5 Beneficial Lemon Balm Uses
Photo of lemon balm sprigs in two glasses by congerdesign from Pixabay
Updated 2024.07.23
Lemon Balm, also known as Melissa officinalis, is a perennial herb in the Mint Family, native to Europe that makes a great addition to any herbal or kitchen garden.
It grows 24 to 36 inches tall and can be harvested whenever you are comfortable with chopping around ⅓ of the stem growth.
Once harvested, leave your stalks out to dry in sunny weather, or in a paper bag in a hot car for a couple days. When the leaves are crunchy and fully dehydrated, pick them off and place them in sealed, labeled glass jars out of the sun for storage.
With your fresh dried leaves, you are likely going to want to use your newly picked herbs within the next 6 months to 1 year for maximum freshness.
Before you do, let’s take a look at the benefits of using this plant from your or another’s garden.
Photo of lemon balm by Alex Fox from Pixabay
Lemon Balm Benefits
Can Be Calming
Promotes Uplifting Mood
Restorative To Nervous System
Can Be Relaxing For Bedtime
What Is Lemon Balm Used For?
Lemon Balm is considered to be a nervine plant, meaning it supports and nourishes the nervous system. Some herbalists call it sunshine in plant form simply due to its scent.
Typically, Lemon Balm is used for enhancing the mood as well as for improving the taste of water, honeys or teas. It has a minty, light lemony flavor and is a great addition to edibles as discussed below:
5 Beneficial Ways To Use Lemon Balm
Photo of lemon balm sprigs in two glasses by congerdesign from Pixabay with text overlay 5 Beneficial Lemon Balm Uses
1 - Lemon Balm Tea
Take a tablespoon of dried fresh Lemon Balm placed in the bottom of a mug. Pour 10 oz of boiling water over the leaves, cover and let steep for 5-10 minutes. Add any flower petals you like, such as rose, to add additional flavor. Enjoy it for your evening cup of bedtime relaxation.
2 - Lemon Balm Infused Water
Take two tablespoons of fresh dried Lemon Balm in 16 oz of water, cover overnight and refrigerate. Strain when you wake up, and enjoy the next morning for your daily hydration boost.
3 - Lemon Balm Tincture
For an easy tincture, take one part crushed, dried Lemon Balm, to three parts quality vodka or food grade vegetable glycerin. Seal with a lid and let sit in a cool, dark place for a month. After your month is up, strain, place in a clean amber dropper bottle and enjoy within 6 months.
4 - As a Substitute for Chamomile
Chamomile is another relaxing herb that is typically used in teas and tinctures, and it also has a green-apple scent and flavor. In its absence, you can use Lemon Balm as a replacement.
5 - Lemon Balm Infused Body Oil
Take the same recipe for the tincture above, but with oil.
For an easy body oil, take one part crushed, dried Lemon Balm, to three parts quality argan, grape seed, rosehip or almond oil. Seal with a lid and let sit in a cool, dark place for a month. After your month is up, strain, place in a clean amber bottle and use it for your self-care routine within six months.
Photo of lemon balm leaves from Pixabay
These are just a few of the ways you can improve your life using the Lemon Balm from your garden. Lemon Balm grows easily in the sun to part shade areas with little care.
It can be harvested multiple times throughout the growing season and when you harvest it, always remember to leave at least ⅓ of the remaining above ground growth to allow it to regenerate quickly.
Lemon Balm is best harvested in the morning hours when the plant is actively pushing out growth so that you capture all the great beneficial compounds when they are in the stem.
This is a plant that grows year after year, during the frost-free period so when you invest in this plant at your garden center, you are buying yourself the gift of years of sunshine and mood uplifting benefits.
The final good news about Lemon Balm is that it grows quickly and, if you were to put in a plant before mid July, you should have enough growth to harvest at least one batch before the growing season ends.
If you already have Lemon Balm, look forward to around three to four harvests per growing period.
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