Herb of the Month: Lemon balm Melissa officinalis

In the garden

In late April and May the perennial Lemon balm emerges once again: often in shady places, as they do well both in and out of sunlight. Leaves of the variegated and yellow-leaved forms can actually burn in direct sun, according to Graham Stuart Thomas (Perennial Garden Plants), who rates it a valuable addition for gardens which breeds true from the freely-sown seed. He describes the leaves as ‘deliciously scented of lemon when crushed’. Named Melissa after the Greek for honey, it is loved by bees, and the herbalist Gerard quotes Pliny as saying that bees ‘when they straied away, they doe finde their way home againe by it’.

In the kitchen

You can make lemon balm tea with a sprig of fresh leaves, or dry it for use in the winter months. The leaves are edible, if a bit hairy and tough, but if you line a cake tin with them the lemon flavour will infuse the cake and you can unpeel the leaves once the cake is cool.

In herbal medicine

The Latin name Melissa officinalis indicates that lemon balm has been known as a medicinal plant since antiquity (officinalis refers to the officina, or apothecary, of the medieval monks). It is the aerial, or above-ground, parts that are used in medicine. It has many valuable properties: it is antiviral, decongestant, anti-histamine, antiseptic, carminative (helps with the digestion), antispasmodic, antidepressant, nervine, diaphoretic (induces sweating), hypotensive (lowers blood pressure), and a bitter tonic (stimulates the liver).

Lemon balm can be safely used as a remedy to soothe the nerves and lift the spirits. It is especially helpful to calm an upset digestion, and any stress-related condition of the nerves or heart. It also relieves the spasm causing period pain, and can help lift depression both postnatally and during menopause.

Lemon balm tea will help reduce fevers in childhood infections; the relaxing and mucous-reducing effects help with bronchitis and irritating coughs. Combine with nettles and chamomile for allergies.