botanical name(s): Melissa officinalis
synonyms: lemon balm, balm, honey plant, balm mint, bee balm, blue balm, garden balm, sweet balm, cure-all, dropsy plant, melisse
part(s) used: leaves, herb
qualities: sour, spicy, cool
affinities: digestive system
actions: diaphoretic, calmative, antispasmodic, sedative, carminative, stomachic, emmenagogue, antipyretic, hypotensive, nervine, antidepressant
dosage:
» infusion: 1 tbsp. herb to 1 cup water; 1 cup q 1-2 hrs.
» tincture: 3 - 6 ml.
» for acute cases, 1 - 5 ml. q 2 hrs.
therapy: indigestion, fevers, colds, influenza, tension/stress/depression, hypertension, functional heart disease
AHPA Botanical Safety Rating: 1
toxicity: 0
» caution is advised during pregnancy due to emmenagogue effect as well as antithyrotropic and antigonadotropic activity (Brinker, 1995 & 1996; Lust, Farnsworth)
» contraindicated in low thyroid activity due to antithyrotropic effects (Brinker, 1995)
constituents: essential oil, bitter principle, acids, tannin, flavones, resin
drug interactions:
» increases hypnotic effect of pentobarbital (Soulimani et al) and hexobarbital due to the sedative activity of the volatile oil (Wagner and Sprinkmeyer)
footnotes
Brinker F. 1995. Botanical Medicine Research Summaries. (from Eclectic Dispensatory of Botanical Therapeutics, vol.11), Sandy, Oregon: Eclectic Medical Publications.
Brinker F. 1996. The Toxicology of Botanical Medicines, rev. 2nd ed., Sandy, Oregon: Eclectic Medical Publications.
Farnsworth NR, Bingel AS, Cordell GA, Crane FA, Fong HHS. 1975. Potential Value of Plants as Sources of New Antifertility Agents I. J. Pharm. Sci., 64:535-98.
Lust, J. 1983. The Herb Book. New York: Bantam Books.
Soulimani R, Fleurentin J, Mortier F, Misslin R, Derrieu G, Pelt JM. 1991. Neurotropic Action of the Hydroalcoholic Extract of Melissa officinalis in the Mouse. Planta Med., 57:105-9.
Wagner H, Sprinkmeyer L. 1973. Pharmacological effect of balm spirit. Deut. Apoth.-Ztg., 113:1159-66.