Introduction of Lemon Balm:Bee Balm or Garden Balm.
✵The article gives records of the herb Lemon Balm, its English name, Latin name, common names, property and flavor, its botanical source one plant species, ①.Melissa officinalis., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of this plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, the features of the herb Lemon Balm, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Lemon Balm(Bee Balm).
English Name: Lemon Balm.
Latin Name: Melissa officinalis.
Common Names: Balm, Bee Balm, Blue Balm, Garden Balm, Erva-cidreira, Melissengeist, Sweet Mary, Honey Plant, Cure-All, Dropsy Plant, Melissa.
Property and flavor: before flowering, the taste and smell is lemon-like, later becoming astringent to balm-like and warming.
Brief introduction: Lemon Balm is the leaves of Melissa officinalis, the plant is native to the eastern Mediterranean region and Atlantic coast, West Asia, and is cultivated in Central Europe or established in the wild. In Europe, the herb lemon balm is approved for nervousness and insomnia, and used for nervous agitation and sleeping problems.
Botanical source: Common herbal classics defined the herb Lemon Balm as the fresh and dried leaves of the species (1).Melissa officinalis. It is a plant species of the Melissa genus, the Labiatae family (Lamiaceae, mint family). The fresh and dried leaves are used medicinally. This commonly used species is introduced:
(1).Melissa officinalis.
Botanical description: Melissa officinalis is a perennial herb; Stems are upright or nearly upright, with many branches, it grows up to 90 cm high. Most branches spread in the middle or below the stem in a tower shape, four-angled, with four shallow grooves, pilose, and the lower part gradually becomes glabrous; With petiole, slender petiole, 0.5~2 cm long, villous, oval leaves, usually 5 cm long and 3~4 cm wide on stems, smaller ones on branches, 1~3 cm long and 0.8~2 cm wide, tapered or blunt apex, rounded to nearly cordate base, sparse or tapered, serrated or obtuse teeth on edges, and nearly membranous or grassy. The upper surface is villous, the back surface is villous only along the veins, the lateral veins are 4 pairs, nearly flat with the midvein on the upper part and bulged on the lower part, and the reticular veins are obvious on the upper surface;
Cymes are axillary, shortly pedunculate, 2-14-flowered; Bracts are leaflike, much smaller than leaves, villous, and ciliate; Pedicel is about 4 mm long, villous; Calyx is campanulate (bell-shaped), about 8 mm long, the out surface is knobby villous, the inner surface is villous above the middle, bilabiate (two-lipped), the upper lip is wide, with 3 extremely short teeth or nearly shallow undulations, the tip of the teeth is mucronate, the lower lip is slightly longer than the upper lip, 2 teeth are split, the teeth are triangular, and the apex is long with spikes; Nuts are ovoid.
Ecological environment: The plant is native to the east Mediterranean region and Atlantic coast, West Asia, and is cultivated in Central Europe or established in the wild. The plant is introduced and cultivated in China.
Characters of herbs: Lemon balm is the fresh or dried leaves of Melissa officinalis as well as its preparations. The leaves are collected before flowering or before there is too much branching. Leaves and stems are separated and comminuted and dried quickly at temperatures between 30 and 40 °C (Celsius, or 86~104 degrees Fahrenheit).
Pharmacological actions: ①.mild sedative and anxiolytic; ②.relieve insomnia and anxiety; ③.block the activity of the thyroid hormone; ④.Antiviral; ⑤.antioxidative; ⑥.antihormonal effect; ⑦.blocks the activity of the thyroid hormone;etc.
The herb has mild sedative and carminative, spasmolytic, antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidative, and antihormonal effects.
Traditionally, lemon balm was used as a mild sedative and anxiolytic, its essential oils contain components citronellal & citral A and B, which are known to cause sedative effects, Melissa Officinalis aroma therapeutically to calm overexcited individuals who have dementia.
Melissa Officinalis has been widely used in Europe because of its ability to treat insomnia and anxiety. It also treats sleep disorders and relieves stress and anxiety.
