Melissa – Melissa officinalis
The name of the plant is derived from the Greek word ‘meli’, which means honey. And that's no coincidence. In nature, lemon balm is an extremely popular destination for honeybees. We humans are attracted to the plant because of its relaxing scent and its healing properties for many physical ailments.
The feel-good herb
Fields of application
Melissa is known for its calming effect. It helps with tension, irritability, restlessness and nervous insomnia. Its essential oil has an antispasmodic effect on nervous heart problems, gastrointestinal problems such as abdominal cramps, flatulence and gall bladder disorders. The flavonoids in the leaves have cell-protecting properties as radical scavengers, which reduce acid secretion and ulcer formation in the stomach. Aqueous extracts have an antiviral effect, including against herpes viruses, which has been proven in studies. This is due to rosmarinic acid, which prevents the virus from entering the cell. This is why lemon balm is also found in gels for treating cold sores. In folk medicine, the medicinal plant is also used as a diaphoretic, nerve-soothing, invigorating agent for colds, functional circulatory problems, nervous palpitations, migraines, hysteria, melancholy and an upset stomach.
Botanical characteristics
The lemon balm plant grows to a height of around 30 to 70 centimetres. It has opposite leaves on a square stem. The whitish yellow labiates bloom at the top in July and August. The lemon balm plant is native to the eastern Mediterranean and is therefore grown in our region in cultures or in domestic gardens. For herbal medicines, the leaves are collected before flowering so that the taste and smell are not lost. Careful drying is important to preserve the essential oils.