Lemon Balm

    Researchedby:
    Kamal Patel
    Last Updated: September 28, 2022

    Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm) is a herb/tea traditionally said to induce calmness and improve cognition. It does appear effective at inducing calmness and reducing anxiety, but the cognitive enhancing properties are variable (appears to benefit if stressed, but otherwise it is merely sedative).

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    Lemon Balm is most often used for .

    747 participants in 11 trials

    Summary

    Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm) is a herb that has traditionally been used for a variety of cognitive purposes, most of which are centered around improving cognition and reducing stress and anxiety. It is said to calm the nerves and to relax the body.

    In regards to its subjective cognitive effects, it appears to be effective in inducing calmness. This may also manifest itself in a negative manner as healthy persons who take Lemon Balm prior to a cognitive test appear to score worse than placebo on reaction time and memory formation (possibly related to sedation) while improving the quality of memories (amount of correct memories formed, rather than 'remembering' something that didn't happen). Only one study looked at contentment, but found no influence.

    Theoretically, calmness inducing agents should also help in sleep. We currently have one study suggesting that the anxiety-reducing properties can help people who have anxiety-related insomnia but beyond that most sleep research is confounded with Valerian as the two are theoretically (not yet demonstrated) additive or synergistic.

    Overall, the cognitive enhancing properties of Lemon Balm appear to be somewhat overhyped. It has been shown to enhance the memory quality yet (possibly due to its sedative effects) it reduces quantititatively how many memories are formed and the rate thereof.

    Currently, Lemon Balm appears to be supported for inducing calmness and relaxation but other claims may need more research.

    What are other names for Lemon Balm

    Note that Lemon Balm is also known as:
    • Lemon Balm
    • Melissengeist
    • Bee Balm
    • Garden Balm
    • Melissa
    • Erva-cidreira
    • Melissa Officinalis
    Lemon Balm should not be confused with:
    • Limonene (sometimes called Lemon extract)

    Dosage information

    The lowest active supplemental dose appears to be 300mg, and supplementation above this dose appears to confer dose-dependent effects although it is not very reliable (ie. one study says that 1200mg gives thrice as much benefit as 300mg while another suggests 1.4x benefit)

    Lemon Balm bioactives may also be consumed via tea or acquired via aromatherapy, although it is much harder to quantify 'the right dose' via these two methods.

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    Examine Database References

    1. Memory - Kennedy DO, Wake G, Savelev S, Tildesley NT, Perry EK, Wesnes KA, Scholey ABModulation of mood and cognitive performance following acute administration of single doses of Melissa officinalis (Lemon balm) with human CNS nicotinic and muscarinic receptor-binding propertiesNeuropsychopharmacology.(2003 Oct)
    2. Memory - Kennedy DO, Scholey AB, Tildesley NT, Perry EK, Wesnes KAModulation of mood and cognitive performance following acute administration of Melissa officinalis (lemon balm)Pharmacol Biochem Behav.(2002 Jul)
    3. Anxiety Symptoms - Dimpfel W, Pischel I, Lehnfeld REffects of lozenge containing lavender oil, extracts from hops, lemon balm and oat on electrical brain activity of volunteersEur J Med Res.(2004 Sep 29)
    4. DNA Damage - Zeraatpishe A, Oryan S, Bagheri MH, Pilevarian AA, Malekirad AA, Baeeri M, Abdollahi MEffects of Melissa officinalis L. on oxidative status and DNA damage in subjects exposed to long-term low-dose ionizing radiationToxicol Ind Health.(2011 Apr)
    5. Cramps - Mirabi P, Namdari M, Alamolhoda S, Mojab FThe Effect of Melissa Officinalis Extract on the Severity of Primary DysmenorrhaIran J Pharm Res.(2017 Winter)
    6. Fatigue Symptoms - Cases J, Ibarra A, Feuillère N, Roller M, Sukkar SGPilot trial of Melissa officinalis L. leaf extract in the treatment of volunteers suffering from mild-to-moderate anxiety disorders and sleep disturbancesMed J Nutrition Metab.(2011 Dec)
    7. PMS Symptoms - Heydari N, Dehghani M, Emamghoreishi M, Akbarzadeh MEffect of Melissa officinalis capsule on the mental health of female adolescents with premenstrual syndrome: a clinical trial studyInt J Adolesc Med Health.(2018 Jan 25)
    8. PMS Symptoms - Akbarzadeh, M, et alComparison of the Effect of Melissa officinalis Capsule and Care Educational Programs on the Intensity of Physical, Mental and Social Symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome in High School Female StudentsInt J Women's Health Repro. Sci.()
    9. PMS Symptoms - Akbarzadeh M, Dehghani M, Moshfeghy Z, Emamghoreishi M, Tavakoli P, Zare NEffect of Melissa officinalis Capsule on the Intensity of Premenstrual Syndrome Symptoms in High School Girl Students.Nurs Midwifery Stud.(2015-Jun)
    10. PMS Symptoms - Mirghafourvand, M, et alThe efficacy of Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) only and combined Lemon balm– Nepeta menthoides on premenstrual syndrome and quality of life among students: a randomized controlled trialJ Herb Med.()
    11. Calmness - Kennedy DO, Little W, Scholey ABAttenuation of laboratory-induced stress in humans after acute administration of Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm)Psychosom Med.(2004 Jul-Aug)