Lemon balm, a member of the labiates family, originated in southern Europe. It was planted in gardens as early as the first century AD in Greece and other regions around the eastern Mediterranean.
Occurrence and cultivation of lemon balm
The taste of lemon balm with its typical citrus scent is also well suited for flavoring cold drinks.
In the Middle Ages, lemon balm belonged in every monastery garden because of its medicinal properties. Today it is widespread throughout the world in all temperate climate zones.
Lemon balm prefers nutrient-rich, warm and dry locations with sandy loam soil. The plant grows up to 90 cm tall and develops egg-shaped, slightly serrated leaves and delicate white lip-shaped flowers.
Lemon balm is considered a very perennial plant that proliferates in gardens and often sprouts on forest trails.
Effect and application
Lemon balm is a popular tea plant. Tea from lemon balm tastes light and delicately sweet lemon. For the preparation of herbal liqueurs, the leaves of the plant are excellent. As a spice, it gives a fresh aroma to salads and sauces, cheese creams and soups. Also compotes can be refined with lemon balm.
The taste of lemon balm with its typical citrus scent is also well suited for flavoring cold drinks. But above all, lemon balm has been valued and sought after as a medicinal plant for thousands of years. The Carmelite spirit, which became famous at the beginning of the 17th century, also contains coriander, nutmeg, cloves, star anise and cinnamon in addition to lemon balm.
This remedy was supposed to help with various digestive, circulatory and rheumatic complaints even then. Today, lemon balm spirit is produced from lemon balm leaves and alcohol, which is used as a medicine for internal and external application. The rosmarinic acid contained in lemon balm, among other things, has the effect of fighting microbes and viruses. Essential oils, bitter substances and tannins are other components of the plant, as well as resin and mucilage.
Tea from lemon balm has a diaphoretic effect and is helpful for flatulence. It also has an invigorating effect, but also has a calming effect and can be used as a depressant. Its antispasmodic effect makes lemon balm a universal remedy for many kinds of diseases. The soothing nerve-strengthening effect of lemon balm is also known.
Importance for health
In natural medicine, lemon balm is used both internally and externally. As a tea, it helps with many types of digestive disorders. Tea from lemon balm is used for spasmodic vomiting and for diarrhea, for stomach complaints accompanied by cramps, for flatulence and for colic in the intestinal area, for intestinal spasms and also for gallbladder problems.
It has a decongestant effect on the digestive tract and stimulates the appetite. Lemon balm also helps with menstrual cramps, as well as with menopausal symptoms. Thus, it calms palpitations and has a soothing effect on the typical hot flashes of menopause. In addition, lemon balm can be used for nervous anxiety and insomnia. It also relieves nervous pain and headaches.
In general, lemon balm is a gentle and helpful remedy for fatigue and exhaustion, irritability and restlessness. Used externally, lemon balm can be used for soothing aromatherapy, baths and ablutions. The components of lemon balm are used in the form of spirit as liniments. Muscle pain, joint pain and headaches can be successfully treated.
The active ingredient of lemon balm is also suitable for the treatment of skin problems. For example, Herpex Simplex can be treated with extracts of lemon balm. Also as a pack or overlay for skin ulcers and for swelling, lemon balm develops effective healing effects.
