Not only the “female herb” - the medicinal properties of lemon balm and the features of its use. Melissa - medicinal properties and contraindications, composition. Instructions on how to use this herb for medicinal purposes

– essential oil perennial herbaceous plant, belonging to the genus Melissa of the Lamiaceae family. The plant is an essential component of many traditional medicine recipes. Melissa has been used for 2000 years to treat a wide variety of ailments. Melissa officinalis is also known as lemon balm, motherwort, honeywort, lady's herb, honeybee, bee mint, bee balm, lemon balm or lemongrass. Despite the fact that the popular name of the plant is lemon balm, in fact mint is the name of a completely different crop, belonging to a different genus of the Yamnotaceae family.

Medicinal lemon balm is a herbaceous plant that exudes a lemon aroma. Grass bushes can reach a height of 30 to 120 centimeters. The plant has a strong, well-branched root system and a powerful tetrahedral erect stem. What gives the bush a special charm is that its stem and leaves are covered with small fibers, which gives the impression that the entire bush is covered with delicate fluff.

Did you know? From Greek, the name of the plant “Melissa” is translated as “bee”. The culture got its name for a reason: its aroma attracts and has a calming effect on bees. Ancient beekeepers quickly found effective application this property of lemon balm: when working in the apiary, they carefully rubbed their hands with the grass, so the bees did not sting them. They also treated the inside of the hives with lemon balm juice, making the insects more willing to settle in their new home. In addition, the Greeks considered lemon balm to be a powerful aphrodisiac, and therefore very often used it to attract the attention of the opposite sex.

The culture is covered with soft, fragrant, long-petioled leaves, heart-shaped, ovate, and having a crenate-serrate edge. During the flowering period, small white or white-pink inflorescences form on the bushes, transforming into large, dry black fruits that crack into four nuts.

Chemical composition and nutritional value of lemon balm

100 grams of lemon balm herb contains 49 kcal, proteins - 3.7 g, fats - 0.4 g and carbohydrates - 8 g. The culture contains potassium, sodium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc, iron, manganese, as well as vitamins B, C, PP and A. Melissa has pronounced medicinal properties, which allows it to be used for treatment nervous exhaustion, chronic fatigue, insomnia, hysteria and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Beneficial properties of lemon balm for the human body

Lemon balm has a whole range of beneficial properties and a small number of contraindications, which allows it to be used in complex therapy for the treatment of most diseases. Treatment potential allows lemon balm to compete even with the famous ginseng root. Melissa officinalis has a wide range of indications for use, which is due to the presence in its composition of a balanced vitamin and mineral complex, a significant amount of essential oils, bitterness, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, stearins and organic acids.

Despite the fact that lemon balm has pronounced medicinal properties, its contraindications do not allow its use for low blood pressure, since it has a strong hypotensive effect. The healing properties of lemon balm were known to ancient healers, but even today it continues to be an important component many medicinal herbal infusions.

People think about the herb when it is necessary to relieve emotional stress, calm frayed nerves and restore sound and healthy sleep. Melissa perfectly improves immunity in immunodeficiency conditions caused by vitamin deficiency or prolonged chronic disease . It will also help restore strength in case of chronic fatigue, loss vital energy

Did you know?, will easily lift your spirits and return you to a great mood.

In Rus', lemon balm has long been used as a powerful sedative. It was used to treat hysteria, fainting, various heart diseases, paralysis and influenza. Melissa is an excellent diuretic, antispasmodic and analgesic. Melissa infusion is recommended to be used systematically for those who are susceptible to attacks of the disorder. heart rate

Due to the high content of essential oils in the plant, lemon balm has a pleasant specific taste and lemon-mint aroma.

At room temperature, the oils in lemon balm have a liquid consistency, and when heated they evaporate very easily, so the plant should not be dried at high temperatures.

How to use lemon balm The high content of essential oils in roevnik allows it to be used for inhalation. In addition, the substances included in its composition have a pronounced anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, anticonvulsant, analgesic, disinfectant and antibacterial effect, which allows it to be used to treat the most various ailments

. But despite the fact that lemon balm herb has excellent medicinal properties, it also has its contraindications, and therefore the plant must be taken very carefully and strictly following the dosage. The oxygen and nitrogen compounds contained in lemon balm contribute to active release gastric juice , increase salivation, stimulate appetite. The plant is very often used as an antiemetic for toxicosis of pregnant women, and also as an excellent choleretic agent. Each of dosage forms – tea, decoction, tincture, infusion – has its own beneficial features

. For example, lemon balm herb extract has pronounced sedative properties, which makes it possible to use it in the treatment of hysteria, increased nervousness and increased anxiety.

Tea is an excellent remedy for colds, insomnia and neuroses; it is also taken when you need to quickly get rid of nervous tension, calm down and stabilize your emotional state. In addition, lemongrass tea is actively used as part of complex therapy in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. The decoction is taken for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, getting rid of nausea and vomiting, improving memory and normalizing heart rate. Prepared from lemon balm delicious tea

, because the herb has many beneficial properties and a pleasant aroma, but it also has its contraindications, and therefore, in order not to harm your health, it is recommended to consult a doctor before starting treatment. Melissa tea improves cerebral circulation, relieves headaches and dizziness, and is taken for heart rhythm disturbances, melancholy, depression and anemia. male potency. It is also better to avoid drinking lemon balm tea if increased concentration is required immediately afterwards, as the plant significantly slows down the reaction.

