Lemon Balm, Melissa officinalis- Antiviral, Nervine

Lemon balm or Melissa officinalis, was truly my first green ally.  I had a plant growing in my Brooklyn apartment and it was one of the few that could make it there with limited light and sporadic waterings (yes, I was a negligent plant owner in my 20's).  I loved it though, especially how it had such a resilient nature to keep coming back.  If you rub the underside of the leaves, they emit a lovely lemony scent a bit reminiscent of lemon polish but more refreshing.  Long known as a calming herb, lemon balm has a number of medicinal uses.  My favorite- as a nervine, for mild depression or anxiety.  It is also an antiviral herb, so it is great to use when plagued with a nasty cold or other virus.  This is one of the herbs I would use as a tea or infusion and give to my toddler with warm milk in her bottle when she had a cold as well.  However a tincture, oil or salve can be made for various uses.  The potency is best with the fresh herb, since the dried herb doesn't retain it's essential oils for very long.  Nevertheless, the dried herb can be used as well with good results.   A nice link to some research using it as an antiviral can be found at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

So here is the laundry list of wonderful attributes to this member of the mint family:

- Carminative,  helps with gas in the GI tract, colic, hiccups

- Diaphoretic,  induces sweating

- Febrifuge, reduces fever

- Nervine,  for anxiety, depression, hiccups, nervous tummy, migraine headaches.  Shown in studies to reduce anxiety in Alzheimer's patients

- Antiviral,  for colds, cold sores, flus, herpes simplex virus, other viruses

- Anti inflammatory, another study by the NIH on it uses as such as seen here.

Bee keepers know that bees love this herb and they rub it on hives to attract new bees and keep the old ones there.

Lemon Balm lavender flowers in bloom

Lemon balm is one of the main ingredients in Carmelite water, which was invented in 1611 by Carmelite monks in Paris who called it "Eau de Carmes".  It was used as a perfume, toilet water and cordial.  A recipe for Carmelite water is as follows:

• 1 1⁄41 1⁄4 cups vodka
• 33 tablespoons dried Angelica leaves, and stalks
• 33 tablespoons dried lemon balm leaves
• 11 tablespoon coriander seed, bruised
• 11 nutmeg, cut into strips
• 22 tablespoons cloves
• a cinnamon stick

You make this as you would a tincture, packing all the ingredients in a jar and them topping off with the vodka.  Close the jar tightly and store in a dark, cool place.  Wait three weeks until using.

Paracelsus dubbed this plant the "elixir of life" and gave his recipe for primum end melissae.  Maybe it is one we should be using more often.  To life!