15 Proven Health Benefits of Lemon Balm

Updated on November 11th, 2019
health benefits of lemon balm (6)

Lemon balm is an exceptional and extraordinary herb that is replete with innumerable health benefits.

What is Lemon Balm?

Lemon balm is an herb that belongs to the mint family. It bears small yellow flowers that blossom during spring and summer. Its leaves are dark green or yellowish depending on the type of soil and the prevailing climate. A paste made from the leaves exudes a mild and fragrant aroma.

Lemon Balm uses:

Lemon balm possesses a host of health benefits. It fights against cardiac and hepatic disorders. It is rich in antibacterial and anti-germicidal properties and can fight against several infections.

It is beneficial for the natural treatment of diabetes. It is a potent antioxidant and is highly anti-inflammatory. It can regulate the functioning of the thyroid gland and is a potent cure for herpes.

How to make Lemon Balm Tea?

Here is a simple recipe to prepare lemon balm tea.

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons of freshly dried and crushed lemon balm
  • 1 teaspoon of dried oat straw
  • 2 tablespoons of dried and seedless rosehip
  • 2 spoons of dried and crushed orange peels
  • ½ a teaspoon of dried lavender.
  • Blend the ingredients and store them in an airtight glass jar.

Procedure:

  • For making a cup of lemon balm tea, take a tablespoon of the blended ingredients and add it to a cup of boiling water.
  • Cover the water and let the boiling continue for about 20 minutes.
  • Strain the liquid out and sweeten the tea with a teaspoon of honey.
  • Drink the tea with slow sips twice or thrice a day for maximum health benefits.

Lemon Balm and Liquorice Tea Benefits:

The health benefits of lemon balm tea infused with the sweet notes of licorice are numerous, some of which are given below.

  • This tea is highly beneficial for respiratory health. It is an effective expectorant and is antitussive. It relieves the patient of chest congestion, sore throat, and the common cold.
  • The tea is an immunity booster and is highly effective for the smooth functioning of respiratory, renal, hepatic, and gastrointestinal systems.

15 Amazing Lemon Balm Health Benefits:

1. Depression

Mild to a severe case of depression is characterized by panic attacks, social anxiety, phobias, prolonged relapses, and general worry. The symptoms of depression include insomnia, uneasiness, palpitations, muscle cramps, hypoventilation, nausea, and nervous breakdowns.

Lemon balm tea soothes the taut nerves and relaxes the cramped muscles. The anxiolytic effect of lemon balm tea helps in the elimination of stress and anxiety with ease.

Regular consumption of the tea keeps the level of cortisol (popularly known as the stress hormone) under control in the body and pumps healthy blood circulation. This helps in the release of excess stress and anxiety and makes the mind and body feel refreshed and youthful.

Lemon balm tea also helps with the elimination of the symptoms of depression and anxiety-like headaches, insomnia, etc.

2. Cold Sores

Lemon balm tea for cold sores
Image:ShutterStock

Lemon balm is vested with potent antiviral properties. The herb is highly effective in the natural curing of cold sores that are the primary effects of herpes. Smear the cold sores with lemon balm supplement ointment for quick and effective healing.

Lemon balm is also beneficial for the effective natural treatment of primary HSV-1 infection. This lemon balm ointment can also be used for the cure of genital and oral herpes, the former being caused by the HSV-2 virus.

3. Herpes

Melissa tea benefits herpes. The herpes is characterized by painful and itchy blisters that are highly contagious. Lemon balm is replete with antiviral agents like rosmarinic acid, phenolic acid, and flavonoids. These agents reduce the stress associated with the outbreak of herpes(1).

The best way to treat herpes is to attack the infection with lemon balm tincture. Mix 2 ml of lemon balm tincture in water and drink the concoction thrice daily for the blisters to disappear in a couple of days.

You can also apply lemon balm ointment on the herpes blisters and drink lemon balm tea for the natural cure of painful herpes.

