Lemon Balm, Melissa Officinalis

Lemon balm

Melissa officinalis

cool, dry, relaxant

Taste: aromatic, sweet, sour

Family: Labiatae (Lamiaceae)

Medicinal parts: aerial parts–flowers & leaves

Actions: initially warming, ultimately cooling; relaxant, sedative, nervine, diaphoretic, antiviral, anodyne

Affinities: digestive, circulatory, and nervous systems

Notable constituents: volatiles (citronellol, citral, limonene, geraniol, linalool), acids

(rosmarinic, ursolic, caffeic, chlorogenic), catechins

Medicinal applications

• Mental Health

  • Lemon balm is a useful mood tonic creating a calm state that is uplifted. Without being overly sedative, lemon balm cools and relaxes the body, it is often indicated when there is an excess of internal heat combined with nervous tension. Lemon balm has been shown to impact the mood in under one hour. Look to lemon balm for support for those that have hyperactivity, restlessness and physical stress caused from excess worry. With its calming effect, lemon balm can be an ally for those with ADD and ADHD. Lemon balm can help people in depressive states have a gentle uplift and it may be supportive for seasonal affective disorder. Lemon balms' combination of exhilarating uplifting effects while simultaneously cooling and relaxing the body is helpful for insomnia and states of agitation and nervousness. 

• Digestive system 

  • Lemon balm is a gentle relaxing bitter, it is especially indicated when digestive irritation stems from nervousness and excess heat. As a member of the aromatic mint family, mildly bitter lemon balm enhances digestion with its volatile compounds. Lemon balm can substitute for chamomile when working in a state where digestive agitation is caused by nervousness. Lemon balm has been worked with to relieve dyspepsia, upset stomach and flatulence. 

• Cardiovascular system

  • Gentle relaxing lemon balm calms the nerves and can be worked with for relaxing the heart. Herbalists add lemon balm into formulas when supporting those dealing with heart palpitations and high blood pressure.

• Nervous system 

  • Lemon balm is indicated for those with nervous tension and excess heat, it can be helpful for sedating overactivity, hyperadrenalism or hyperthyroidism. This relaxing effect is useful when someone is experiencing anxiety or palpitations. If ailments are generally caused by being in a nervous state, lemon balm is a suitable choice. Lemon balm reduces nerve pain and can be worked with for conditions like fibromyalgia. Lemon balm is also helpful for headaches when they are caused by nervous tension. 

• Cognitive Function

  • Lemon balm is supportive for a healthy aging brain, it improves the ability of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Lemon balm has been shown to help attention span and improve brain function. Lemon balms can support children and adults for lengthening their attention span and decrease hyperactivity. These cognitive enhancing properties combined with decreasing hyperactivity and nervousness can be very supportive for people with ADD, ADHD or a restless personality. 

• Diaphoretic Action

  • Lemon balm brings heat up from the body and releases it, creating a calming cooling effect. Pair lemon balm together with motherwort and bugleweed for relief for excess heat. Work with lemons balms diaphoretic action for those who have a hot constitution, during heat stroke or heat related symptoms. Lemon balm is especially indicated when overheating is combined with anxious tension. Lemon balm works well for helping support those dealing with hyperthyroid. Considered by herbalist Matthew Wood as a sour plant, much like other sour fruits it is useful for reducing heat and the overstimulation that comes with excess internal heat. Work with lemon balm for heat reduction when treating colds, fevers and hot flashes. For fever, lemon balm is a great ally to calm and cool . 

• Topical

  • Calming and cooling lemon balm can reduce irritation for burns, blisters, sores and stings.

• Antiviral Action

  • Lemon balm has potent antiviral activity, it makes the environment unfriendly for the host topically and internally. Lemon balm is especially helpful for treating herpes and related viruses, as well as HPV. As an antiviral and nervine, lemon balm is indicated when a virus attacks the nerves. 

In practice:

• When making medicine with lemon balm, it is preferable to capture the volatile compounds that it produces. These light aromatic volatiles can easily disperse in the air, it is useful to put a lid on your infusion or make sure to breath in the steam.

• Lemon balm is a herb that is most effective for medicine when it is fresh. If you are making an infusion, tinctures or infused oils, work with fresh lemon balm if possible. 

• When working with lemon balm as a topical, a poultice is effective for treating sores. If you are dealing with chickenpox, a bath tea might be a better choice. As a bath tea, lemon balm can treat topical viruses but also uplift the mood and reduce anxiety, calming the body.

• For internal sores such as cold sores in the mouth, lemon balm is effective as a tea. 

• If someone generally runs cold, lemon balm is still a helpful herb to work with, although it is cooling, it is gentle and first has a stimulating action, so it is not too intensive for those that have a cold constitution. 

• Try infusing lemon balm into white wine for a cooling effect that reduces tension, emotional or physical. 

• Lemon balm is a mild digestive bitter, work with it in a bitter blend as a tincture or bitters spray. 

• Try lemon balm in recipes where you would normally add lemon. Try adding fresh lemon balm to a salad or in a dessert. Lemon balm would be a tasty addition to a pesto or pasta salad. 

• Lemon balm is gentle and safe for most, it can be worked with when supporting children and elders.

• As an exhilarating but calming plant, lemon balm is suitable alongside a treatment plan when supporting those with mental health concerns, such as depression and anxiety.  

Cautions: Lemon balm is very gentle; it is safe for children and elders.

Friends: linden, calendula, st.john’s wort, tulsi, elderflower, catnip

This is for research purposes and should not be taken as medical advice.

Cited Works 

Gladstar, Rosemary. Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide. Storey Publishing, LLC, 2012. 

Groves, Maria Noël. Body into Balance: An Herbal Guide to Holistic Self-Care. Storey Publishing, 2016.

Hoffmann, David. The Herbal Handbook: A User’s Guide to Medical Herbalism. Healing Arts Press, 1998. 

Swift, Katja, and Ryn Midura. “Lemon Balm - Materia Medica Entry.” Accessed 09 June. 2025.  

Swift, Katja, and Ryn Midura. “Lemon Balm-Melissa Officinalis.” Family Herbalist Course. https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/courses/take/materia-medica/lessons/2374569-lemon-balm-melissa-officinalis Accessed 09 June. 2025. 

Wood, Matthew. Practice of Traditional Western Herbalism: Basic Doctrine, Energetics, and Classification. North Atlantic Books, 2013.