If you want to make lemon balm tea, you will need a few fresh or dried leaves of the herb. They are simply poured with a glass of boiling water and left for 15 minutes. It is better to drink this aromatic drink before bed, as it has a pronounced hypnotic effect. But in morning hours It's better to stop taking this aromatic drink, as it will turn you into a sleepy fly. It is recommended to take lemon balm tea with a teaspoon of honey, which will enhance not only its flavor and aroma, but also its medicinal properties. This remedy is also used for intestinal colic, flatulence and colitis.

Application of infusion

Melissa infusions are used if you need to quickly restore excellent health, emotional balance during neurosis, get rid of insomnia, and also alleviate migraines. The infusion helps alleviate the condition of patients with bronchial asthma, reduces shortness of breath in cardiac as well as pulmonary failure.

Melissa infusion is considered effective means from many diseases and pathological conditions, which is explained by the fact that the herb has pronounced healing properties, and its contraindications are so insignificant that they are limited to just a few diseases. Due to the fact that the plant contains a significant amount of biologically active substances, it is taken as a general tonic, tonic and prophylactic with reduced immunity and frequent colds.

When hot, lemon balm infusion is an excellent diaphoretic, and when cold it acts as a refreshing, sedative.

How to use lemon balm decoction To prepare a lemon balm decoction, you need to take 0.5 tablespoon of the herb, pour a glass of boiling water, boil in a water bath for 15 minutes and let the drug brew for another 45 minutes. Then strain the broth and bring warm boiled water up to 250 ml. The decoction is taken 0.5 cups three times a day. Despite the creation of a huge number medications , in Lithuania, a decoction of lemon balm and marjoram is still considered effective means

, because the herb has many beneficial properties and a pleasant aroma, but it also has its contraindications, and therefore, in order not to harm your health, it is recommended to consult a doctor before starting treatment. from memory impairment. Melissa is a harmless herb, but if taken incorrectly it can cause significant harm to health. Melissa decoction can enhance, which are in advanced stages, so it is extremely dangerous to make lotions from it for furunculosis, carbunculosis and acne.

And if you mix a decoction of lemon balm with decoctions of other herbs rich in essential oils, you can use it to take aromatic baths in the treatment of allergic dermatitis.

Tincture of lemon balm with alcohol

You can buy lemon balm tincture with alcohol ready-made at the pharmacy or prepare it yourself. To do this, you need to take 5 parts of alcohol or vodka and 1 part of lemon balm herb. The herb is infused in alcohol for 30 days. dark place, shaking the container periodically. After this, the infusion is filtered and taken orally after an hour after food, 15 drops each. Taking lemon balm tinctures is recommended for painful periods in women, increased nervousness, insomnia, decreased memory and flatulence.

This remedy is also believed to help relieve migraines and dizziness. Melissa (lemon grass) is considered the most famous and widespread medicinal plant. IN ancient Greece It was used to treat baldness and fever. The decoction was used to normalize work digestive system

, to awaken passion. In some regions, lemon balm is an object of worship. Modern herbalists also highly value lemon balm for its broad spectrum of effects.

Useful properties for women

This plant has practically no contraindications. Melissa should not be taken if there is a systematic decrease in blood pressure. Lemongrass-based medications also slow down reactions somewhat, so you shouldn’t drive or do things that require concentration.

• Benefits of lemongrass:
• helps improve brain function, helps fight migraines;
• indispensable for colds - an excellent anti-inflammatory and diaphoretic agent;
• relieves irritability and insomnia well;
• normalizes the functioning of the stomach and intestines - improves appetite, removes cramps, flatulence and constipation. Can be used even if you have a stomach ulcer;
• used to treat heart disease, anemia, atherosclerosis; fresh leaves
• help with insect bites;

first aid for toothache. This herb is indispensable for women's health - it helps to get rid of excess weight , normalize the menstrual cycle, cure inflammation and fungal infections

genitals,

During epidemics of colds, lemon grass oil should be used to disinfect the room. This way the whole family can strengthen their immunity.

Important! Dry lemon grass leaves retain their beneficial properties only for 3 months from the date of collection.

Use during pregnancy

During pregnancy, you can make a decoction of lemon balm or add fresh leaves of the herb to your favorite type of tea.

To prepare a decoction for a glass of boiling water, you will need 9 g of herb. The decoction should steep for a quarter of an hour. After which it should be topped up with chilled boiled water to a volume of 500 ml.

This refreshing drink will help cope with toxicosis, nausea, and improve appetite. The decoction can also be recommended by a doctor for the following problems:

• the antiviral properties of the plant will help get rid of flu or colds;
• copper, which is contained in large quantities in lemon balm, will relieve overexcitement and mood swings;
• Lemongrass has good diuretic and laxative properties.

Hypotension and allergic reactions are a contraindication for taking medications based on lemon balm.

Important! Lemongrass can change hormonal levels. Therefore, it should be used during pregnancy only after consultation with your doctor.

When breastfeeding

Taking lemon balm during breastfeeding can increase the amount of milk and improve its quality.

It is enough for nursing mothers to drink 1 cup of lemon balm decoction to improve metabolic processes in the body. And also bring hormonal levels back to normal.

The gentle calming effect of this herb will help improve sleep for both mother and baby. And the vitamins contained will improve health and add vitality.

A young mother can not only drink herbal decoction. But also add lemon balm leaves to various dishes and desserts.

At conception

Melissa can help you get pregnant. It helps regulate the menstrual cycle, heal inflammatory diseases in the pelvic organs. You should take a decoction of lemon balm for conception for a long time. You can also add essential oil lemon balm into the aroma lamp.

Compresses work well. To do this, you need to soak a piece of natural fabric in the broth and apply it to the lower abdomen. The duration of the procedure is about 40 minutes. The fabric must be constantly moistened as it dries.

