LEMON BALM

Latin Name: Melissa officinalis

Alternate Names: Balm, Bee Balm, The De France, Heart's Delight, Cure-all, Sweet Balm

Family: LAMIACEAE

Parts Used: Above ground portion.

Properties: Antispasmodic, Antiviral, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Digestive Tonic, Emmenagogue, Febrifuge, Hypotensive, Nervine, Rejuvenative, Sedative, Stomach Tonic, Tonic.

Internal Uses: Anxiety, Chickenpox, Colds, Colic, Dementia, Depression, Dysmenorrhea, Fever, Flu, Headache, Herpes, Homesickness, Hysteria, Insomnia, Mumps, Nausea, Nervousness, Nightmares, Shingles, Tachycardia, Teething

Internal Applications: Tea, Tincture, Capsules.

Useful for early senility and acts as a mild hypotensive. Also good for heart palpitations due to nerves. German studies show that the essential oil of Lemon Balm acts upon the part of the brain governing the autonomic nervous system and protect the cerbrum from excessive external stimuli.

Topical Uses: Boils, Eczema, Headache, Herpes, Insect Bites, Shingles

Topical Applications: Use as compress for swellings such as gout. Also applied to eczema and headaches. Use a poultice for boils. Lemon Balm is made into facial toners and beauty lotions. It is an ingredient in Carmelite water. Use as a salve for insect bites or simply rub the fresh leaf on the afflicted area. The essential oil is diluted and applied to herpes lesions and shingles. Used in sachets to repel moths. Used as a bath herb, massage oil, and perfume.

Culinary uses: Add to fish and poultry dishes, marinades, pesto, salad greens, jellies, custards, and garnishes. Simply put a sprig into drinking water to give it a lemony lift. Used in vinegars, liqueurs (Benedictine, Chartreuse) and cordials. Dried leaves are not as flavorful as fresh.

Energetics: Sour, Pungent, Cold, Dry.

Chemical Constituents: Essential Oil (citral, linalool, eugenol, citronellal, geraniol), tannins, bitter principle, resin, tannins, polyphenols, flavonoids, succinic acid, rosmarinic acid.

Contraindications: This is a safe herb for children, and it tastes very good. Lemon Balm can lower thyroid function, which is good for some but not others.

Comments: Melissa is Greek for 'honey bee' as it is a favorite flower of bees. Growing Lemon Balm and rubbing the leaves inside the bees' hive helps keep the bees close to home.

This herb was sacred in the temple of Diana. Avicenna and Paracelsus said Lemon Balm 'causeth the mind and heart to be merrie'. It is an herb that was once used in strewing on dirt floors.

The essential oil is expensive and sometimes adulterated with citronella oil.

-- Phil in KS (cshomestead@planetkc.com), April 29, 2002

Answers

I put a recipe for Lemon Balm Cookies on the Countryside forum, it in the archives under Lemon Balm Wars, I think. It's there somewhere.

-- Cindy (S.E.IN) (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), May 02, 2002.

Gilly and I took Stan's suggestion and we've been putting Lemon Balm leaves in our salads. We really like it! Thanks, Stan!!

Cindy, I'm going to look for your recipe. Is it okay to cut and paste it over here if I find it?

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), May 02, 2002.

Here's Cindy's recipe:

Lemony Oatmeal Cookies

1/3 cup canola oil
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1/4 cup lemon balm tea
2 Tbl arrowroot or kudzu
1 Tbl fresh lemon juice
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup very finely minced fresh lemon balm leaves
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup raisins

Preheat over to 350. In medium bowl combine oil, maple syrup, tea, arrowroot, lemon juice and vanilla. Use electric hand mixer to mix well. In large bowl, combine pastry flour, b-soda, b-powder, minced lemon balm, oats and raisins. Mix well. Beat in wet ingredients, using a large rubber spatula. Don't overmix; about 15 strokes. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper(or spray it). Drop tablespoon-sized mounds onto it. Bake in middle of the oven til lightly browned around the edges-12 min. Cool on wire rack before serving. Variation: If you'd like to glaze the cookies, use a pastry brush to spread a bit of all-fruit apricot jam on each one while still hot.

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), May 02, 2002.

Here's another recipe from that same thread:

Lemon Balm Cheesecake

PASTRY: 1 c. flour, 3 oz. butter in small pieces, Pinch of salt

FILLING: 2 oz. butter, 2 tbsp. honey, 12 oz. cream cheese, 2 eggs, 6 tbsp. finely chopped lemon balm

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Make pastry: Cut 3 ounces butter into 1 cup flour until mixture resembles fine bread crumbs. Add pinch of salt and enough water to make a soft dough. Roll out and line a 7 inch pie tin. Prick bottom. Bake 15 minutes. Make filling: Beat butter, honey and cream cheese until soft and creamy. Beat in eggs. Fold in lemon balm. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees. Pour filling into crust. Bake 45 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with whipped cream.

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), May 02, 2002.

Use some chopped leaves in your summer rice or couscous salads for a bit of a lift. To cooked cous cous I add fresh peas, radishes, onion,cucumber, and tomato, and fresh herbs such as oregano, lemon balm, chives,and basil. A dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper is added and everything stirred together and chilled in the fridge while the flavors blend. Best made earlier in the day.

-- Alison in NS (aproteau@istar.ca), May 06, 2002.