thus, the scientific name of this herbaceous plant is Melissa officinalis. (1)
Note: It is a widely used plant in Latin America. Among its characteristics, the fact that it is a herbaceous and robust plant stands out, which emerges spontaneously in wooded areas during the summer.
This aromatic, lemon-like herb is easy to grow, either in gardens or in containers. It only needs a lot of sun and it is not necessary to water it constantly.
Lemon balm is composed of an essential oil rich in aldehydes and sesquiterpene alcohols, such as citral, geraniol, citronellal, making it a plant with properties to combat anxiety and stress.
The benefits provided by lemon balm tea are closely related to its medicinal properties , being a plant rich in flavonoids, tannins and polyphenols. Lemon balm, like chamomile, provides the body with antioxidant, expectorant, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, sedative, carminative , and antiviral properties.
To highlight: Lemon balm or lemon balm is widely used in the treatment of various conditions and diseases. However, its excessive consumption can cause side effects and is not recommended in people with hypothyroidism.
10 benefits of lemon balm for health
Lemon balm has a wide variety of benefits, ranging from improving digestion to managing anxiety. That is why it is a highly valued and appreciated plant.
Lemon balm has essential oils that are highly beneficial for combating digestive conditions, such as gastritis, for example. In addition, these oils also have antioxidant properties and help keep the liver in good condition.
Also among the properties of lemon balm are its sedative and relaxing benefits. These are ideal for combating stress, anxiety, or nervousness. Thus, this plant keeps our body in a full state of health.
Likewise, it is an ideal plant to lower blood pressure. Therefore, its daily consumption is recommended in people suffering from hypertension.
To highlight: Maintaining good health is everyone’s task. So, incorporate the consumption of lemon balm tea and start enjoying all the benefits of this medicinal plant.
Next, we explain a little more about the benefits and uses of lemon balm:
1. Helps you sleep better
Work, excessive daily activities or personal problems in many cases are the main cause of insomnia. However, the lemon balm plant gives you ease of relaxation, thanks to its sedative properties.
Note: It has been proven that lemon balm or lemon balm herbs reduce the activity of the nervous system, allowing the body to relax more. This relaxation is very necessary to fall asleep and achieve rest. (1)
In this sense, lemon balm is a recommended plant to help those with heart disease, nervous people or simply for those who do not know how to relieve anxiety and stress problems sleep better.
Tip: To enjoy a peaceful and restful sleep, the ideal is to prepare a cup of honey-sweetened lemon balm tea before bed. She will give you the necessary relaxation so that you have a deep and pleasant sleep.
Another option to enjoy the relaxing properties of lemon balm is to drink a glass of milk cooked with a handful of lemon balm leaves and sweetened with honey. You will sleep very relaxed!
2. Improves concentration and memory
Due to its composition, lemon balm provides incredible benefits for our health, including an increase in concentration and memory.
Memory loss is caused by the deterioration of nerve cells. However, studies carried out have verified that lemon balm or lemon balm has a high content of antioxidants. These compounds protect the cells of the body when they are in the process of oxidation, preventing cell deterioration. (1)
To highlight: This plant is ideal for people with Alzheimer’s problems, helping them to improve their memory and attention span, which deteriorates over time.
In addition, for many students, lemon balm also turns out to be an ally during exam times. This is because the consumption of this plant increases concentration and the ability of our brain to retain information.
3. Relieves gastrointestinal discomfort
Lemon balm is highly recommended to relieve annoying gastrointestinal discomfort. Either alone or accompanied with other plants (such as chamomile, for example), lemon balm is a powerful home remedy to relieve pain and have good digestion.
Take note of this tea to relieve gastrointestinal discomfort: Take a teaspoon of dried lemon balm leaves, a teaspoon of dried chamomile leaves, a teaspoon of green anise and add everything to a container with boiled water.
Let it rest for about 10 to 15 minutes, and then strain it. It is recommended to drink this infusion 2 to 3 times a day to improve digestion.
4. Prevents digestive problems and intestinal colic
Excess food or even some nervous problems can cause stomach upset and intestinal colic. For these cases, lemon balm provides relief from these digestive problems, also helping to eliminate flatulence.
Likewise, this plant also favors the protection of the liver and the secretion of bile.
