Why is lemon balm useful and its range of applications
Melissa officinalis is a perennial herb of the Lamiaceae family. It is known for its sedative properties, but its range of uses is broader. Wonderful herb can be added to food and drinks as a seasoning, as well as to prepare medicinal decoctions, infusions and tinctures based on it. The plant is widespread in temperate climates, so it can be harvested independently or grown on site. However, lemon balm in tablets and in the form of crushed dry herb is sold in pharmacies.
Melissa medicinal: plant description
Melissa is a medicinal plant that grows in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. Its properties were mentioned in the chronicles of Ancient Rome and Greece. Today lemon balm is cultivated for use in cooking, medicine and cosmetology. It looks like a small herbaceous bush, highly branched and lush, with rounded leaves. The plant can be confused with mintwhose leaves have a similar shape. The main difference between the two is smell. When you rub a small leaf of mint between your fingers, a persistent aroma of menthol immediately appears. Lemon balm contains less essential oils, so the herb is not so aromatic.
When the lemon balm leaves are rubbed, a light lemon scent appears, for which the plant has found application in beekeeping. It scares away bees, so before working with them it is enough to stock up on fresh grass.
It is important to harvest medicinal herbs before the period of its flowering will begin. The effect of lemon balm does not extend to its roots, therefore, only the stems and leaves need to be collected. They dry them warm dry and well-ventilated and then placed in small bags made of fabric for long-term storage (up to 12 months). It is worth remembering that the most the herb collected in ecologically clean places will be useful. By this reason it is better to grow it on your own plot or at home in a pot.
Chemical composition and mechanism of action
The beneficial properties of lemon balm herb and taste are due to its chemical composition. All components are collected in optimal proportions and have a number of effects after ingestion. Before using the herb as a medicine, you should familiarize yourself with its components and understand what effect they produce.
The chemical composition of lemon balm is represented by the following elements:
- essential oils (found in the highest concentration) - a source of terpenoids that have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects;
- the terpenoid citronellal produces a slight sedative effect, due to which lemon balm soothes in the composition of tea or broth;
- terpenoids geraniol, citronellol - natural antispasmodics;
- rosmarinic acid - useful as an antiviral component (especially effective against the herpes virus), and also relieves inflammation;
- other components: flavonoids, resins, tannins, saponins, vitamins A and B, microelements.
Analysis of the components allows you to understand what lemon balm herb is for can be used and how it will affect the human body. Complex composition when used correctly, it can improve well-being, get rid of inflammatory diseases and viral infections, as well as strengthen the immune system and tone the body. Infusions, decoctions, tinctures: there are a huge number recipes, and it is important to know how to drink lemon balm herb for maximum therapeutic effect.
Indications for application
Like any other medicinal plant, lemon balm has a number of effects in the body. It can be taken internally or externally, depending on the indication. The range of application of this herb is very wide - with regular use, it has a positive effect on all organ systems at the same time.
Heart and Nervous System Problems
One of the most well-known uses is lemon balm for the heart. It normalizes blood pressure in hypertension, has a positive effect on heart rate indicators. It is also recommended for ischemic disease, atherosclerosis and other dangerous diseases of the cardiovascular system as an additional method of treatment.
Lemon balm extract is popular for various disorders of the nervous system. Fears, frequent mood swings, decreased performance and apathy, depression and other conditions that indicate nervous disorders are successfully treated with rest and taking herbal sedatives. Including lemon balm helps to normalize sleep and quickly relieves insomnia.
Assistance in gynecology and gastrointestinal diseases
Melissa is also used in gynecology. Painful sensations caused by menstruation or menopause are successfully stopped by taking decoctions and infusions. They contain anti-inflammatory components and antispasmodics, therefore, they target the center of origin of pain. Also, these funds are recommended during pregnancy and lactation to relieve nausea, and then - to increase milk production. The herb lemon balm for men is also indicated in the treatment of inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract.
Another ode to the sphere of use of this plant is diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The herb has a diuretic and mild laxative effect, helps restore enzymes in the intestines. It also increases the production and outflow of bile, preventing the development of gallstone disease. Melissa can also be taken as a preventive measure to keep your digestive system healthy.
Melissa for colds and skin problems
Melissa should be added to tea or drunk as a decoction for colds and SARS. Its components strengthen the immune system, suppress inflammatory processes and have a detrimental effect on pathogenic microflora. Including it can be given to young children. However, the treatment with lemon balm and contraindications to its use are individual, so it is better to consult a doctor.
Lemon balm tincture is also suitable for external use. It is recommended for purulent skin diseases, including furunculosis. However, at home, it will be useful for acne or for treating oily skin. Lemon balm infusion will help soothe sensitive skin.
Despite the fact that products based on this medicinal plant can be prepared independently, doctors do not deny the benefits of using lemon balm herb. Unlike many other traditional methods, it has proven to be effective and safe. It is especially recommended for the normalization of the state of the nervous system.
Contraindications and side effects
Despite the huge number of beneficial properties of lemon balm herb, you should consult your doctor before using it. Even a healthy person may experience an allergic reaction to this plant, up to Quincke's edema. It is impossible to predict this, but when the first symptoms appear (swelling of the mucous membranes, the appearance of a rash), it is necessary to urgently stop treatment. The second factor to consider is lemon balm and blood pressure.
With hypotension (lowering blood pressure), lemon balm can aggravate the condition.
Recipes for lemon balm
Before using lemon balm, it is important to properly prepare it. If you store it under conditions of high humidity or under the open sun, the plant will lose its beneficial properties.
The easiest recipe is to add a few fresh or dry twigs to your tea. They will add flavor and strengthen the body to fight infection:
- Lemon balm infusion is the easiest way to prepare it. For a spoonful of dried crushed raw materials, you will need 1 glass of water. The mixture is brought to a boil, and then kept on low heat for another 10 minutes. When the liquid has cooled to room temperature, it should be drained and drunk throughout the day.
- Lemon balm infusion - used for the same indications as the decoction. Dry lemon balm herb must be poured with boiling water and left warm overnight. In the morning you will get a ready-made infusion, which can be divided into several portions and taken several times a day.
- Melissa tincture with vodka is useful for insomnia and for external use. To prepare it, you will need dry herb and vodka in a 1: 1 ratio. The mixture is infused for 2 weeks in a dry, dark room, and then filtered. The liquid is taken orally in a spoon.
The herb lemon balm, the beneficial properties and contraindications of which are confirmed by official medicine, is sold in any pharmacy. It can also be purchased in tablets - this form is more convenient and allows you to more accurately calculate the dosage. In addition, lemon balm can be added to food in any quantity. It is considered a versatile natural seasoning, has a long shelf life and enriches the taste and aroma of food and drinks.