Melissa Officinalis blocks the activity of the thyroid hormone, it has been used in the past to treat Grave’s disease or hyperthyroidism, which is an auto-immune condition in which the thyroid gland produces excessive amounts of thyroid hormone.
Melissa Officinalis contains polyphenols that can significantly fight against shingles, herpes simplex virus, and other viral afflictions. It can also treat cold sores or oral herpes.
Medicinal efficacy: In Europe, the herb lemon balm is approved for nervousness and insomnia and used for nervous agitation and sleeping problems. In folk medicine, the herb is utilized as decoctions of the flowering shoots for nervous complaints, lower abdominal disorders, meteorism, nervous gastric complaints, hysteria and melancholia, chronic bronchial catarrh, nervous palpitations, vomiting, migraine, nervous debility, headache, and high blood pressure. It is used externally for rheumatism, nerve pains, and stiff necks. In homeopathy, lemon balm is used for menstrual irregularities.
Administration of Lemon Balm (Bee Balm):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Lemon Balm (Bee Balm)
Herbal classic books:
Dosage: To prepare an infusion, pour one cup of hot water over 1.5 to 4.5 grams of herb and strain after 10 minutes. Drink several cups a day. Tea is prepared with a quarter to 1 tablespoon, about 1.5 to 4.5 grams of dried Melissa Officinalis herb in hot water. Steep and drink up to four times each day. The herb should be stored in well-sealed, non-plastic containers, protected from light and moisture, for up to 1 year.
Contraindications, Precautions and Adverse Reactions: Melissa Officinalis is known to be safe when used in food amounts. There have been no reported negative effects of Melissa Officinalis when used by adults as a short-term medicine. When administered orally, Melissa Officinalis can cause some negative effects such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, wheezing, and dizziness. When applied topically, one study stated that it could cause irritation and increases the incidence of cold sores.
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1.Introduction of Lemon Balm:Bee Balm or Garden Balm.
✵The article gives records of the herb Lemon Balm, its English name, Latin name, common names, property and flavor, its botanical source one plant species, ①.Melissa officinalis., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of this plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, the features of the herb Lemon Balm, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
English Name: Lemon Balm.
Botanical description: Melissa officinalis is a perennial herb; Stems are upright or nearly upright, with many branches, it grows up to 90 cm high. Most branches spread in the middle or below the stem in a tower shape, four-angled, with four shallow grooves, pilose, and the lower part gradually becomes glabrous; With petiole, slender petiole, 0.5~2 cm long, villous, oval leaves, usually 5 cm long and 3~4 cm wide on stems, smaller ones on branches, 1~3 cm long and 0.8~2 cm wide, tapered or blunt apex, rounded to nearly cordate base, sparse or tapered, serrated or obtuse teeth on edges, and nearly membranous or grassy. The upper surface is villous, the back surface is villous only along the veins, the lateral veins are 4 pairs, nearly flat with the midvein on the upper part and bulged on the lower part, and the reticular veins are obvious on the upper surface;
Cymes are axillary, shortly pedunculate, 2-14-flowered; Bracts are leaflike, much smaller than leaves, villous, and ciliate; Pedicel is about 4 mm long, villous; Calyx is campanulate (bell-shaped), about 8 mm long, the out surface is knobby villous, the inner surface is villous above the middle, bilabiate (two-lipped), the upper lip is wide, with 3 extremely short teeth or nearly shallow undulations, the tip of the teeth is mucronate, the lower lip is slightly longer than the upper lip, 2 teeth are split, the teeth are triangular, and the apex is long with spikes; Nuts are ovoid.
Ecological environment: The plant is native to the east Mediterranean region and Atlantic coast, West Asia, and is cultivated in Central Europe or established in the wild. The plant is introduced and cultivated in China.
Pharmacological actions: ①.mild sedative and anxiolytic; ②.relieve insomnia and anxiety; ③.block the activity of the thyroid hormone; ④.Antiviral; ⑤.antioxidative; ⑥.antihormonal effect; ⑦.blocks the activity of the thyroid hormone;etc.
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