Lemon Balm

History

Melissa officinalis, known as lemon balm, has been cultivated for over 2,000 years, with its name "Melissa" deriving from the Greek word for "honeybee," reflecting the plant's remarkable ability to attract pollinators. Ancient Greeks and Romans revered lemon balm for its medicinal properties, with the physician Dioscorides prescribing it for scorpion stings and venomous bites around 50 CE, while Pliny the Elder recommended it for stopping bleeding. The plant gained particular fame in medieval Europe, where it became a cornerstone of monastic medicine gardens. Paracelsus, the influential 16th-century Swiss physician, called lemon balm the "elixir of life," believing it could completely revive the human spirit and even promote longevity. Carmelite nuns in France created "Carmelite Water" (Eau de Mélisse) in the 14th century, a lemon balm-based tonic mixed with lemon peel, nutmeg, coriander, and angelica root, which became wildly popular as a remedy for headaches, nervous disorders, and neuralgia—the formula is still produced today. During the Middle Ages, lemon balm was used to lift spirits during times of melancholy, with the 17th-century herbalist John Evelyn writing that lemon balm "sovereign for the brain, strengthening the memory and powerfully chasing away melancholy." The herb was so valued that colonists brought it to North America, where it naturalized widely. Modern research has validated many traditional uses, with studies confirming lemon balm's ability to reduce anxiety, improve cognitive function, support sleep, and combat the herpes simplex virus. The essential oil, rich in citronellal and citral, is now used in aromatherapy worldwide, while lemon balm tea remains one of the most popular herbal infusions for relaxation and mental clarity.