The effectiveness of lemon balm for treating infertility increases several times if you mix it with sage.

1. For 220 ml you will need half a teaspoon of each herb.
2. Drink 15 ml three times a day in the first half of the cycle (until day 11).
3. Continue treatment for 3 months. After which you need to take a break for 55 days.

Important! Melissa can not only lead to conception. But it is also a means of preventing unwanted pregnancy. For this, a decoction of lemon grass should be taken by a man.

During menopause

When advancing climacteric changes In the body, lemon balm will help relieve attacks of irritability and headaches. Helps normalize sleep.

For a complex effect, you can prepare a decoction (helps get rid of hot flashes) and herbal tea.

• lemon balm and mantle (leaves) – 14 g;
• rosehip (fruit) – 7 g;
• hops (cones) – 13 g.

Mix everything and grind finely. IN ceramic dishes pour 470 ml of boiling water and add 11 g of herbal mixture. Keep in a water bath for a quarter of an hour. Then leave for 50 minutes. Take 15 ml three times a day.

1. Mix dry blackberry leaves (3 parts), motherwort (2 parts), lemon balm (2 parts), hawthorn and dried cucumber (1 part each).
2. Brew the collection (30 g) in a glass of boiling water. Let it brew for 40 minutes.
3. You should drink tea three times a day, 75 ml.
4. Noticeable improvements will occur within 12 days.

With an ovarian cyst

To prepare a potion for the treatment of various types of ovarian cysts, mix 7 g of lemon balm and chamomile flowers. And pour the mixture with 960 ml of boiling water. Infuse in a tightly wrapped container for 4 hours. Warm slightly before use. Drink 180 ml three times a day.

Important! In order not to provoke the development of a cyst, you should avoid consuming foods that contain methylxanthines - caffeine-containing drinks, cocoa, chocolate, dark-colored carbonated drinks.

For endometriosis

Endometriosis is one of the five most common female diseases. The causes of the disease have not been fully identified. But if the disease is not treated, malignant tumors may begin to develop.

The most in a simple way for the treatment and prevention of the disease is to use lemon balm decoction (14 g of herb per 190 ml of boiling water) three times a day.

Melissa is a female plant. Every modern woman should have a small bottle of lemongrass essential oil in her purse. This will help get rid of sudden attack headaches, stress and fatigue.

One of the most popular medicinal plants is lemon balm. This grass is unpretentious, and many summer residents love to grow it. After all, many people like the pleasant aroma of lemon balm. Therefore, people often drink tea adding this herb. Melissa has been popular for thousands of years. Its beneficial properties and contraindications have been studied in detail and are known to many. People love lemon balm not only for its pleasant aroma, but also for the effect it has on the person who consumes it.

Description of lemon balm

This is an unpretentious plant, known to people back in Ancient Rome, now widespread throughout the world. Many people know what lemon balm is, the beneficial properties and contraindications of which are described in some detail. This herb is very similar to mint, but has a mild lemon aroma and a tall, branched stem. Those who know how to dry lemon balm correctly drink aromatic and healthy tea all year round.

How to harvest grass

Melissa is used not only for medicinal purposes, but also in cooking and cosmetology. The grass is harvested before the flowering period, so it contains more essential oils and useful substances, which then partially turn into flowers. Melissa is often grown in gardens and even on the balcony. This plant is perennial and spreads easily on its own. Therefore, at the end of spring, you can cut off young leaves and add them to tea or food. If you harvest lemon balm for the winter, then this should be done in dry weather before the plant blooms. Cut off shoots with leaves, leaving a small section of the stem. And after a while it will grow back and you can again use the leaves of the plant. How to dry lemon balm? This should be done in the shade under a canopy. The finished crushed raw materials are stored in tightly closed jars or cloth bags for no more than 2 years.

Composition and beneficial properties

1. Essential oils contained in lemon balm have a soothing, relaxing and antispasmodic effect.
2. Bitters improve the functioning of the digestive glands and improve metabolism.
3. Flavonoids have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.
4. Organic acids are very important for normal exchange substances.
5. Tannins have an anti-inflammatory effect and accelerate wound healing.
6. Various resinous substances have a strong antibacterial effect.

In addition, it contains vitamins B and C, as well as iron, potassium, manganese, selenium and other valuable minerals.

For what diseases is it used?

1. Melissa medicinal is useful for various diseases nervous system. It calms and helps with headaches, depression and insomnia.
2. This herb is indispensable for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Melissa helps with abdominal pain, has an anti-inflammatory effect, improves appetite and metabolism. It is useful for gastritis, flatulence, intestinal spasms and ulcers.
3. Melissa also treats diseases of the cardiovascular system. Such patients need to know its beneficial properties and contraindications, because not everyone can use it. She lowers it perfectly blood pressure, prevents the accumulation of cholesterol in the blood and dilates blood vessels.
4. Melissa is also used for diseases of the female genital area. It helps with painful menstruation and has an anti-inflammatory effect. Melissa is effective for menopausal neuroses, toxicosis in pregnant women and inflammation of the appendages.
5. This herb is widely used for various skin problems. It is useful for dermatitis, eczema, allergic rash and even purulent wounds.
6. It also helps with rheumatism, gout, and asthma.

Are there any contraindications for taking

Fans of this herb need to know the harm of lemon balm. It is not recommended to exceed indicated doses or drink tea from it in unlimited quantities. Melissa can lead to delayed reactions, drowsiness and a strong decrease in blood pressure. Therefore, you should not take it before doing work that requires concentration. In addition, in men, even a cup of lemon balm tea causes a decrease in sexual function. External use of this herb in the form of baths is not recommended for unhealed wounds and pustular rashes. There are also categories of people who are contraindicated to take lemon balm:

• patients with persistent hypotension;
• epileptics;
• with exacerbation of a stomach ulcer;
• with individual intolerance;
• with severe liver failure.

