Lemon balm

Melissa officinalis

Herbs & Roots. Western & European.

Also called Melissa, Sweet balm, Balm mint, Toronjil

Spanish: Melisa

May affect thyroid hormone levels

Lemon balm is a lemon-scented mint used as a calming tea and as a cream for cold sores.

Did you know? Melissa is the Greek word for honeybee, and beekeepers have long rubbed lemon balm inside hives to attract swarms, a practice from old folklore.

What it may help, and how strong the proof is

Infections. Creams eased redness and swelling of cold sores in small trials, but pain and scabbing did not clearly improve.
Early proof
Stress & anxiety. Small trials suggest a calmer mood, but the evidence is limited.
Early proof
Memory & focus. Small trials in people with Alzheimer's disease suggested less agitation, but this is not proven.
Early proof

Parts of the body

Immune system, Brain & mind, Nerves & pain

Traditional use

European herbalists used lemon balm for nerves, sleep, and mood. Today it is mostly used as a calming tea and as a cold-sore cream.

How it is classified

Herbal actions: Nervine, Sedative, Carminative, Antiviral. Energy: cooling.

How people take it

Tea is made from fresh or dried leaves. Cold-sore studies used lemon balm cream applied several times a day.

Tea, capsule, tincture and topical.

Where to get it

Native to the Mediterranean and widely grown in gardens. Sold as dried leaf, tea, capsules, tinctures, and cold-sore creams.

Be careful

Usually mild. It may cause drowsiness, and it may change thyroid hormone levels. Use it with care alongside sedatives or thyroid medicine.

Avoid if: thyroid disease; pregnancy; before surgery.

Mixing with other things

Works well together
Common together in calming tea blends.
Works well together
Both are in STW 5 (Iberogast), a European stomach blend.
Works well together
Often combined in calming mint teas.
Works well together
Common together in calming blends for sleep and nerves.
Works well together
Often combined in calming tea blends.
Works well together
Common in calming tea blends.
Works well together
Common in calming tea and aromatherapy blends.
Works well together
Both are used for nerves and low mood in European herbal blends.
Works well together
Both are used in calming teas for nerves and sleep.
Works well together
Often blended with linden in calming teas.
Works well together
Gentle calming teas often combine them.
Works well together
Both are mint-family calming teas.
Works well together
Both are lemon-scented calming herbs often blended into tea.
Use caution
Thyroid medicine (levothyroxine (Synthroid))
May change thyroid hormone levels, so people on thyroid medicine should use it with care.
Use caution
Sleep or anxiety medicine (Ambien, Xanax, Ativan)
Adds to the calming effect of sedatives.
Use caution
Alcohol (beer, wine, spirits)
Alcohol adds to the drowsiness.

Adds up with others that can make you drowsy: , , , , , , , , , , , , , and 14 more.

Found in these formulas

Sleepy-time blend (Western)

The honest take

Lemon balm is a pleasant tea, and small trials suggest mild benefits for cold sores and calm mood. Most trials are too small to be sure of the effect. Claims that it boosts memory in healthy people go beyond what is proven.