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Balm
Melissa officinalis, Labiat
Names : Lemon Balm, Sweet Balm, Melissa, Balm mint, Bee balm, Blue balm, Cure-all, Dropsy plant, Garden balm, Honey plant, bible leaf
History---The word Balm is an abbreviation of Balsam, the
chief of sweet-smelling oils. It is so called from its honeyed
sweetness It was highly esteemed by Paracelsus, who believed it
would completely revivify a man. It was formerly esteemed of great
use in all complaints supposed to proceed from a disordered state of
the nervous system. The London Dispensary (1696) says: 'An essence
of Balm, given in Canary wine, every morning will renew youth,
strengthen the brain, relieve languishing nature and prevent
baldness.' John Evelyn wrote: 'Balm is sovereign for the brain,
strengthening the memory and powerfully chasing away melancholy.'
Balm steeped in wine we are told again, 'comforts the heart and
driveth away melancholy and sadness.' Formerly a spirit of Balm,
combined with lemon-peel, nutmeg and angelica root, enjoyed a great
reputation under the name of Carmelite water, being deemed highly
useful against nervous headache and neuralgic affections.
Habitat : A common plant in Britain, Europe, W.
Asia and N. Africa.
Collection : The leaves may be harvested two or
three times a year between June and September. They are gathered by
cutting off the young shoots when they are approximately 30cm (l2
inches) long. They should be dried in the shade at a temperature not
above 35 degrees C.
Part Used : Dried aerial parts, or fresh in season.
Actions : Carminative, nervine, anti-spasmodic,
anti-depressive, diaphoretic, anti-microbial, hepatic.
Indications : Balm is an excellent carminative herb
that relieves spasms in the digestive tract and is used in flatulent
dyspepsia. Because of its mild anti-depressive properties, it is
primarily indicated where there is dyspepsia associated with anxiety
or depression, as the gently sedative oils relieve tension and
stress reactions, thus acting to lighten depression. The volatile
oil appears to act on the interface between the digestive tract and
nervous system. It has been described by some herbalists as being
trophorestorative to the nervous system, similar in some ways to
Oats. It may be used in migraine that is associated with tension,
neuralgia, anxiety induced palpitations, insomnia. Balm has a tonic
effect on the heart and circulatory system causing mild vaso-dilation
of the peripheral vessels, thus acting to lower blood pressure. It
can be used in feverish conditions such as influenza. Hot water
extracts have anti-viral properties, possibly due in part to
rosmarinic acid and other polyphenolics. A lotion based extract may
be used for skin lesions of Herpes simplex, the anti-viral activity
having been confirmed both laboratory and clinical trial. Its
hormone regulating effects are well documented in the laboratory.
Freeze-dried aqueous extracts inhibit many of the effects of thyroid
stimulating hormone (TSH) on the thyroid gland by interfering with
the binding of TSH to plasma membranes and by inhibiting the enzyme
iodothyronine de-iodinase in vitro. It also inhibits the receptor
binding and biological activity of immunoglobulins in the blood of
patients with Graves disease, a condition which results in
hyperthyroidism.
According to Kings Dispensatory Balm is moderately stimulant,
diaphoretic, and antisipasmodic. A warm infusion, drank freely, has
been serviceable a diaphoretic in febrile diseases and painful
menstruation, and to assist the operation of other diaphoretic
medicines; in combination with ipecacuanha and potassium nitrate, a
valuable diaphoretic is formed. It is also occasionally used to
assist menstruation. When given in fevers, it may be rendered more
agreeable by the addition of lemon juice. The infusion may be taken
ad libitum.
Combinations : In digestive troubles it may be
combined with Hops, Chamomile or Meadowsweet. However, Hops is
contra-indicated in depression. For stress and tension it will
combine with Lavender and Linden.
Preparations & Dosage : Infusion: pour a cup of
boiling water onto 2-3 teaspoonfuls of the dried herb or 4-6 fresh
leaves and leave to infuse for l0-l5 minutes, well covered until
drunk. A cup of this tea should be taken in the morning and the
evening, or when needed.
Tincture: take 2-6 ml
of the tincture three times a day.
Infusion:use 2 tsp.
chopped herb or leaves to 1 cup boiling water.Drink warm, as
required.
Cold extract: use 2
tbsp. per cup of cold water; let stand 8 hours.
Extract: mix 1/2 to 1
tsp. of extract in 1 cup water, take up to 3 times daily.
Use the dried herb to make tea, or drink 1 cup of packaged tea
daily.
