Lemon Balm Recipes

Lemon balm recipes

It is also a common ingredient in herbal teas. A handful of fresh lemon balm and mint makes an excellent hot or iced tea, especially with honey. You can also use the herb to bake a batch of lemon balm cookies or lemon balm bread, whisk up a quick lemon balm vinaigrette, or top your pasta with lemon balm pesto.

Can you eat lemon balm leaves raw?

You can certainly enjoy lemon balm fresh on salads, or in your favorite recipes, too. Be brave! Experiment with its bright flavor.

How do you make lemon balm medicine?

Instructions

Place the chopped leaves into a glass jar with a tight fitting lid.
Pour vodka over the lemon balm, making sure to submerge the leaves.
Put the lid on the jar.
Give the jar a gentle shake.
Place jar in a dark cabinet and let infuse for 4 weeks - longer is okay.
Strain the leaves from the vodka.

Is it safe to eat lemon balm?

When taken by mouth: Lemon balm is likely safe when consumed in amounts found in foods. Lemon balm supplements are possibly safe when used at a dose of up to 500 mg daily for up to 6 months. Side effects are generally mild and might include increased appetite, nausea, dizziness, and wheezing.

What part of lemon balm is edible?

Edible Parts Leaves are commonly used as a relaxing tea. They can be added into many dishes in which the lemon flavour can be enjoyed. Lemon balm has been added to many desserts including ice cream and custards. It is always to be used fresh when using for food (other than a tea).

Who should not use lemon balm?

Lemon balm is generally safe for most people, but because it affects thyroid activity, people taking thyroid medication or who have severely underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) should not take it. Some patients have experienced mild side effects after receiving lemon balm extract treatment.

What is the best way to ingest lemon balm?

Capsules: Take 300 to 500 mg dried lemon balm, 3 times daily or as needed. Tea: 1.5 to 4.5 grams (1/4 to 1 tsp.) of dried lemon balm herb in hot water. Steep and drink up to 4 times daily.

How is lemon balm most commonly used?

How to Use Lemon Balm. As a general rule of thumb, treat lemon balm as you would any other fresh herb. It works especially well in place of mint, offering bright, fragrant notes. Add whole lemon balm leaves to green salads, or chiffonade the leaves and scatter them over a fruit salad for added zesty flavor.

What happens when you drink lemon balm tea?

Also, drinking lemon balm tea can help with insomnia. Compounds in lemon balm may relieve gastrointestinal problems, such as bloating and indigestion. Lemon balm ointments have been found to help heal cold sores caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV).

Can you rub lemon balm on your skin?

Lemon balm is also a popular natural treatment for several common skin conditions. As an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agent, it helps to reduce the swelling and reddening of the skin that is common in conditions including acne, shingles, chicken pox, eczema and psoriasis.

What part of lemon balm is used for tea?

Homemade lemon balm tea can be made using fresh leaves or dried leaves right from lemon balm plants in your own backyard garden. If you choose to use dried leaves, start by harvesting fresh leaves from the plant.

Is lemon balm anti-inflammatory?

The use of herbs to relieve pain has a long history in the world of medicine. The fact that the essential oil of lemon balm has anti-inflammatory properties supports the traditional use of this herb in the treatment of numerous diseases associated with inflammation or pain (Bounihi et al., 2013).

What does lemon balm do to the brain?

Lemon balm significantly reduces excitatory transmission in the brain by inhibiting an enzyme called GABA-T that breaks down GABA, thus increasing the amount of GABA available in the brain.

Does lemon balm affect the heart?

Results: The extract (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) significantly reduced the heart rate (264 ± 5, 259 ± 5 and 281 ± 3 versus 377 ± 13 in control group, p < 0.01).

Does lemon balm lower blood pressure?

In this study in people with essential hypertension, supplementation with lemon balm extract led to a reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. This Study Summary was published on January 4, 2022.

How do you harvest and use lemon balm?

You can harvest handfuls of lemon balm leaves for fresh use almost any time during the growing season. For a large harvest of leaves that will be dried for tea or medicinal use, it is preferable to wait until the plant begins to put on flower buds or just as the flowers begin to open.

Did Native Americans use lemon balm?

NATIVE AMERICAN USES The herb is used for salves; the leaves to make cold drinks or hot tea. It is used to aid women through menstruation when suffering from cramps, headaches and/or anxiety.

Can lemon balm cause hypothyroidism?

Thyroid disease: Don't use lemon balm. There is a concern that lemon balm may change thyroid function, reduce thyroid hormone levels, and interfere with thyroid hormone-replacement therapy.

Can I drink lemon balm tea everyday?

While more studies are needed to determine how lemon balm tea may help individuals, it does appear that the tea is safe for most people to consume. A person should consult their doctor if they have an underlying condition, such as a thyroid issue, before regularly consuming lemon balm tea.

Does lemon balm help you lose weight?

Lemon balm weight loss support: Prevents Weight gain Research (Donju et al 2020) indicates the extract ALS-L1023, from the Melissa officinalis, helps prevent weight gain and could be useful in suppressing obesity and insulin resistance in women, especially in women at the premenopausal stage, according to the authors.