Lemon Balm

Lemon balm is an aromatic herb has many uses, from attracting bees to natural calming effects.

Scientific Name: Melissa officinalis
Common Name: Lemon balm or common balm
Plant Family: Lamiaceae (Mint Family)

Etymology:

The genus name Melissa, means “a honeybee,” and comes from the name of a Cretan princess who discovered how to gather honey. Balm is derived from balsam, from the Greek word “balsamon.”

Traditional Uses

Ancient Greeks believed that lemon balm and bees had a strong relationship, and that as long as lemon balm grew near a hive, bees would never abandon it. They also believed that it promoted long life. Various cultures have also long held the belief that lemon balm has soothing powers. It has been used to help soothe and calm, as well as other medicinal uses. Lemon balm has been shown to help with the treatment of cold sores. Studies have also shown that lemon balm can increase mood and even cognitive performance and may help with anxiety and depression. Lemon balm has also been used to soothe insect bites and in the treatment of colds.

Edible Parts

The leaves are edible, either raw or cooked.

Gathering and Using

Pruning helps to encourage growth of new leaves, which have the most fragrance and are useful. It also helps to minimize self-seeding and helps the plants to be the most visually appearing.

Lemon balm is mostly used to flavor salads and cooked foods. Dried leaves can also be used to make tea. Lemon balm is used in the flavoring of various alcoholic beverages, including Chartreuse and Benedictine. The essential oil can also be used to make furniture polish or perfumes. All parts of the plant can be used to make potpourri.

Permaculture Functions and Considerations 

Aromatic, landscaping border, may deter pests, dynamic accumulator of minerals, can help to improve soil health, attracts honeybees.

Habitat

Lemon balm’s native range includes central and south Europe, west Asia and north Africa. It can adapt to and grow in even poor-quality soils.

How to Identify

Lemon balm has very wrinkly leaves that leave a distinct lemon scent when rubbed. The leaves are similar in shape to mint leaves. Flowers grow in small clusters where the leaves meet the stem.

Wildlife Support

Honeybees love the plant.

Additional Information

No serious diseases or insect issues. Plants will spread by self-seeding, but generally not aggressively.

Sources

• Bumb, M. (n.d.) Lemon balm. Hamilton College. Retrieved March 28, 2022.

• Ghazizadeh, J., Sadigh-Eteghad, S., Marx, W., Fakhari, A., Hamedeyazdan, S., Torbati, M., Taheri-Tarighi, S., Araj-Khodaei, M., & Mirghafourvand, M. (2021). The effects of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) on depression and anxiety in clinical trials: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Phytotherapy research : PTR, 35(12), 6690–6705. 

• Lemon balm. (n.d.). Mount Sinai Health System. Retrieved March 28, 2022.

• Melissa officinalis. (n.d.-a). Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved March 28, 2022.

• Melissa officinalis. (n.d.-b). USDA Plant Database. 

• Melissa officinalis. (n.d.-c). Plants for a Future. Retrieved March 28, 2022.

• Scholey, A., Gibbs, A., Neale, C., Perry, N., Ossoukhova, A., Bilog, V., Kras, M., Scholz, C., Sass, M., & Buchwald-Werner, S. (2014). Anti-stress effects of lemon balm-containing foods. Nutrients, 6(11), 4805–4821.