4. Lemon Balm Tea for Sleep

Lemon balm tea for sleep
Image:ShutterStock

The constituents of the lemon balm tea interact with the GABA receptors in the brain and induce a deep sleep in the consumer. Lemon balm tea is a highly effective sedative and is especially beneficial for sleep when consumed before going to bed.

For the natural treatment of insomnia and parasomnia, the consumption of lemon balm tea helps in inducing a deep and sound slumber. The tea aids in the regulation of the person’s sleeping pattern and causes a fixed sleep cycle.

5. Anxiety

Lemon balm tea is known for the smooth calmness that it induces in the anxious victim. It is considered to be a sedative herb that functions in a way to reduce the effect of sudden anxiety attacks. This herb is primarily used to combat insomnia, depression, and mood swings.

It helps to feel calm and composed and cuts down on stress(2) and unnecessary tension. Lemon balm tea can even help to do away with nausea and irritability. Lemon balm tea, when consumed a day thrice, can help in beating stress and anxiety.

6. Gastrointestinal problems

Lemon Balm Health Benefits for Gastrointestinal problems
Image:ShutterStock 

Lemon balm tea is alkaline that helps to neutralize the acid in the esophagus. Being almost entirely composed of antioxidant lemon balm tea can neutralize the over secretion of gastric acids in the stomach.

This helps to soothe the inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract caused by gastric acids. Lemon balm tea can eliminate bloating, colic pain, abdominal cramps, flatulence, and even heartburn.

7. Lemon Balm Tea for the Immune System

Lemon balm tea is known for its antiviral, antibacterial, anti-fungal, antibiotic, and anti-inflammatory properties. It fortifies the immunity system and protects the body from antigens and infections.

Regular consumption of warm lemon balm tea, especially during weather changes, can help to stay physically fit and healthy.

health benefits of lemon balm - infographic

8. Lemon Balm for Respiratory Health

The most common and disturbing respiratory disorders include mild to severe coughing fits, chest congestion, running nose, and sore throat. You may be suffering from whooping cough, asthma, and bronchitis.

Consumption of a cup of hot lemon balm tea twice or thrice a day can instantly relieve you of the symptoms, the persistent dry cough, and shortness of breath, nasal congestion, or running nose.

Lemon balm tea is antitussive, which helps to suppress coughing while its expectorant property assists the riddance of unhealthy phlegm. Lemon balm tea benefits patients by making the chest cage-free of phlegm congestion.

[Also Read: Asthma Remedies at Home]

9. Cardiovascular Health

Cardiovascular diseases often result from the hardening of arteries, which puts pressure on cardiac functioning as the heart has to work harder to pump blood through the stiffened arteries.

Lemon balm tea helps in the elimination of bad cholesterol from the body, which helps to decrease the stiffness of arteries.

The herb is also known for the stabilization of blood pressure. Lemon balm tea aids in the prevention of cardiac diseases by ensuring the healthy circulation of blood throughout the body. It is effectively preventing the deposition of cholesterol in blood vessels.

This protects the individual from atherosclerosis. Regular consumption of lemon balm tea helps to lower cholesterol naturally and prevent cardiac disorders.

[Read: Home Remedies for Hypertension]

10. Detoxification

Heavy metals and toxins wreak severe oxidative damage to our physiology. Lemon balm tea detoxifies blood through the elimination of several different antigens like dioxins, heterocyclic amines, and strontium and methylmercury.

It destroys the harmful free radicals with its potent antioxidant nature. The process of detoxification is executed through the enhancement of antioxidant activities of the liver.

The toxins are then rendered harmless and removed from the body through excretion. Lemon balm tea is rich in powerful antioxidants that aid in repairing oxidative damage throughout the entire body.

11. For the prevention of Cancer

Lemon balm leaf tea helps in the prevention of Cancer. The herbal tea induces the apoptosis of cells afflicted with Cancer. This makes it an effective natural cure for Cancer.