How to take lemon balm

1. Decoctions of this herb are used for nervous and cardiovascular diseases, with insomnia and painful menstruation. To prepare the decoction, you need to take a tablespoon of dry herb and boil it in a water bath for 15 minutes in a glass of water.
2. You can make a tincture from fresh lemon balm leaves. Five tablespoons of them should be filled with a glass of alcohol and left in a dark place for 1-2 weeks. The strained tincture is taken 15-20 drops for neuroses, insomnia, migraines and intestinal colic.
3. It is best to prepare an infusion of lemon balm herb in a thermos, or wrap the container with the infusion being prepared well. Pour a tablespoon of dry leaves into a glass of boiling water and leave for several hours. This infusion helps with cardiovascular diseases, headaches and stomach diseases.
4. Melissa tea, unlike infusions and decoctions, can be drunk by everyone, but no more than 3 cups per day. But to preserve the aroma, you need to brew it correctly: fill it with water at a temperature of 80 degrees in a glass container.

How else is this herb used?

1. IN for cosmetic purposes. Melissa essential oil has long been added to shampoos and various creams. Decoctions of its herbs are used for wraps, masks and compresses. A massage with her oil is also useful.
2. In cooking. Fresh and dried leaves are used as a seasoning for meat and vegetable dishes, cheese and cottage cheese. They are added to drinks and used in canning vegetables. In addition, this plant is a good honey plant. Honey collected from lemon balm is highly valued because it has good taste and a pleasant aroma.
3. In the perfume and pharmaceutical industries. Many cosmetics and medications are produced based on lemon balm extract.

This is such a common and popular herb - lemon balm, the beneficial properties and contraindications of which should be known to everyone who loves aromatic tea from her.

Lemon grass, lemon aroma, lemon mint - this is what lemon balm is popularly called, the medicinal properties and contraindications of which are described below. This miraculous plant has been used in alternative medicine since ancient times. It has been and continues to be used as a spicy, medicinal, essential oil, and melliferous plant. The Latin name of the genus Melissa is derived from the Greek word bee. This is due to the fact that the plant strongly attracts working women.

There is even a legend according to which Melissa was a nymph, the daughter of King Melisseus. She fed Zeus honey and milk and wanted to teach people how to extract honey. Another legend says that Melissa had extraordinary beauty, which, of course, the goddesses did not like, which is why they turned her into a bee.

Ancient medicine attributed antimicrobial, antiseptic, sedative and antidysenteric properties to the plant. The plant was used to improve vision and normalize the menstrual cycle. Avicenna recommended using the plant for the treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular system and gastrointestinal tract.

Today Melissa has no less wide application. It is valued in cosmetology, cooking, aromatherapy and, of course, informal medicine.

Application in cosmetology, aromatherapy, cooking

The essential oil of the plant is used to treat gastrointestinal pathologies caused by stress. It has powerful antiviral properties and is used to normalize heart rate, lower blood pressure, normalize sleep, minimize the symptoms of menopause, eliminate itching, burning and swelling from insect bites.

Moreover, oil is a component homemade cosmetics, all kinds of skin care products. It is also used in the perfume industry to flavor waters, creams and lotions.

The dried leaves of the plant are used to flavor teas. Salad made from fresh young leaves is part of the therapeutic diet. Melissa is used to make excellent seasonings for all kinds of dishes. The plant is often used to prepare liquor and vodka products.

Melissa is an excellent and valuable honey plant. Melissa honey has a very pleasant aroma and taste and is one of the best varieties.

Botanical characteristics

Melissa is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Lamiaceae family, reaching a height of fifty centimeters or more. Lemon grass is equipped with an erect, branched, tetrahedral stem, petiolate, opposite, heart-shaped, coarsely toothed leaves, covered with soft hairs, and small, pale pink or white flowers located on short stalks.

Melissa blooms in the second year of life in the middle of summer. The fruits of the plant consist of four brownish ovoid nuts. Melissa's homeland is the Mediterranean. The plant was grown several thousand years ago in Ancient Rome, from where it spread throughout the rest of Europe.

In Mediterranean countries, the plant is considered a weed. Shady shrubs, open forests, rocky and grassy areas, forest meadows, river banks, roadsides are places where grass grows. The Caucasus, Crimea, Central Asia, Ukraine, Russia are the habitat of lemon balm.

Collection and preparation

The tops of shoots and foliage of the plant are used to make preparations. It is recommended to collect and prepare raw materials at the beginning of flowering. Next, the raw materials are dried in the open air, preferably under a canopy or in a dryer with sufficient ventilation at a temperature not exceeding forty degrees.

After drying, the workpieces are placed in paper bags or bags for further storage. In one season you can get two or more harvests. Collecting herbs in order to reduce the loss of essential oils is best done at noon and preferably in cloudy weather. You can store the blanks for a year, no more.

Melissa - medicinal properties and contraindications, composition

Lemon grass is a storehouse of beneficial and healing properties. And all this thanks to its composition. The plant contains a significant amount of:

• essential oils;
• triterpene compounds (citral, citronellal);
• monoterpene compounds (linalool, cetronellol, geraniol);
• carotene;
• ascorbic acid;
• mucous substances;
• tannins;
• caffeic, rosemary, oleic, ursolic acids;
• bitter substances;
• flavonoids;
• fatty oils;
• macro- and microelements: calcium, potassium, iron, manganese, zinc, chromium, copper, molybdenum, nickel, vanadium.

