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AYURVEDIC HERB SUPPLEMENTS

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

Aromatic mood lifter and antispasmodic. Cooling vasodilator and mild bitter.
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Table of Contents

How Does This Ayurvedic Herb Supplement Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Lemon Balm, also known as Melissa Officinalis, is a highly aromatic herb that belongs to the mint family. Its refreshing and calming aroma has been used for centuries for its medicinal properties. Not only does it have a pleasing scent, but it also has a range of health benefits that make it a popular ingredient in traditional medicine.

Aromatic and Antispasmodic: Lemon balm is known for its antispasmodic properties, which make it an effective remedy for reducing intestinal cramping, menstrual cramps, and heart palpitations. Its calming effect on the respiratory system also helps to reduce wheezing and asthma symptoms by dilating the bronchial tubes.

Highly Aromatic Nervine: Lemon balm is a highly aromatic nervine that is known to reduce anxiety and tension. It has a relaxing and sedative effect on the body and mind, but at the same time, it also lifts the mood, making it an ideal herb for those who suffer from stress or depression.

Healing Properties: As an aromatic, lemon balm has the ability to disperse blood, which makes it an effective remedy for healing bruises. Its cooling properties and mild bitter taste also make it ideal for clearing high fevers and heat from the liver.

Suppresses Prolactin: Lemon balm is a dopaminergic plant, which means that it increases the levels of dopamine in the body. This, in turn, suppresses prolactin levels and reduces engorged breasts.

In conclusion, lemon balm is a versatile herb that has a range of health benefits. Whether you use it as an aromatherapy oil, tea, or in your cooking, its refreshing scent and medicinal properties are sure to provide relief and relaxation to the body and mind.

Images of Lemon Balm

Ayurveda Lemon Balm Whole Plant Large

Ayurveda Lemon Balm Leaf Large

Metabolic Nature of Lemon Balm

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

METABOLIC NATURE

Metabolic Nature

Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick. Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.

Find Out More

COLD

ABOUT COLD BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold refers to anything that reduces body temperature, metabolism, and blood flow.

LEARN MORE ABOUT COLD

DRY

ABOUT DRY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Dry is identified by lack of moisture, lack of fat, or anything that causes diuresis.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DRY

TASTES

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

Find Out More

ASTRINGENT

ABOUT ASTRINGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Astringency is characterized by constriction, drawing together, or drying.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ASTRINGENT

BITTER

ABOUT BITTER BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Bitter taste has cholagogue action - it is cold, clear, light, and stimulating. It increases digestive enzymes and is laxative, and drying.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BITTER

DOSHAS

The Three Doshas / Body Types

Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.

Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.

Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.

Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.

The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).

Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.

Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
Kapha pacifying Pitta pacifying Vata pacifying

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHOLERIC

PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Wet & cold. When out of balance becomes congested, stagnant, and overweight. Loving, trusting, and patient.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot and oily with a moderate metabolism and a well nourished body. Vigorous, vivacious, outgoing and generous, and prone to impulsivity and self indulgence. Bullish and intense when out of balance.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

AGGRAVATES
MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MELANCHOLIC

Other

Subtaste:
Aromatic

AROMATIC

Herbs or spices with volatile essential oils that present strong aromas. Aromatic oils shock, refresh and numb tissue, with the end result of relaxing, opening and clearing stagnant fluids in tissues.

SEE ALL 'AROMATIC' FOODS / HERBS

Family:
Lamiaceae

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Lemon Balm
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

(see all)
Digestion:
Carminative

CARMINATIVE

Stimulates the release of gas. Helpful for bloating or cramping abdominal pain. Propels food downward. Carminatives typically expel gas by relaxing the muscles of the intestines.

SEE ALL 'CARMINATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Mind, Stress & Sleep:
Nervine

STRONG NERVINE

Balances the nervous system. They can help with stress, memory, early alzheimer's, and even chronic pain. Often they are aromatic in nature.

SEE ALL 'NERVINE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Neuroprotective

STRONG NEUROPROTECTIVE

Repairs / restores damaged nerves. Protects nerve health.

SEE ALL 'NEUROPROTECTIVE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Analgesic

ANALGESIC

Pain reliever, reduces pain without eliminating sensation. Also known as anodyne.

SEE ALL 'ANALGESIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Anticholinergic

ANTICHOLINERGIC

Anticholinergic herbs block the action of acetylecholine. This affecgs many systems of the body, including relaxing smooth muscle spasms and dilating bronchial tubes. Many anticholinergic herbs are nightshades that can be fatal if used incorrectly.

SEE ALL 'ANTICHOLINERGIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Antidepressant

ANTIDEPRESSANT

Herbs that lift feelings of depression, benefit the mind and improve mental function.

SEE ALL 'ANTIDEPRESSANT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Anxiolytic

ANXIOLYTIC

Herbs that help people suffering from anxiety or panic. They promote a state of calm and often improve sleep. Most anxiolytic herbs are also nervines.

