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The Daily Insight

What can I use lemon balm herb for

Author

Sophia Dalton

Updated on April 04, 2026

How to Use Lemon Balm. As a general rule of thumb, treat lemon balm as you would any other herb. It works especially well in place of mint, offering bright, fragrant notes. Add whole lemon balm leaves to green salads, or chiffonade the leaves and scatter them over a fruit salad for added zesty flavor.

How do you use lemon balm leaves?

How to Use Lemon Balm. As a general rule of thumb, treat lemon balm as you would any other herb. It works especially well in place of mint, offering bright, fragrant notes. Add whole lemon balm leaves to green salads, or chiffonade the leaves and scatter them over a fruit salad for added zesty flavor.

Can I eat lemon balm raw?

You can certainly enjoy lemon balm fresh on salads, or in your favorite recipes, too. Be brave! Experiment with its bright flavor.

What is the herb lemon balm good for?

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), a member of the mint family, is considered a calming herb. It was used as far back as the Middle Ages to reduce stress and anxiety, promote sleep, improve appetite, and ease pain and discomfort from indigestion (including gas and bloating, as well as colic).

Can I drink lemon balm tea everyday?

Drink to Your Health With Lemon Balm Tea Taking lemon balm tea regularly may help improve mental cognition and can increase sleep quality. The lemon balm leaf is one of the most popular medicinal plants and can also be used to treat anxiety and prevent heart disease.

Does lemon balm help you lose weight?

Lemon Balm Tea Benefits Weight Loss One such study found that an extract of this herb suppressed fat tissue growth in mice and killed fat cells.

Does lemon balm keep mosquitoes away?

This member of the mint family has white flowers and a gentle lemony scent, as well as some healing properties. Lemon balm is particularly good at keeping mosquitos away, but it’s also a fast grower, so be careful when planting it in your garden.

Is Lemon balm bad for the liver?

Lemon balm and its major constituent, rosmarinic acid (RA), effectively improve the liver injury and obesity; however, their therapeutic effects on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are unknown.

Is lemon balm good for hair?

Its ability to balance oil production makes it a great hair care herb for all hair types. Lemon Balm, Melissa officinalis, a mild astringent, makes a very good rinse for those with oily hair. The toning properties of Lemon Balm help balance and refresh hair and scalp.

Does lemon balm have side effects?

Side effects are generally mild and might include increased appetite, nausea, dizziness, and wheezing. There isn’t enough reliable information to know if lemon balm is safe to use for more than 6 months. When applied to the skin: Lemon balm is possibly safe for most adults. It may cause skin irritation.

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Are lemon balm leaves edible?

Culinary use Lemon Balm can be used both in hot and iced teas and in combination with other herbs such as spearmint. The plant is also often used as a flavoring in ice cream and its also suitable for spicing up chicken and fish dishes. Early fresh leaves can be chopped and added to salads.

How does lemon balm tea taste?

What Does Lemon Balm Taste Like? This aromatic member of the mint family has a bright, citrusy taste that brings together the acidity of lemon with subtle hints of mint. Both the stems and fresh leaves of lemon balm have a subtly sweet flavor and can be used in food preparation and medicine.

Can I use lemon balm to make soap?

Lemon balm has such as stimulating yet calming lemon scent with just a hint of mint that it is ideal for soaps. Plus the fact that lemon balm is known for its anti-viral properties making it a great herb to add to soaps.

Does lemon balm raise blood pressure?

Lemon balm may lower your blood pressure and therefore should be used with caution if you are taking medications with similar properties. It can also lower your blood sugar levels and people with diabetes should use lemon balm with care.

Is lemon balm toxic to dogs?

Lemon balm, known scientifically as Melissa officinalis, is a non-toxic herb that can be used on dogs, cats, and even horses. As a supplement for your dog, lemon balm has many benefits that may help with several different conditions.

Does lemon balm repel wasps?

