Herb. No. 008 · Lamiaceae
Eastern Mediterranean mint, naturalized across temperate gardens.
Native · Mediterranean · Europe
Native Also grownNow a garden plant worldwide
OpenGentleplant
Lemon balm
Melissa officinalis
Lemon-scented mint for fretful moods, a racing mind, and cold-sore lips.
Melissa is a staple of European monastic gardens. Citral and other terpenes give the lemon scent. Traditional use is as a gentle nervine and carminative; topical cream has data for herpes labialis. Fresh leaf is far more fragrant than dried.
Flavor
Fresh lemon peel over green mint. Dried leaf is quieter.
Parts used
Aerial parts
In favor
- Safe kitchen herb
- Bees adore the flowers
- Topical use is well described
Against
- Theoretical thyroid-slowing at high dose
- Flavor fades fast when dried poorly