SEE ALL 'ANXIOLYTIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Boosts Gaba

BOOSTS-GABA

GABA, or gamma-aminobutyric acid, reduces nerve excitability. It is the body's primary inhibitory neurotransmitter. Thus, it promotes relaxation, calm, and sleep.

SEE ALL 'BOOSTS-GABA' FOODS / HERBS

,
Brain Tonic

BRAIN-TONIC

An herb that strengthens the brain and thereby enhances memory or other cognitive functions and improves mental stamina or stability.

SEE ALL 'BRAIN-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Cholinergic

CHOLINERGIC

Increases acetylcholine production or uptake, improving nerve health, memory, mood, coordination, and protecting neurons.

SEE ALL 'CHOLINERGIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Dopaminergic

DOPAMINERGIC

Dopamine lifts mood, but also reduces prolactin, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and lutenizing hormone (LH).

SEE ALL 'DOPAMINERGIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Nerve Growth Tonic

NERVE-GROWTH-TONIC

Stimulate neurite / axon growth, promotes regeneration.

SEE ALL 'NERVE-GROWTH-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Sedative

SEDATIVE

Sedative herbs create a sense of calm in the mind and body by specifically calming or quieting the nervous system. Excellent for anxiety, stress and chronic pain.

SEE ALL 'SEDATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Energy Vitality:
Stimulates Energy

STIMULATES-ENERGY

This category groups thyroid and adrenal stimulating herbs.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-ENERGY' FOODS / HERBS

Skin Care & Beauty:
Diaphoretic

DIAPHORETIC

An herb that induces sweating, often by dilating blood vessels close to the skin.

SEE ALL 'DIAPHORETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Immune System:
Antiviral

STRONG ANTIVIRAL

Herbs that inhibit the development of viral infections. Antivirals also can be found in essential oils of some herbs, such as eucalyptus oil.

SEE ALL 'ANTIVIRAL' FOODS / HERBS

,
Immune Calming

IMMUNE-CALMING

Herbs that interrupt an allergic reaction or calm the immune system, useful in allergies and autoimmune conditions.

SEE ALL 'IMMUNE-CALMING' FOODS / HERBS

Heart & Circulation:
Ace Inhibitor

ACE-INHIBITOR

Used to lower blood pressure. Promotes diuresis by inhibiting angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE).

SEE ALL 'ACE-INHIBITOR' FOODS / HERBS

,
Vasodilator

VASODILATOR

A vasodilator is an herb that widens the blood vessels by the relaxation of smooth muscle cells within the vessel walls, thereby increasing circulation systemically or to a local area.

SEE ALL 'VASODILATOR' FOODS / HERBS

Reproductive Health:
Anti Prolactin

ANTI-PROLACTIN

Reduces prolactin, a female hormone that suppresses the uterus, fertility, menstruation.

SEE ALL 'ANTI-PROLACTIN' FOODS / HERBS

,
Relaxant Parturient

RELAXANT-PARTURIENT

Used when labor is stalled due to irregular, colicky or spasmodic contractions (hypertonic). Ensures full dilation of cervix.

SEE ALL 'RELAXANT-PARTURIENT' FOODS / HERBS

Strength, Muscle Health:
Muscle Relaxant

MUSCLE-RELAXANT

Herbs that relax muscles. Helpful for chronic pain or tension as well as healing from physical trauma.

SEE ALL 'MUSCLE-RELAXANT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Antispasmodic

ANTISPASMODIC

Herbs that reduce or inhibit muscle spasms or cramping, such as in asthma, menstruation, heart palpitations, migraine, or IBS.

SEE ALL 'ANTISPASMODIC' FOODS / HERBS

Constituents:
Rosmarinic Acid

ROSMARINIC-ACID

Inhibits autoantibodies from binding to TSH receptors in the thyroid.

SEE ALL 'ROSMARINIC-ACID' FOODS / HERBS

Toxicity: Minimal

Foods with a Similar Nature to Lemon Balm

  • Rosemary

    Rosemary has these Actions in Common

    Antidepressant, Brain-tonic, Immune-calming, Neuroprotective, Antispasmodic, Cholinergic, Muscle-relaxant, Stimulates-energy, Analgesic, Antiviral, Diaphoretic, Nervine, Vasodilator

    LEARN MORE

  • Mint

    Mint has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Diaphoretic, Nervine, Anti-prolactin, Anxiolytic, Dopaminergic, Stimulates-energy, Antidepressant, Carminative, Immune-calming, Vasodilator, Analgesic

    LEARN MORE

  • Sage

    Sage has these Actions in Common

    Neuroprotective, Analgesic, Cholinergic, Nerve-growth-tonic, Relaxant-parturient, Anti-prolactin, Diaphoretic, Nervine, Stimulates-energy, Antidepressant, Immune-calming

    LEARN MORE

  • Chamomile

    Chamomile has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Carminative, Nervine, Anxiolytic, Diaphoretic, Sedative, Analgesic, Boosts-gaba, Immune-calming, Vasodilator