Lemon balm has a sweet fresh fruity scent which is terrific if you are having a yard get-together. It invites that freshness into your home. The smell, however, is not pleasant to wasps and hornets. You can plant a few in your yard as they love sunlight and, it also helps to keep off stinging insects.

Does lemon balm repel ticks?

Lemon Balm As a part of the mint family, this plant that repels ticks has slightly larger green leaves and can grow up to four feet tall. … However, your cat won’t like this plant either. They don’t like citrus smells, and it’ll work wonderfully to keep pests away from your garden.

Is lemon balm anti fungal?

It has a wide range of uses for medicinal, antimicrobial, antioxidant purposes and as a functional food. A moderate amount of investigation on lemon balm has been carried out to determine its medicinal effects such as antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, antitumor and sedative effects.

Can lemon balm tea cause headaches?

Lemon balm is considered safe for short-term use. Side effects may include: Headache. Nausea.

How often should you drink lemon balm tea?

To make a lemon balm tea, brew 1.5 to 4.5 grams of leaves in 150 milliliters of hot water. This can be taken several times a day. The leaves can also be eaten, up to 10 grams a day.

Does lemon balm affect thyroid?

Test tube studies have found that lemon balm blocks attachment of antibodies to the thyroid cells that cause Grave’s disease (hyperthyroidism). The brain’s signal to the thyroid (thyroid-stimulating hormone or TSH) is also blocked from further stimulating the excessively active thyroid gland in this disease.

What herb helps hair growth?

Hibiscus is thought to help stimulate hair follicles, increase follicle size, and increase hair growth. Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri): Brahmi, also called bacopa, is a creeping herb used in Ayurveda medicine. It contains alkaloids thought to activate proteins responsible for hair growth.

What herbs make hair soft?

  • Rosemary. Few herbs are quite as powerful when it comes to creating a head of healthy hair as rosemary. …
  • Burdock. If you long for length, look no further. …
  • Cumin. Don’t underestimate the power of these small seeds! …
  • Chamomile. …
  • Black Pepper. …
  • Sesame. …
  • Horsetail.

Is Lemon balm invasive?

The lemon balm plant (Melissa officinalis) is actually a member of the mint family and is a perennial herb. … If not carefully controlled, lemon balm can quickly become invasive in the garden.

Is mullein extract good for your lungs?

Mullein has been used traditionally as a remedy for the respiratory tract, including bronchitis. It works as an expectorant, meaning it helps expel mucus. Expectorant herbs help loosen bronchial secretions and make elimination of mucus easier.

How do you use lemon balm for anxiety?

Lemon balm can be taken as a tea (6 – 12g of the dry herb daily). However, if you are experiencing high levels of anxiety it is recommended to take a therapeutic dosage in the form of tincture (liquid extract) or capsules containing 500 mg dry extract daily.

Is Lemon balm antibacterial?

Among these products, lemon balm (Melissa officinalis, Lamiaceae) is a medicinal plant and used for the treatment of headaches, gastrointestinal disorders, nervousness, and rheumatism. It is an antibacterial and antifungal agent.

Can you grow lemon balm indoors?

A hardy perennial shrub that is tolerant to USDA zones 3 through 7, lemon balm can be grown year-round indoors, as well as outdoors in warmer climates.

Does lemon balm get flowers?

The white tiny flowers are fairly inconspicuous. The inconspicuous white flowers, sometimes with a yellowish or pinkish tinge, bloom in the leaf axils throughout the summer and are attractive to bees. Because lemon balm is rich in nectar, it is sometimes planted to feed bees.

Is lemon balm a wild plant?

In the mint family, lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a perennial herb that spreads rapidly and has become a fairly common “wild” plant. … Most mints look similar and they all have square stems, which makes them pretty easy to identify, and if it smells like lemons then it’s most likely lemon balm.

How do you dry lemon balm tea leaves?

Rinse the fresh lemon balm leaves using cold water and lay out to dry on a baking sheet. You can also gather the leaves in bundles and hang dry them by tying them from a clothesline. Once completely dry, store the dried leaves in an airtight container or a brown paper bag and leave in a dark place.