The rich composition gives plants a whole arsenal healing properties. Melissa has antispasmodic, sedative, hypnotic, sedative, carminative, choleretic, hypoglycemic, astringent, anticonvulsant, expectorant, tonic, diuretic, antiviral, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiallergic effects.

Preparations based on lemon balm help:

• increased appetite;
• stimulating the secretion of gastric juice;
• elimination of fermentation anomalies;
• increased gastric motility;
• decrease in heart rate;
• eliminating bad breath;
• lowering blood pressure;
• activation of the intrasecretory function of the thyroid gland;
• normalization menstrual cycle;
• therapy of nervous disorders, migraines, insomnia, painful menstruation, neuroses, ischemic heart disease, dyskinesia, flatulence, dysbacteriosis, dermatitis, eczema, trophic ulcers, toxicosis, rheumatism, atherosclerosis, hypertension, bruises, illnesses oral cavity, epilepsy, anemia, gout, cholecystitis, pyelonephritis

Folk recipes

Making soothing tea

Take a few spoons of dried crushed leaves of the plant and pour into a thermos. Brew the raw material with boiled water – 1.5 cups. Leave the mixture to sit for an hour. Drink a cup of tea three times a day. When a small amount of honey is added to tea, its hypnotic effect is enhanced. The drug can be taken to eliminate headaches, dizziness, as well as normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Kidney pathologies: infusion therapy

Steam three spoons of dry leaves of the plant in five hundred milliliters of boiled water. Let the product brew. It is recommended to consume half a glass of the filtered drug three times a day.

Tinnitus Therapy

Pour fifteen grams of fresh, finely chopped lemon balm herb with vodka - 50 ml. Close the container tightly and leave the composition to brew in a dark, cool place for a week. Next, the product must be filtered through several layers of gauze. Place three drops of the product in each ear, preferably before going to bed.

The use of healing baths

Steam fifty grams of raw materials with boiled water - a liter. The product must infuse. After filtering, pour the composition into the bath. It is recommended to take a bath before bed.

Viral diseases: treatment with essential oils

Combine a few drops, no more than three, with a small amount natural honey. Pour boiling water over the mixture. Lean over the container, cover yourself with a towel and breathe in the steam until the water cools.

Melissa essential oil for the treatment of headaches and nervous tension

Place a few drops of oil, but no more than five, into the filled hot water bath The duration of the procedure is half an hour. If desired, you can combine lemon balm oil with peach oil.

Collection for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases

Mix lemon balm in equal proportions with hawthorn fruits, nettles, blackberry leaves, lavender, hops, adonis, and elderberry. All ingredients must be thoroughly chopped and mixed. Brew two tablespoons of the mixture with just boiled water and leave to brew for a couple of hours. Drink 100 milliliters of the filtered drug three times a day.

Making cleansing tea

The product has cleansing properties, helps normalize metabolic processes, reduce body weight, and improve skin health. Combine dry lemon balm leaves with rose hips, rose petals, horsetail, and yarrow in equal quantities. Grind the ingredients and steam three tablespoons of the raw material with boiling water - half a liter. Leave the mixture to sit for three hours. Take half a glass of filtered drink at least three times a day.

Preparation of a drug that helps strengthen the immune system

Means, when long-term use helps increase the body's defenses. Combine dried crushed lemon balm leaves with hawthorn, barberry fruits, hazel leaves, thyme, blackberry leaves, St. John's wort, nettle, horsetail, oregano, hyssop, fireweed in equal proportions. Brew thirty grams of the mixture with boiled water - half a liter, let it brew. Drink a glass of strained product twice throughout the day.

Performance enhancing drug

Mix 10 grams of lemon balm with the same amount of rose hips, rose petals, blackberry leaves, calendula, thyme, fireweed. All ingredients must be pre-dried and crushed. Brew 20 grams of raw material with boiling water - 300 ml. Leave the product to sit for an hour, then strain. It is recommended to consume 50 ml of infusion four times a day.

Contraindications!

It is not recommended to use the plant in medicinal purposes in the presence of arterial hypotension and allergies. It is not advisable to take products from the plant during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Despite the usefulness of the herb, you should not abuse medications based on it and exceed the dosages indicated in the recipes. Be vigilant and take care of your health.

In the article we discuss lemon balm. You will know what it looks like lemon balm, where it is found and what soil it prefers. By following our tips, you will learn how to prepare plant-based infusions and decoctions to reduce blood pressure, treat coughs, insomnia, headaches, heartburn and diabetes. We will look at the medicinal properties and contraindications of lemon balm for adults and children.

lemon balm

Appearance (photo) of lemon balm Melissa officinalis or lemon balm (lat. Melissa officinalis) is a type of essential oil herbaceous plants of the Lamiaceae family (lat. Lamiaceae). Folk names plants: mintwort, honeywort, beeweed, lemongrass, swarmer.

Melissa is often confused with other related plants of this family - catnip and Moldavian snakehead. Melissa is often called mint, but this is not true, since mint (Latin Mentha) belongs to a separate genus of plants.

What does it look like

The lemon balm plant has a powerful branched rhizome. The stems of the plant reach a height of 30 to 120 cm. The tetrahedral shoots are covered with short fluffy hairs.

The leaves are located on short petioles and grow opposite each other. They, like the stems, are covered with fluff. The leaf blade is light green to bright green. Shape - ovoid or rounded-rhombic.

Ring-shaped inflorescences consist of 6-12 flowers located in the axils of the leaves. Lemon balm blooms throughout the summer - from June to August.

