Lemon balm is a member of the mint family that is most commonly grown in Germany and England. It is an herb that gains its name from the fact that it gives off the light aroma of lemon. Lemon balm’s medicinal uses stem from the dried up leaves, which can be found in creams, tablets and teas.

Studies have proven lemon balm to be an effective aid for anxiety and insomnia. Researchers placed laboratory animals in new surroundings in order to produce feelings of fear and stress. These reactions were significantly reduced when they were given extracts of the lemon balm. In a second experimentation, the animals were fed a sleeping pill. The addition of lemon balm made the full dose unnecessary for the animals to succumb to sleep. A human version of this study had patients falling asleep just as easily with the herb as they did with a sedative called triazolam. Lemon balm not only relaxes stress, but skin and muscle pains in those diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).

Lemon balm is also known to regulate the thyroid due to the flavonoids and polyphenolics it contains. It prevents the attachment of antibodies to cells in the thyroid and stops thyroid stimulating hormones from excessively fueling already high activity in the glands. These are both traits that can cause Graves’ disease, which lemon balm is able to thwart.

When contracting herpes infections there is the added risk that the virus will eventually become immune to treatments. When treatments are ineffective, lemon balm is able to reinforce them. A study had 116 herpes patients randomly take either a placebo or lemon balm extract in a cream form. Within two days, those who had received the lemon balm were reporting major improvements regarding their symptoms, including itching, burning, swelling and redness. On day five, half of the group taking the lemon balm was free of any symptoms and not experiencing any scarring, which indicates that the herb does not damage skin cells.

Other benefits include relieving irritable bowel syndrome, healing wounds, soothing indigestion, and alleviating cramps, gas and menstrual pains. There are two instances in which you should not take lemon balm. Firstly, if you are taking barbiturates for anxiety or insomnia, you should not take lemon balm through tinctures or teas. This can increase the sedative effects. Secondly, those with glaucoma should avoid lemon balm in essential oils as it could raise eye pressure.