Lemon Balm Melissa
What’s Lemon Balm Good For?
Lemon balm is not just about its fresh, citrus scent. It has some truly fantastic uses in your body too. Want to know what they are? Read on!
What Is Lemon Balm?
Despite its name, lemon balm is a herb from the mint family. Its wide green leaves smell strongly of lemon, making it a lovely plant for in your home or garden. It is relatively easy to grow from seed but grows natively in the Mediterranean and central Asia.
It has been used medicinally since Ancient Roman times, but more recent studies have shown many benefits to this herb.
How Lemon Balm Can Reduce Stress
The ultimate uplifter, lemon balm can turn your frown upside down! A report by A. Scholey et al. (1) showed that eating foods with lemon balm helped make test subjects happier. Another study by D. O’Kennedy et al. worked to prove that it helped soothe the mind in highly stressful situations.
Lemon balm is rich in terpenes and flavonoids. These antioxidants are thought to inhibit negative chemicals in the brain so that anxiety is reduced (2). It is considered as effective as prescribed medicine.
How Lemon Balm Helps You Sleep
These anxiety-reducing powers can also help those who struggle to get a good night’s sleep (3). Working to rest and calm the brain can improve your sleep so you wake up feeling great!
How Lemon Balm Can Soothe Your Stomach
A little south of the brain, lemon balm can help treat indigestion and nausea, according to a report by G. Gasbarrini et al. (4).
Terpenes are also responsible for the carminative effect on your digestion, reducing gas and making your stomach more comfortable. It contains chemicals responsible for stimulating digestive juices so that everything flows through nicely.