The fruits are ovoid black nuts. Each flower produces 4 seeds when ripe. Lemon balm bears fruit from August to September.

Where does it grow

Lemon balm grows wild in North America, Central and Southern Europe, the Mediterranean, Persia, North Africa, Balkan Peninsula and Western Asia. In Russia, the plant is found in the Caucasus, in Krasnodar region and Samara region.

Lemon balm is a light-loving plant. It can grow in shady places, but the greens become less fragrant. The plant prefers loamy and sandy loam soils with a pH from 4.5 to 7.8. Does not tolerate waterlogging.

Lemon balm can be found on the edges of forests, in gorges and ravines. It is grown in garden plots. Planting and caring for lemon balm does not require special knowledge and skills. The plant propagates by seeds, layering, cuttings and dividing the bush. At seed propagation the grass does not bloom or bear fruit during the first year.

You learned what lemon balm is, what it looks like and where it grows. Let's consider chemical composition plants and medicinal properties of lemon balm.

Melissa herb and leaves

IN folk medicine Products based on lemon balm are widely used. The entire above-ground part of the plant is used as medicinal raw material.

Lemon balm spice is used in cooking. Dried leaves are added to summer salads, vegetable and pea soups, meat and poultry dishes. Fresh leaves of the plant are used to preserve vegetables and flavor desserts.

Chemical composition

Lemon balm contains:

• tannins;
• B vitamins;
• vitamin C;
• vitamin D;
• coumarins;
• essential oils;
• alcohols;
• sterols;
• aldehydes;
• organic acids;
• calcium;
• magnesium;
• iron;
• zinc.

Medicinal properties

The benefits and harms of lemon balm lie in its chemical composition. Organic acids have antiviral effect, aldehydes - sedative, vitamins - immunostimulating, alcohols - antispasmodic.

Lemon balm is used as tonic. The plant has an antiviral effect, eliminates cough and saturates the body with vitamins and microelements.

Lemon balm has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular and nervous systems. Plant-based products lower blood pressure, strengthen the heart muscle and have sedative and antidepressant effects. They are used to treat heart diseases, arterial hypertension, insomnia, increased nervous excitability.

Lemon balm eliminates inflammation, relieves spasms and has an analgesic effect for disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary system. Preparations based on the plant normalize digestion and intestinal microflora, eliminate flatulence, bloating and have a diuretic effect.

Thanks to its disinfectant and regenerating properties, lemon balm is used externally to treat skin diseases. The essential oil of the plant is used in cosmetology to strengthen and nourish the skin and hair.

How to collect

To understand when to cut lemon balm for drying, just pay attention to the flower buds. Medicinal raw materials contain the maximum amount of biologically active substances before flowering or at its very beginning. Only grass with unblown flowers is harvested.

Shoots with leaves and buds are cut with a sharp knife, laid out on a flat surface in a thin layer and dried under a canopy at a temperature not exceeding 40 degrees. Store medicinal raw materials in paper bags in a well-ventilated area. When harvested for the winter, lemon balm retains its beneficial properties throughout the year.

How to use

Decoctions and infusions are made from lemon balm. Infusions and decoctions are prepared based on lemon balm. For this purpose, both fresh and dried medicinal raw materials are used. Essential oil is obtained from the fresh leaves of the plant, which is widely used in cosmetology.

Based on lemon balm, the pharmaceutical industry produces medications, for example, Novo-passit, Nervoflux, Persen. In pharmacies you can purchase dry leaves and flowers of lemon balm for preparing infusions and decoctions at home.

Plant-based remedies are taken orally and applied externally in the form of poultices, compresses or rubbing to treat skin diseases, muscle strains and joint inflammation. Let's look at the most common recipes based on lemon balm.

Pressure infusion

Lemon balm has a hypotensive effect on the cardiovascular system. An infusion of the plant can be prepared using both dry and fresh medicinal raw materials. Consider a recipe based on a dried plant.

Ingredients:

1. Melissa flowers - 1 tablespoon.
2. Water - 500 ml.

How to cook: Pour the dry leaves and flowers of the plant into a thermos, pour boiling water over them and close the lid tightly. Infuse the drink for 4-5 hours. Strain the infusion through a cotton-gauze filter.

How to use: Take ½ glass of the drink before each meal for 2-3 weeks.

Result: The infusion effectively reduces blood pressure and strengthens the heart muscle. It is used to treat coronary disease heart, tachycardia and arrhythmias.

Cough decoction

Lemon balm has an expectorant effect, so products based on it are often taken to treat coughs. They are effective for asthma and any inflammation of the upper respiratory tract.

Ingredients:

1. Lemon balm leaves - 4 dessert spoons.
2. Water - 300 ml.

How to cook: Grind lemon balm leaves, fill them with water and place on water bath. Simmer covered for 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat and let steep for 30-40 minutes. Strain the finished broth through cheesecloth.

How to use: Take 50 ml of the drink 3 times a day. The product can be used to rinse the throat and mouth.

Result: The product effectively eliminates paroxysmal cough, relieving spasms of the larynx. The decoction has antiviral and restorative effects.

Tea for insomnia (for sleep, for nerves)

Lemon balm exhibits antidepressant and sedative properties. Plant based tea gently soothes nervous system.

Ingredients:

1. Peppermint - 1 tablespoon.
2. Water - 300 ml.

How to cook: Rinse fresh lemon balm and mint leaves under water, tear them into pieces and place in a teapot. Pour boiling water over them, cover with a lid and steep the tea for 15-20 minutes.

