Lemon Balm Tea Health Benefits, Properties, and Uses

Lemon balm tea is an herbal tea made from the lemon balm herb. Lemon balm is the Melissa officinalis plant, which belongs to the Lamiaceae family. This family includes the mint plant. Lemon balm is native to Europe and grows abundantly throughout the Mediterranean and the Middle East.^1,2

Today, lemon balm herbs are grown all over the world. These plants grow up to 2 feet tall and produce light-colored yellow, flowers. Lemon balm leaves range from yellow-green to dark green in color and have a wrinkled texture resembling mint leaves. The leaves emit a sweet-sour scent that smells like lemons.² All parts of the herb can be dried and steeped to make lemon balm tea.

Lemon Balm Tea Health Uses and Health Benefits

Lemon balm tea is a very popular natural remedy and has been used for centuries to treat a wide variety of conditions. Lemon balm tea contains natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents that are helpful in combating various conditions and symptoms.¹

Lemon balm also contains eugenol, which is a natural compound known to help numb skin tissue and stop muscle spasms. It’s also a natural antibacterial agent.²

One of the most well-known traditional lemon balm tea uses has been its for its calming effect on nerves. Studies have shown that lemon balm tea can help to improve alertness, decrease anxiety and even treat insomnia.²

Other lemon balm tea health benefits include:

• Regulating digestion
• Boosting immune system function 
• Preventing bacterial overgrowth 
• Controlling herpes outbreaks 
• Regulating thyroid activity 
• Managing PMS symptoms 

Known lemon balm tea uses include helping to treat the following conditions:

• Hyperthyroidism - Studies have shown the effectiveness of lemon balm tea uses for regulating overactive thyroids in people with a variety of conditions, including Grave’s disease.
• Nail Biting (Onychophagia) - The natural calming lemon balm tea health benefits help to stop anxiety, which commonly triggers nail biting.
• Hives (Urticaria) - The natural anti-inflammatory health benefits in lemon balm tea can help to ease irritation caused by hives.
• Vertigo - Lemon balm tea helps to improve mental alertness, which may help to ease vertigo symptoms.

Lemon Balm Tea Side Effects and Precautions

There no known severe lemon balm tea side effects. However, due to it regulating overly active thyroids, people with low thyroid activity should not take lemon balm tea.¹

References

1. https://draxe.com/lemon-balm/
2. http://www.umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/lemon-balm