Another incredible plant native to the Mediterranean, Asia, and Europe, Lemon Balm is now found around the world. It is a popular herb from the mint family and is a staple of traditional European Medicine.

Dating back more than 2,000 years, writings document its usefulness in many health areas. The genus name, Melissa, means “bee” in the Greek language; the plant was named for its ability to attract bees and increase honey production. The more common name was derived from the Greek word balsamon, which means balsom, or a sweet-smelling oily resin. 

The plant itself is bushy  and lush, and can grow to 3- to 4-feet in height. The leaves of the plant are longer, rough in nature, and shaped like a heart. Summertime and warmer weather bring white or light pink flowers, and a beautiful lemon scent is emitted from the leaves. 

Lemon Balm has grown to be a wildly popular herb, commonly used today for stress and mood support. It is common to find it included in herbal stress and mood supplements alone as an independent stand-alone ingredient, or as a part of a more complete formula among other synergistic herbs. 

Based on meta-analysis results, lemon balm significantly improved mean anxiety and depression scores compared with the respectively, without serious side effects. Current evidence suggests that lemon balm may be effective in improving anxiety and depressive symptoms, particularly in the acute setting.

There are some well-known successful uses topically. Lemon Balm is commonly used in lotions, creams, hair care, and even some make-up. It has also created another market in the specialty skin category. This includes cold sore treatments, acne preparations, insect bites, and rashes and hives. 

Lemon Balm is also a fresh herb that can be used in foods like other fresh herbs. It adds a fresh minty taste to green salads, in marinades, and is even enjoyable when brewed with teas, although you can buy prepared tea bags from your health food store. I enjoy it when added to fruit salads, fish dishes, chicken and egg salad, and for a boost of flavor in a smoothie.