Skip to content
Lemon Balm at a Glance
Melissa officinalis is a lemon-scented perennial in the Lamiaceae family. The leaves are used as tea, culinary herb and traditional calming preparation.
Traditional Use
European herbal traditions use lemon balm for nervous tension, digestive discomfort and restful sleep. It is also a familiar garden herb and flavoring plant.
Research
Small human studies have explored lemon balm alone or in combinations for stress, mood, sleep and cognition. Results are promising in some settings but not strong enough to treat anxiety or insomnia as established indications.
Preparation
Fresh or dried leaves can be infused as tea. Tinctures and concentrated extracts are stronger and may not behave exactly like a simple infusion.
Safety
Lemon balm is generally well tolerated in food and tea amounts. Drowsiness or digestive upset can occur. Concentrated products may add to sedating medicines. Laboratory and animal research has raised questions about thyroid-related effects, but the clinical importance is uncertain; people with significant thyroid disease or thyroid medication can discuss regular high-dose use with a clinician. Pregnancy and breastfeeding medicinal-dose data are limited.
Folklore
Lemon balm has long been associated with cheer, comfort, friendship and the honeybee; the genus name Melissa is linked with the Greek word for bee.
Bottom Line
Lemon balm is a gentle culinary and tea herb with a strong traditional calming reputation and modest modern research. For educational purposes only.