Scientific Name: Melissa Officinalis
Lemon balm is in the mint family of herbs. The best way to identify this plant is by the lemon scent it exudes when it is crushed in your fingers.
Harvest: Use the aerial parts of the plant either dried or fresh. It is best to harvest this plant before the flowers begin to open. Harvest for this plant typically begins in early spring and can be harvested multiple times before winter arrives.
Preparations and uses: My favorite ways to prepare harvested lemon balm include using dried and fresh leaves in tinctures and salves.
· In tinctures, which are taken orally, it is used to calm the nervous system and aid in anxiety and mild depression.
· In salves, lemon balm is used to help relieve headache pain, as a lip balm or cuticle cream, on insect bites and stings, for alertness and to aide in sleep quality.
· Lemon balm can also be used on cold sores to help reduce potential of future outbreaks.
Lemon balm has slowly become one of my favorite herbs to use this spring. Its relation to the mint family meant it grew in abundance in my garden which led to multiple harvests. This spring was my first year growing it, but it will become a staple in my garden for years to come.
Cautions: With any herb foraged or purchased, it is important to ensure proper identification to reduce risks of complications with plants you are unfamiliar with. Lemon balm has mild side effects that can include dizziness, nausea, and wheezing. If you are on sedatives or thyroid medications, it would be wise to not take the herb as it can counteract with certain medications. Please consult your doctor before taking any ingestible or topical herbal remedies.
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