Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), also known as balm or balm mint and not to be confused with bee balm (which is genus Monarda), is a perennial herb in the mint family Lamiaceae, native to center-southern Europe and the Mediterranean region.

In North America, Melissa officinalis has escaped cultivation and spread into the wild. Lemon balm requires light and at least 20 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit) to germinate. Lemon balm grows in clumps and spreads vegetative as well as by seed. In mild temperate zones, the stems of the plant die off at the start of the winter, but shoot up again in spring. Lemon Balm grows vigorously and should not be planted where it will spread into other plantings.

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

There is a good reason why this essential oil has earned the reputation and globally known name of Sweet Oil and Common Oil. This is because this oil is extensively used in nearly all sorts of balms due to its soothing properties while having a sweet, pleasant aroma.

It is a plant native to the Mediterranean Region and has been popularly referred to as the Bee Plant, the reason being obvious. However, that is not the sole cause of this plant’s popularity. It is famous particularly for its soothing, memory boosting and antidepressant powers, among others whose explanations can be found below.

This property is one of the four most significant medicinal properties of this oil. It is an effective mood lifter and an antidepressant. It has been found to drive away sadness and inspire joy and hope. That is why it was called the “Elixir of Life” or the “Nectar of Life” all the way back in the 15th Century. This means that it invokes warm feelings and provides actual warmth to the respiratory system and the cardiovascular system. One can avoid frequent colds with the help of this property.

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. Problems like vertigo, nervousness, and convulsions can be treated using this property of Melissa essential oil.

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.

Benefit & Use: This essential oil sedates and soothes. It is good for calming inflammation, anxiety, nervousness, trauma and shock. It also promotes sleep due to this property. It relaxes the body, mind and soul while bringing feelings of peace and contentment. In the past, it was used to help soldiers relax and drive away the fatigue and stress of combat.

An unexplainable or excessive contraction in the body is called a spasm. Spasms can occur within the respiratory, muscular, nerving, 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.