Lemon balm is (Melissa officinalis), also known as balm or balm mint and not to be confused with bee balm, is perennial herb in the mint family Lamiaceae, native to center-southern Europe and the Mediterranean region. Melissa oil is extracted from Melissa officinalis of the Labiates family and is also known as balm, lemon balm, as well as common, sweet and bee balm. This essential oil has a couple of uses in aromatherapy and helps to bring calmness to the mind, while having a great sedating effect, calming the heartbeat and palpitations. It furthermore is used to correct menstrual problems, while having excellent results in fighting cold sores (herpes simplex), as well as fungal infections to a lesser degree.

This plant from the Mediterranean region grows to about 60 cm (2 feet) and likes soil with high iron content and has small serrated slightly hairy leaves and small white-pink flowers.

Melissa essential oil's primary purpose is to penetrate the deepest layers of the human psyche to help restore clarity, confidence and security to a confused, dependent soul. It brings peace during intense times, and eases distrust by encouraging innocence. Melissa is well known as very effective oil for anxious depression. It is effective in easing grief and soothing sadness, as it encourages the soul to return to a sense of balance."Melissa is a spiritual conduit and is thus a precious gift of the heavens at any time, but perhaps is especially appreciated before meditation or prayer" Valerie Ann Wormwood in Aromatherapy for the Soul.

 

Uses:

Melissa oil calms the nerves and has excellent qualities in fighting depression. Its sedative effect is well documented. It helps in cases of hysteria and panic and helps to shows the heartbeat, eases high blood pressure and is a tonic to the heart while regulating the menstrual cycle, also helping with period pains.

It can settle the digestive system, helps with nausea, flatulence, vomiting, dyspepsia and dysentery and has a cooling effect on fevers. It can help with headaches and migraines associated with colds.

When treatment is started in the early stages, it can also be used as a topical treatment for cold sores.

Benefits: The health benefits of Melissa Essential Oil can be attributed to its properties as an antidepressant, cordial, nerviness, emmenagogue, sedative, antispasmodic, stomachic, antibacterial, carminative, diaphoretic, febrifuge, hypertensive, soporific and tonic substance.

This property is one of the four most significant medicinal properties of this oil. It is an effective mood lifter and an antidepressant. This means that it invokes warm feelings and provides actual warmth to the respiratory system and the cardiovascular system.

Melissa essential oil is also considered a Nerving substance. This means that it serves as a tonic for the nervous system, keeping it healthy, functioning properly and helping to avoid nervous disorders.

Many problems related to menstruation and Post Menstrual Syndrome can be treated with the help of Melissa oil. These include problems like obstructed menses, irregular menses, pain and extreme fatigue during periods, untimely menopause, annoyance, and depression after menopause.

An unexplainable or excessive contraction in the body is called a spasm. Spasms can occur within the respiratory muscular, nervous and digestive systems and can lead to severe coughs, muscular cramps, convulsions, shortness of breath and severe abdominal pains. Spasms should be taken very seriously, since in extreme cases they may be lethal. The essential oil of Melissa, being an effective sedative and relaxant, can give fast relief from spasms in all parts of the body.

Something that soothes the stomach, tones it up and strengthens it is called a stomachic. Melissa oil, being a stomachic, helps in the smooth functioning of the stomach and the digestive process. It helps heal any wounds, scratches or ulcers in the stomach, maintains proper flow of gastric juices and bile into the stomach, and also protects it from infections.

Melissa oil has antibacterial properties and has been found to be effective for inhibiting bacterial infections in the colon, intestines, urinary tract and kidneys.