How to use: Take a glass of drink half an hour before bedtime.

Result: When taken regularly, tea reduces nervous excitability and irritability, normalizes sleep and fights depression.

Headache tincture

Lemon balm tincture is used as a vasodilator and analgesic for migraines. The product is taken orally and used externally to rub the temples.

Ingredients:

1. Melissa leaves - 2 tablespoons.
2. Fireweed - 1 tablespoon.
3. Vodka - 250 ml.

How to cook: Grind the dry raw materials, fill it with vodka, close the lid tightly and leave the product in a dark and cool place for a week. Strain the finished tincture and store in the refrigerator.

How to use: Take 20 drops of the product 3 times a day. Course - 2 weeks.

Result: The tincture effectively eliminates headache, ringing and noise in the ears. The product relieves spasms and dilates blood vessels, eliminates dizziness.

Decoction for heartburn and gastritis

Lemon balm has a beneficial effect on the digestive system. With regular use, a decoction of the plant normalizes the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract.

Ingredients:

1. Dried lemon balm leaves - 1 tablespoon.
2. Water - 200 ml.

How to cook: Grind dry lemon balm leaves, pour boiling water over them and place over medium heat. Simmer the broth under the lid for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit for half an hour. Strain the cooled drink through cheesecloth.

How to use: Take 1 tablespoon of decoction up to 3 times a day. For stomach cramps, take the product before each meal.

Result: A decoction of lemon balm envelops the walls of the stomach, normalizes digestion, eliminates heartburn and has an analgesic effect for gastritis and stomach ulcers.

Diabetes mixture

For diabetes mellitus, lemon balm is used as an additional remedy. The plant itself does not lower blood sugar levels, but has a general strengthening effect on the body. Therefore, lemon balm is used only in combination with antidiabetic drugs.

Ingredients:

1. Melissa leaves - 2 tablespoons.
2. Black currant leaves - 1 tablespoon.
3. Strawberries - 4 pcs.
4. Blackberries - 4 pcs.

How to cook: Wash the berries, grind them in a blender to a paste consistency, combine with chopped plant leaves and leave the mixture at room temperature for 4-5 hours. Store the finished product in the refrigerator. Before use, dilute 1 teaspoon of the mixture with a glass of boiling water.

How to use: Take 1 glass of diluted product 3 times a day. The course of treatment is 3-4 weeks.

Result: The mixture saturates the body with vitamins, eliminates general weakness of the body and normalizes metabolism.

Features of use in men, women and children

There is an opinion that lemon balm is harmful to male potency. In fact, if you use plant-based products in doses and short courses, then it has a beneficial effect on erectile function. Melissa normalizes blood circulation in the pelvic organs and eliminates nervous tension, which is often the cause of impotence.

Lemon balm is used in gynecology. The plant is useful for women during critical days. Products based on it eliminate painful sensations, relieve spasms and regulate the cycle. Decoctions and infusions of lemon balm are taken orally and used for douching.

Lemon balm in the form of tea is useful for hyperactive children. The drink reduces emotional excitability, increases concentration and improves memory. Plant-based products are allowed to be taken by children over 3 years of age.

Is it possible to drink lemon balm during pregnancy and breastfeeding?

During pregnancy, lemon balm is used as an antitoxic agent. It effectively eliminates attacks of nausea and dizziness, saturates it with vitamins and increases the body's defenses. During breastfeeding, the plant improves the quality of milk and gently calms the baby's nervous system.

Before using lemon balm-based products during pregnancy and breastfeeding, you should consult a specialist. The doctor will evaluate the advisability of taking the plant and prescribe the necessary dosage.

Contraindications

Contraindications to the use of lemon balm-based products:

• arterial hypotension;
• epilepsy;
• renal failure;
• individual intolerance;
• children under 3 years of age.

When consumed in excess, lemon balm causes nausea, dizziness, lethargy, diarrhea and itchy skin. If these symptoms are detected, you should stop taking herbal preparations and consult a doctor.

Classification

Lemon balm belongs to the genus Melissa (lat. Melissa), family Lamiaceae. The plant belongs to the order Lamiales, class Dicotyledons (Latin Dicotyledones), department Flowering or Angiosperms (Latin Magnoliophyta or Angiospermae).

Varieties

The genus Melissa includes 5 species of herbaceous plants. In folk medicine and cooking, only lemon balm or lemon balm is used.

Types of lemon balm:

• melissa officinalis;
• melissa axillaris;
• melissa flava;
• melissa bicornis;
• Melissa yunnanensis.

For more information about Melissa, watch the video:

Melissa lemon infographic

Photo of lemon balm, its beneficial properties and uses:
Lemon balm infographic

What to remember

1. Lemon balm is widely used in folk medicine, cooking and cosmetology.
2. Plant-based products have antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, restorative, expectorant, sedative and diuretic effects.
3. Lemon balm is equally useful for men, women and children over 3 years old, in limited quantities.

It has been growing in my garden for many years - a wonderful plant that is useful, beautiful, and has an amazing aroma. That's it growing lemon balm and this article is dedicated to.

Once upon a time, when the Gods ruled the earth, a girl of unearthly beauty lived in beautiful Hellas. This nymph named Melissa was the daughter of King Melisseus.

The young beauty loved Zeus madly, she treated him with honey and milk. Their love was mutual. But the jealousy of other goddesses prevented their happiness. The beautiful girl was turned into a bee and banished to earth.

This is how honey bees appeared on earth, and people learned the taste of honey. One of the best spicy, honey-bearing plants - Melissa (or Lemon Balm) - was named after the legendary beauty.

