Lemon balm, a member of the mint family, is well known for its aromatic leaves that smell not surprisingly, of lemon. The herb is found primarily in Europe, the Mediterranean, parts of Asia and the northern part of Africa, but is grown in gardens just about everywhere even growing wild in parts of North America. It’s regularly used as a flavoring agent, which supports the herb’s use in tea making. But, lemon balm tea benefits may include much more than just a delightful flavor but medicinal benefits such as the ten found here.
There is little complication to a lemon balm tea recipe. 2 teaspoons of lemon balm leaves, either dried or fresh, can be steeped in one cup of freshly boiled water for ten minutes before straining. Other herbs that nicely complement lemon balm include hawthorn flowers, chamomile and valerian, used in equal quantities. Some prefer drying the leaves themselves in the sunlight before brewing the tea; others add honey or other sweeteners to the brew. And, lemon balm can also be a tasty addition to many herbal tea recipes that include other leaves, roots and flowers as well. But, none of this is required in order to take advantage of lemon balm tea benefits for health, some of which remain an important part of medicine in some parts of the world today.
1. Stress Relief
Studies have confirmed that lemon balm contains powerful volatile oils that are the basis for most of the medicinal benefits of the herbal remedy. One of the best proven relates to stress relief, where trials have found a marked reduction in both stress and anxiety in participants using extracts of the plant. Lemon balm tea benefits have long been explored in this way for thousands of years, being noted as a tension soother as far back as the middle ages.
2. Sleeping Disorders
Preliminary studies involving animals have found that lemon balm exhibits effects that are similar to sedative medications and that this action may help individuals experiencing restlessness or sleeplessness fall asleep easier and stay asleep for longer periods of time, although further research will be needed to determine the herb’s safety and effectiveness in this application.
3. Grave’s Disease
Lemon balm tea benefits may include decreasing the production of excess thyroid hormone in the body, the mechanism of action behind Grave’s disease. Further studies will be needed in order to fully understand the effects that lemon balm may have on the autoimmune condition, but early results are promising.
4. Concentration
Stress relief is one of the oldest uses of lemon balm, and its one historical herbal remedy that still is used today for the same purpose. However, researchers have taken the link between lemon balm tea benefits and stress relief to a new level to see just how these effects can affect concentration during things like study and homework. The results thus far have been quite positive, perhaps furthering the claims of mental and cognitive benefits associated with the herb.
5. Viruses
Many herbal remedies found in nature have antibacterial properties, but it seems that far fewer have any effectiveness against viruses. Polyphenols found in lemon balm may possess rather potent antiviral properties, and this has led to the suggestion that lemon balm tea benefits may include reducing the symptoms of conditions like herpes and shingles. Externally applied products that include lemon balm have also yielded some success, lending more credibility to these claims.
6. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Both the thyroid hormone regulating and antiviral activity associated with lemon balm are what have made the herb particularly of interest to those studying chronic fatigue syndrome, a condition in which lemon balm may have some practical applications.
7. Dementia and Alzheimer’s
Specifically citrals A and B along with citronellal are the volatile oils found in lemon balm that have been associated with the herb’s calming properties. These effects have also been linked to better concentration and cognitive performance. When combined together, these lemon balm tea benefits may include mental support for people with degenerative diseases. This is furthered by the potent antioxidants found in the herb, which may help protect cells and slow oxidation.
8. Stomach Problems
Specifically with regards to GERD (Gastro esophageal reflux disease) some symptom relief has been observed in persons taking a combination of herbals that includes lemon balm amongst others. Symptom relief from vomiting, nausea and cramping therefore may be related to lemon balm.
9. Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Though more research will be needed to fully evaluate the role that lemon balm tea benefits may have in persons with irritable bowel syndrome, limited and small studies have concluded that some discomfort may be relieved in people with the condition using lemon balm.
10. Menstrual Symptoms
Perhaps it’s the ability of the herb to calm or its purported uses in reducing cramping that make it an old remedy for many various symptoms related to women’s health. While the physical symptom relief results have been far less studied, mood changes, stress and anxiety as a result of hormonal fluctuations related to menstruation may very well benefit from lemon balm.
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