plant synonyms: Lemon balm belongs to the labiate family (family Lamiceae). Because of its lemony smell, it is usually called “lemon balm“. Other popular names include lemonellea, nerve herb, lady’s smock, garden balm, heart herb and lemon herb.
Latin name: Mellissa officinalisThe lemon balm, also called melissa officinalis, can grow up to about 90 cm high. It loves sunny, wind-protected places. It is native to the eastern Mediterranean countries and western Asia.
Today, however, it is cultivated in central, western and eastern Europe. The egg-shaped leaves of the balm smell and taste lemony before flowering. Lemon balm grows as a perennial herb with upright, branched, almost bare stems.
The stalked, serrated leaves, notched at the edges, are arranged in a crossed pattern. The small, white to yellowish labiate flowers sit in false whorls in the leaf axils of the upper leaves. The flowering time of the balm is from June to August. However, only the leaves and shoot tips are used for medicinal purposes before flowering, as the flower has a negative influence on the taste and smell of the lemon balm plant.
Summary
Lemon balm, also called lemon balm because of its lemony taste, is a herbaceous plant that was brought to Spain from the eastern Mediterranean by the Arabs in the 11th century. Its attraction to bees was noticed early on. Today it is mostly a garden plant.
For medicinal purposes it is cultivated in crops. But also in the kitchen it is very popular for desserts and drinks because of its lemon taste. This undemanding plant can be grown very well in your own garden or on the balcony. Only the young shoots and leaves before flowering are used. Essential oils belong to the ingredients.
Production
The fresh or dried leaves of the lemon balm, which are collected before flowering, are used for medicinal purposes. The essential oil of lemon balm leaves is used externally in creams, gels or bath additives. Characteristic ingredients of lemon balm are flavanoids, essential oil, caffeic acid compounds and rosemary acid. It also contains tannins and bitter substances. One finds the contents materials of the balm in many finished medicaments against unrest conditions, sleep disturbances and stomach intestine illnesses.