    LEARN MORE

  • Lavender

    Lavender has these Actions in Common

    Sedative, Anxiolytic, Nervine, Vasodilator, Analgesic, Boosts-gaba, Relaxant-parturient, Antispasmodic, Muscle-relaxant

    LEARN MORE

  • Thyme (fresh)

    Thyme (fresh) has these Actions in Common

    Ace-inhibitor, Diaphoretic, Stimulates-energy, Anti-prolactin, Immune-calming, Vasodilator, Antispasmodic, Nervine

    LEARN MORE

  • Saffron

    Saffron has these Actions in Common

    Carminative, Neuroprotective, Antidepressant, Diaphoretic, Sedative, Anxiolytic, Nervine, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Basil

    Basil has these Actions in Common

    Antidepressant, Carminative, Nervine, Antispasmodic, Diaphoretic, Vasodilator, Anxiolytic, Immune-calming

    LEARN MORE

  • Allspice

    Allspice has these Actions in Common

    Antidepressant, Muscle-relaxant, Vasodilator, Antispasmodic, Nervine, Analgesic, Carminative, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Ginger (Fresh)

    Ginger (Fresh) has these Actions in Common

    Neuroprotective, Analgesic, Carminative, Stimulates-energy, Antispasmodic, Nervine, Vasodilator, Brain-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Turmeric

    Turmeric has these Actions in Common

    Analgesic, Carminative, Neuroprotective, Antispasmodic, Immune-calming, Vasodilator, Brain-tonic, Nerve-growth-tonic

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Lemon Balm

  • Ashwagandha

    Ashwagandha has these Actions in Common

    Antidepressant, Nervine, Antispasmodic, Neuroprotective, Anxiolytic, Sedative, Boosts-gaba, Brain-tonic, Immune-calming, Ace-inhibitor, Muscle-relaxant, Analgesic, Nerve-growth-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Skullcap

    Skullcap has these Actions in Common

    Sedative, Muscle-relaxant, Analgesic, Antidepressant, Antispasmodic, Nerve-growth-tonic, Anxiolytic, Nervine, Boosts-gaba, Neuroprotective, Brain-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • St. John's Wort

    St. John's Wort has these Actions in Common

    Dopaminergic, Analgesic, Nerve-growth-tonic, Antidepressant, Nervine, Antispasmodic, Neuroprotective, Antiviral, Anxiolytic, Boosts-gaba, Brain-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Ginkgo

    Ginkgo has these Actions in Common

    Nerve-growth-tonic, Ace-inhibitor, Nervine, Analgesic, Neuroprotective, Antidepressant, Vasodilator, Boosts-gaba, Brain-tonic, Cholinergic, Immune-calming

    LEARN MORE

  • Dong Quai

    Dong Quai has these Actions in Common

    Anti-prolactin, Stimulates-energy, Anticholinergic, Vasodilator, Antispasmodic, Boosts-gaba, Carminative, Immune-calming, Muscle-relaxant, Analgesic, Nervine

    LEARN MORE

  • Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

    Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

    Boosts-gaba, Diaphoretic, Immune-calming, Muscle-relaxant, Nervine, Antidepressant, Sedative, Antispasmodic, Stimulates-energy, Anxiolytic, Vasodilator

    LEARN MORE

  • Black Cohosh

    Black Cohosh has these Actions in Common

    Antidepressant, Sedative, Antispasmodic, Anxiolytic, Diaphoretic, Dopaminergic, Muscle-relaxant, Nervine, Analgesic, Relaxant-parturient

    LEARN MORE

  • Motherwort

    Motherwort has these Actions in Common

    Muscle-relaxant, Analgesic, Nervine, Antidepressant, Relaxant-parturient, Antispasmodic, Anxiolytic, Diaphoretic, Dopaminergic, Immune-calming

    LEARN MORE

  • Lavender Essential Oil

    Lavender Essential Oil has these Actions in Common

    Sedative, Analgesic, Vasodilator, Antispasmodic, Anxiolytic, Boosts-gaba, Muscle-relaxant, Nervine, Relaxant-parturient

    LEARN MORE

  • Oats, Fresh Milky Seed

    Oats, Fresh Milky Seed has these Actions in Common

    Antidepressant, Sedative, Antispasmodic, Anxiolytic, Brain-tonic, Muscle-relaxant, Nerve-growth-tonic, Nervine, Neuroprotective

    LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

Guidelines - Preparation & Dose

See guidelines for herbs?
Follow these guidelines

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Lemon Balm may be beneficial for these symptoms. The suitability of any herb supplement for a condition is highly dependent on the individual. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

CONTRAINDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Lemon Balm may be harmful or contraindicated for these symptoms. Note this is not a complete list of all possible contraindications. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

Herb Drug Interaction Risk

Here are some potential herb drug interactions with Lemon Balm. Please see your health care provider for more information.

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