Melissa: Effect and application of the medicinal herb

The impact of lemon balm on health has been known for thousands of years. Melissa has made a name for itself not only as a medicinal herb, but also as a kitchen spice. The plant is also easy to care for and an important food source for insects.

Melissa - this is how the medicinal plant works

Melissa officinalis, as the medicinal herb is known by botanists, has not only been appreciated by people since prehistoric times. Melissa means bee and it is not for nothing that our ancestors derived the name of the plant from the term.

• Bees also really appreciate the nectar of the labiate flowers. If you keep bees, the animals will be happy about the approximately 90 centimeter high lemon balm plants and will be so eager to produce honey.
• Homemade honey that goes perfectly with your homemade lemon balm tea. For many years a cup of lemon balm tea has been used to calm the nerves.
• But also for gastrointestinal problems, lemon balm is a well-tried home remedy. Charlemagne already knew about the healing power of lemon balm and ordered that the medicinal plant should be grown in every monastery garden.
• The medicinal plant, originally from the Mediterranean, blooms from June to August and also grows without any problems in our home gardens.
• In particular, the essential oils and flavonoids as well as the tannins and bitter substances of lemon balm have a positive effect on health.
• The lemon balm, as the plant is often called, is characterized by a pleasant aroma and a pleasant fragrance. For this reason, lemon balm is often used as a kitchen spice.
• Rub the lemon balm leaves and perceive the intense lemon scent of the medicinal plant particularly intensely. The fragrance results from the main active ingredients of the essential oils, Citronellal and Citral.

Melissa - how to use the medicinal herb

If you suffer from stress and / or sleep poorly, try two to three cups of lemon balm tea before going to bed. You increase the calming effect of lemon balm if you add a little valerian root.

• The lemon balm leaves are harvested between June and August. Dry the leaves immediately after harvest in a dry, sunny place, in the oven or in a dehydrator.
• Note: Do not store the dried lemon balm leaves in metal cans, instead, for example, porcelain containers are available.
• For lemon balm tea, just as for green tea, do not use boiling, but only hot water. Let the crushed lemon balm leaves steep for about 15 to 20 minutes before drinking the tea.
• If you suffer from gastrointestinal complaints, mix fennel and anise in the lemon balm tea. A mixture that not only has a calming effect, but also tastes delicious.
• By the way: lemon balm envelopes, which you can easily create with the lemon balm tea, provide relief from minor injuries or insect bites.
• You can also achieve a calming and soothing effect with lemon balm oil, for example for herpes. If you are nervous, a soothing balm bath before going to bed can also work small miracles.

You can also produce lemon balm oil, which is one of the most expensive oils because it is very complex to extract. We describe the effect and application of lemon balm oil in detail in another article.