Diseases and Bee Balm

Melissa officinalis, also called bee balm and lemon balm, is a member of the mint family. According to EVitamins.com, herbalists have recommended bee balm for thousands of years. It may be used to for many ailments, including calming nerves, tension, headaches and indigestion. Bee balm is pleasant to ingest and can be blended with other herbs for added benefits. Plant hearty bee balm for a private medicinal and culinary botanical source.

History

• Bee balm is native to the Mediterranean area. "Melissa," the herb's botanical name, refers to its Greek origins and translates from the Greek as "bee." Scholars and herbalists noted bees' attraction to the plant. Herbalists throughout history knew about bee balm's medicinal actions and used it to treat bites and stings. In time, people began to attribute bee balm with life-prolonging characteristics. Some in Europe thought it improved brain function, aided poor vision and lowered fever.

Properties

• Bee balm has a pleasant aroma, which is related to its healthful properties. It contains flavonoids and phenolic acids, which may be responsible for the balm's healing effect for herpes simplex and imbalanced thyroid glands. EVitamins reports a small trial, which suggests bee balm with valerian root may have sleep-inducing action similar to the pharmaceutical drug triazolam. A double-blind study showed topical bee balm to improve healing time for herpes simplex cold sores. The United States recognizes bee balm as safe. Canada and Germany list bee balm as an over-the-counter medication.

Conditions

• Bee balm may be useful for a range of diseases and conditions. EVitamins reports it is an anti-spasmodic that eases stress-related digestive and hormonal complaints. When drunk in tea, bee balm's sedative action may ease headache and lower blood pressure by dilating blood vessels. According to Holistic Online, bee balm relieves cramps, digestive gas, colic and certain types of asthma. Combine bee balm with peppermint to help soothe an upset stomach. Vitamin Stuff reports bee balm has been used to treat strep and mumps.

Dosages

• Take bee balm in tablet, capsule, tea, tincture and extract forms. According to Vitamin Stuff, a normal dosage is 1 tsp. of lemon balm extract daily. You may take 1 1/2 tsp. of bee balm tincture. Brew 1 to 3 tsp. of the dried bee balm leaves in 1 cup of boiling distilled water. Drink the infusion warm or refrigerate for future uses. Apply saved bee balm to cold sores or open wounds and bites.

Cultivation

• Bee balm is easy to grow. Provide this hearty herb with a sunny exposure. The Herb Companion suggests growing bee balm in containers separate from other plants, as it can take over. If planting bee balm with other plants, harvest often. Cut flowers to prevent seeds from spreading. Flowers bloom in summer. Cut leaves and dry for ready access.