5. Helps fight menstrual cramps
Another contribution that lemon balm provides is that it helps control the discomfort caused by menstrual cramps. This is thanks to its antispasmodic and analgesic properties, which reduce the pain signals emitted by the nervous system.
To soothe menstrual cramps, prepare these lemon balm-based drops at home: soak approximately 200 grams of lemon balm in a liter of ethyl alcohol or brandy and leave to rest for a week.
Then, filter the preparation and put it in a container with a dropper. Take 15-20 drops of this home remedy daily two or three times a day to relieve menstrual cramps.
6. Relieves vomiting, nausea and dizziness
Without a doubt, the benefits of lemon balm are very varied. So much so, that the infusion of lemon balm helps with the discomfort of vomiting, nausea and dizziness caused by pregnancy, stress or indigestion problems.
7. Reduces tension and stress
Thanks to its aldehyde-rich oil, this plant has properties to soothe nerves and calm irritability, depression or anxiety caused by stress. (1)
Note: If you are a person who leads a fast pace of life, with so many daily activities, we suggest including lemon balm tea in your routine. The ideal is the intake of two or three cups daily, preferably between meals, and one before bed.
8. Relieves headaches and migraines
It is a natural remedy to soothe headaches, thanks to the natural oils that exude its lemon-like smell. Its analgesic properties originate from its ursolic, chlorogenic and caffeic acids. Likewise, it also contains thymol and eugenol.
In cases associated with headaches and migraine, tincture of lemon balm applied directly to the temple is used, while small massages are done.
To prepare this tincture against headaches and migraines, it is enough to soak about 200 grams of lemon balm leaves and flowers.
Subsequently, you must mix these leaves with ethyl alcohol. Then, let the preparation rest in a bottle (preferably glass to preserve its properties) for approximately nine days.
By applying these tinctures on your temple, you will notice how the pain disappears.
9. Helps fight colds
The preparation of hot lemon balm infusions is a natural medicine to relieve common colds or colds.
Lemon balm tea has a sweat action that helps fight flu processes, bronchospasm and cough relief. It can be eaten alone or in combination with other ingredients such as chamomile, eucalyptus, peppermint and honey.
It has a proven antiviral effect, thanks to its components such as polyphenols and tannins.
To prepare it, just add the lemon balm leaves to the boiling water, keep covered and let it rest for a short time. Strain and drink 2 to 3 cups of this tea per day.
10. Prevents kidney problems
Certain kidney problems must be detected early, or else they can become a chronic problem.
Note: Liquid retention in our body can trigger diseases not only in the kidneys, but also in the circulatory system. For this, the intake of water and other liquids that help to eliminate toxins through urine is essential.
Lemon balm is an excellent diuretic, so its regular consumption will help keep your body free of toxins and improve your quality of life. Thus, to enjoy good kidney health, prepare infusions of this tea and ingest them two or three times a day.
How to prepare Lemon Balm Tea
The preparation of lemon balm tea is very simple and you do not need any kind of experience in it. What you should be clear about is that you should only use its leaves, whether dry or fresh, since it is the part of the plant that contains the greatest health benefits.
The steps you must follow to prepare lemon balm tea are:
- Boil a cup of water
- Once the water has boiled, add 1-2 tablespoons of lemon balm leaves and turn off the heat.
- Let sit for a few minutes to allow the water to fully permeate the leaves.
- Strain and drink.
Tip: To enjoy good health, it is recommended to consume two to three cups of lemon balm daily, preferably after meals.
Key takeaways
- Lemon balm is a plant recognized for its multiple medicinal properties used and known by humanity. Used mostly in Latin America.
- It is an easy plant to grow in the comfort of your home, either in gardens or pots.
- Lemon balm tea, among its benefits, helps to treat insomnia, since thanks to its sedative properties it facilitates relaxation. As well as being high in antioxidants, it helps with memory and concentration.
- Other of its benefits is to relieve gastrointestinal discomfort, as well as prevent digestive problems, also helping to eliminate flatulence.
- This plant with so many medicinal benefits also helps relieve pain caused by menstrual cramps, as well as headaches and migraines.
University Professional in the area of Human Resources, Postgraduate in Occupational Health and Hygiene of the Work Environment, 14 years of experience in the area of health. Interested in topics of Psychology, Occupational Health, and General Medicine.