ii: Herb of the Month
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) Marianne Hughes, with illustration by Hazel Brady In the late 10th century, Ibn Sina, the Persian scholar more commonly known as Avicenna, wrote: balm causeth the heart and mind to become merry Perhaps this is where the botanist John Gerard (1545-1612) sourced his own comment on Lemon Balm, that it: comforteth the hart and driveth away all melancholie and sadnesse Lemon Balm has been used ever since for treating the symptoms of stress, to aid sleep and for promoting memory. In the 14th century, Carmelite nuns mixed extract of Lemon Balm with Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans), Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) and Angelica (Angelica archangelica), to produce Carmelite water— ‘Eau des Carmes’ —which was known for its sweet scent and healing properties. Kress (2013) suggests adding Eau des Carmes to fruit brandy to make ‘Carmelite brandy’— and perhaps, secretly, the nuns did so.
Ody (2017) lists the active constituents of Lemon Balm as volatile oil (which includes citronellal), polyphenols, tannins, a bitter principle, flavonoids and rosmarinic acid. It is the essential oil that binds to those brain receptors linked to reducing anxiety. In 2014, the rosmarinic acid content of Lemon Balm was also found to have anxiolytic effects (i.e., to reduce anxiety) when taken in a water-soluble form in a drink with natural fruit juices (Scholey et al). In addition to the anxiolytic effects, the study found that the Lemon Balm solution improved working memory, mathematical processing and psychomotor performance. These are important findings, as pharmaceutical anxiolytics can often impair cognitive performance and working memory capabilities. Additionally, Martin and Preedy (2020) focus on the neuroprotective properties of rosmarinic acid; their research suggests a potential therapeutic application for people with dementia, or those who have had strokes.