Essential Oil: the concentrated essence of lemon balm has
the same properties as the leaves but is far more potent; a few
drops make an excellent antidote to depression. Pure essential oil
is difficult to obtain commercially; it is often adulterated with
lemon or lemongrass oils.
Sold : Sold in commercial antiviral preparations in Germany. This
herb is widely available in tea, dried herb, and extract.
More Info:
Many virtues were formerly ascribed to this plant. Gerard says: 'It is profitably planted where bees are kept. The hives of bees being rubbed with the leaves of bawme, causeth the bees to keep together, and causeth others to come with them.' And again quoting Pliny, 'When they are strayed away, they do find their way home by it.' Pliny says: 'It is of so great virtue that though it be but tied to his sword that hath given the wound it stauncheth the blood.' Gerard also tells us: 'The juice of Balm glueth together greene wounds,' and gives the opinion of Pliny and Dioscorides that 'Balm, being leaves steeped in wine, and the wine drunk, and the leaves applied externally, were considered to be a certain cure for the bites of venomous beasts and the stings of scorpions. It is now recognized as a scientific fact that the balsamic oils of aromatic plants make excellent surgical dressings: they give off ozone and thus exercise anti-putrescent effects. Being chemical hydrocarbons, they contain so little oxygen that in wounds dressed with the fixed balsamic herbal oils, the atomic germs of disease are starved out, and the resinous parts of these balsamic oils, as they dry upon the sore or wound, seal it up and effectually exclude all noxious air.
Myths : The great Paracelsus called this herb the
elixir of life, and combined it with carbonate of potash in a
mixture known as Primum Ens Melissae.It is recorded that one of
Louis XIV's physicians, Lesebure, tried this out on an elderly
chicken, which within a few days lost its tattered plumage, grew
fresh feathers and started to lay eggs again.He had earlier tried
it, with equally dramatic results, on two old servants, but did not
complete the experiment.Another of Paracelsus's elixirs, the Primum
Ens Sanquinis, contained human blood and Alcahest, a universal
medicine based on caustic lime, alcohol and carbonate of potash.
Eau de Carmes, a fashionable 17th century perfume, was a
distillation of balm leaves and spirits of wine, to which were added
lemon peel, nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon.Balm oil is still a favorite
scent throughout the Middle East.The botanical name melissa is from
the Greek word for honey.Bees are particularly fond of this
plant.Among the ancient Greeks it was a practice to place sprigs of
balm in bee hives to attract a swarm.
John Hussey of Sydenham, England, who lived to the age of 116,
breakfasted for 50 years on balm tea sweetened with honey, and the
herb teas were the usual breakfasts of Llewelyn, Prince of Glamorgan,
who lived to 108.Other amazing powers of longevity have been
ascribed to lemon balm.
Balm and bees have been linked since ancient times.Melissa comes
from the Greek for 'honey bee', and lemon balm has the same healing
and tonic properties as honey and royal jelly.Gerard said the the
herb 'comforteth the hart and driveth away all sadnesse,' and it was
a favorite in medieval 'elixirs of youth;' the alchemist Paracelsus
made a preparation called primum ens melissae, and even in the 18th
century, it was still thought to 'renew youth.'
Originally grown in the Orient, Arab traders introduced this herb to
Spain.It was later brought to Germany by Benedictine monks.Still
popular in Europe, lemon balm is now grown in parts of the United
States.The famous 17th century herbalist Culpeper thought so highly
of lemon balm that he wrote, 'Let a syrup made with the juice of it
and sugar...be kept in every gentle woman's house to relieve the
neighbours.'
Herb Index A to Z
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AKA: Vitex, Monk's Pepper and Wild Pepper
AKA: Knitbone, common comfrey, symphytum, blackwort, healing herb and bruisewort
Elder -AKA: American Elder , Sweet Elder and Common Elder
AKA: Virgaurea, Herba Solidaginus
AKA: Gravelweed, Joe-Pye Weed, Queen of the Meadow, purple boneset, trumpet weed, kidney root
AKA: Alehoof, Cat’s foot, Creeping Charlie, Gill-over-the-ground, Gillrun, Hay maids, hedge maids
AKA: Guaiac, Lignum vitae, pockwood
Gotu kola
AKA: Haw, May Blossom, Maybush, May Tree, Quick-set, Shan-cha
AKA: Marrubium, Hoarhound, White Horehound
AKA White Mustard, Yellow Mustard, Black Mustard, Kedlock
AKA: Balsamodendron
AKA: Milkwort, Rattlesnake Root, Seneca Snakeroot, Snake Root