The action of apoptosis is triggered by the antioxidant flavonoids, which helps in the prevention of metastasis and delays the growth and spread of malignant tumors.

The antioxidants contained in lemon balms like Rosemarie acid and its derivatives can neutralize the toxic free radicals which are released into the system as a by-product of cellular metabolism and cause immense oxidative damage to the body.

The antioxidants destroy these harmful free radicals and inhibit the metastasis of cancer-afflicted cells with its potent anti-carcinogenic properties.

[Also Read: Home Cures for Skin Cancer]

12. Oral care

Lemon balm health benefits for oral care

The antimicrobial properties of lemon balm essential oil help to fight the bacteria and germs that work inside the mouth and attack the gums, roots, and enamel of the teeth. Lemon balm helps to protect the mouth from dental disorders like pyorrhea, gum boils, and mouth ulcers.

Regular consumption of lemon balm tea keeps the mouth fresh and prevents staleness of breath. Lemon balm is highly effective for oral infection, bleeding gums, and other dental problems.

Mix 2-3 drops of lemon balm essential oil with lukewarm water and swish the contents in your mouth to kill the bacteria and refresh your breath.

[Read: Home Remedies for Pyorrhoea]

13. Lemon Balm Health Benefits for Taut nerves

The antispasmodic properties of lemon balm tea help in soothing the pain and relaxing the taut muscles around the painful nerves. The anti-inflammatory properties of lemon balm cure the inflammation of the nerve and effectively nerve pain.

Regular consumption of lemon balm tea is highly beneficial in the quick healing of taut muscles and nerves.

14. Skin

Lemon balm tea is highly beneficial for the skin because of its antioxidant nature. The extracts of the herb are hugely useful in the natural remedy of skin irritation and inflammation, wrinkles, blemishes, and age spots.

Lemon balm essential oil is a natural astringent. It protects the skin and makes it soft and supple. When applied to the skin, the astringency property can make the skin firmer and naturally elastic. It reduces wrinkles, premature aging, and prevents sagging of skin. The essential oil boosts the development of new cells and makes the skin healthy and glowing.

15. Headaches

Lemon balm health benefits for headaches
Image:ShutterStock

Migraines are caused due to inflammation of the capillaries in the head. Due to inflammation, the capillaries swell and cause throbbing pain in the head.

The Ayurvedic properties of the lemon balm herb help to soothe the pain of migraines, and its anti-inflammatory properties reduce the swelling of the capillaries.

Lemon balm tea benefits the elimination of headaches quite effectively. Headaches occur due to lack of sleep, chaotic schedules, and prolonged exposure to computers at work, wrong food habits, and more.

The major contributor to headaches is worry and stress. The reasons behind a throbbing forehead may be endless, but the only solution can tackle them all, and that is a cup of lemon balm leaf tea.

The soft fragrance of the lemon balm naturally cures migraines and sinuses by aromatherapy. If you are suffering from a terrible headache, then have a cup of hot lemon balm tea sweetened with a tablespoon of honey to cure a headache instantly.

[Also Read: Home Remedies for Headache]

Lemon Balm Tea Side effects

Lemon balm is quite safe; however, it does have its share of side effects. When taken orally, lemon balm tea side effects include nausea, abdominal cramps, wheezing, and dizziness.


FAQs

1. Is lemon balm edible?

Response: Lemon balm leaves are edible and are dried and crushed to be made into highly beneficial lemon balm tea.

2. Does Lemon Balm interact with medications?

Lemon balm is proven to interact with Thyroid medications and sedatives. If you are suffering from anxiety, please ensure to consult your doctor before taking Lemon balm.

3. How to identify Lemon balm?

Lemon balm is a mint look alike and belongs to the mint family. However, the leaves of this plant are oval in shape with toothed edges. It’s extremely lemony smell is another distinct feature which differentiates it from the mint.

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