Article: The benefits of lemon balm. Lemon balm, or lemon balm Melissa officianalis is a perennial herbaceous plant which belongs to the Lamiaceae family. Lemon balm is found in central and southern Europe, the western part of Asia and northern Africa.
Lemon balm is used in cooking, particularly in drinks, salads, desserts, or to flavor marinades and vinegars. In herbal medicine, lemon balm is often used for its soothing properties on digestive and nervous disorders. Lemon balm takes its name from the Greek Melissa meaning bee. Indeed, the fresh, lemony scent of lemon balm, a honey plant par excellence, attracts bees.
Beekeepers coated the hives with lemon balm to attract them. The therapeutic properties of Lemon Balm have been used since ancient times [1]. Hippocrates, a Greek doctor considered the father of Medicine, recommended it to soothe digestive disorders. As for Arab doctors, they used lemon balm for its positive effects on mood and mental well-being. Finally, a Persian doctor and philosopher from the 11th century, named Avicenna, prescribed this plant to relieve melancholy.
Lemon balm became very famous thanks to Emperor Charlemagne, who cultivated it in his gardens to help him manage his mood. A few centuries later, Charles V, French king, had the habit of drinking lemon balm tea daily. In France, during medieval times, lemon balm was cultivated in the medicinal gardens of priories and monasteries and was then used in preparation for its various benefits on digestion and sleep. Today, lemon balm remains a widely used medicinal plant for its many virtues.
The European Medicine Agency EMA has validated its use to reduce stress, promote sleep and relieve digestive problems. Lemon balm leaves are most often used in herbal tea or infusion, in food supplements and in several herbal medicines. Endowed with powerful medicinal properties, lemon balm is a plant that provides numerous benefits for the body [2].