Delight of the Heart

“The delight of the heart” - that’s what the legendary Persian doctor Avicenna called it. The famous Paracelsus also respected her.

For him, Melissa officinalis was “The best thing that the heart gives birth”; Paracelsus devoted more than one page to her in his writings.

Europe discovered Lemon Balm in the Middle Ages. It was used by sorcerers and magicians of the Middle Ages in their magic potions.

The magnificent plant was included in all kinds of ointments, tinctures, and painkillers. Almost everything was treated for her.

Beauty of our days

In our country, Melissa is known by many names: Honey, Bee grass, Roevnik, Mother plant, Honey grass, Beekeeper.

This beautiful honey plant has long become a permanent resident of kitchen shelves. It is worthy of universal adoration, because its beneficial properties are simply limitless: a huge amount of vitamins, beta-carotene, large reserves of essential organic acids, micro- and macro-elements, minerals.

• Just one cup of lemon balm tea completely replenishes the body with the essential elements for its life: zinc, iodine, potassium, iron, magnesium and manganese.

Its chemical composition is truly unique. Lemon balm is several steps higher than all other medicinal plants in terms of the amount of coumarins, tannins and unique active essential oil components, which are considered the most valuable among other essential oils.

• The essential oil of the plant was first obtained in the 16th century in the ancient lands of Germany.

Melissa etherol is actively used in pharmacology, and the herb itself is offered in pharmacies both in pure, dry form and as part of numerous healing herbal infusions, tinctures, creams and ointments.

◊ Melissa is healing. Our distant ancestors also used it for diseases of the liver, stomach, and gall bladder. This is an excellent sedative for nervous disorders, dizziness, hysterical attacks and cardiac agitation.

• For healing purposes, the tops of the plant's shoots and its leaves are used, which are collected at the very beginning of flowering.

Modern medicine widely uses the beneficial properties of lemon balm in complex therapy in the treatment of the nervous system (neuroses, panic, depression), diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (gastrointestinal tract), cardiovascular failure, problems in the respiratory tract.

They also like to add bees to various dietary supplements. It is also used for women's diseases, menstrual cycle disorders, hormonal imbalances.

◊ Melissa is delicious. Young shoots and leaves of the plant are an excellent culinary spice. It is respected by all chefs for its refreshing, invigorating lemon flavor.

In any form (dried or fresh), lemon balm will add an exquisite, unique aroma to hot dishes (soups, game or fish), mushrooms, and various salads.

Tea made from this herb, refreshing drinks, and liqueurs are incredibly tasty. It is also good for canning and pickling tomatoes and cucumbers.

◊ Melissa is beautiful. The unique properties of the plant have found their application in the beauty laboratory. Melissa essential oil is indispensable for caring for fading, dehydrated and sensitive dermis of the face, and for healing oily epidermis with enlarged pores, shiny and inflamed.

• Melissa decoction is used to wipe the face to get rid of acne and pustular rashes. This decoction also helps with hair care (nourishes it and treats dandruff).
• Adding lemon balm essential oil to masks and creams rejuvenates and heals the skin, moisturizes and tones it.
• For dermatitis and eczema, an ointment made from fresh, crushed lemon balm (20g), honey (6ml) and butter (50g) helps. The mass is heated in a water bath for several minutes. Use it regularly until it is cured.

The properties of lemon balm are universal. It is suitable for absolutely everyone: children (even babies) and adults (men and women).

This unique plant deserves to be in the arsenal of every family. It will become a charming and useful decoration, a real pride of any vegetable garden or garden on the windowsill.

Beauty in our home

Melissa seeds are very small (retain good germination up to 3 years). It is better to grow lemon balm using seedlings.

It is necessary to sow seeds at the beginning of March.

To do this, we need a small wooden box, which we will fill with ready-made soil.

• You can make the soil yourself: peat, turf soil and humus in equal proportions.

Before sowing, the soil must be moistened, but the seeds themselves must be dry.

In order for the seedlings to germinate, the seeds must be sown to a depth of half a centimeter.

After sowing, water the soil with warm water. Until small sprouts appear, we will spray the soil once every two days.

The emerging shoots (you will see them after 8-10 days) must be thinned out so that there is at least 5 cm between the sprouts (for good growth and development of the plant).

The plant loves warmth, so the box with seeds should be kept on a bright windowsill of southern windows. For good development Add a little nitrogen fertilizer to the soil.

Aroma on the windowsill

When replanting, it is necessary to leave 12-15 cm between sprouts so that the aromatic herb feels free and can grow successfully. It needs to be watered 2-3 times weekly.

Domestic adult Lemon Balm should be protected from direct exposure sunlight- She may get burned.

• The ideal temperature for it is +20-24°C in summer. In winter +15° C.

The grass should not be allowed to grow until the flowering period. The fact is that flowering reduces the growth of greenery, which is exactly what we need.

Therefore, when the plant reaches 20-25 cm in length and buds appear, we will pinch it.

A simple operation to remove the buds (they can be cut with scissors) will give rise to more active lateral branching.

• There is no particular need to feed Melissa with mineral fertilizers. She will benefit from a tincture of egg shells and leftover tea.

As soon as the plant reaches half a meter in height, it is ready to eat. Cut off Melissa along with the central stem, leaving 10-12cm of sprout.

The next harvest will be much richer and more magnificent. Over the entire summer period, the fragrant grass will allow itself to be cut 2-3 more times.

♦ Wintering. The grass is not afraid of the cold, so it can be kept in boxes until late autumn. For the winter, it needs to be moved into a pot along with a lump of root soil. You can place two plants in one pot.

Melissa in the garden

It will turn your garden into a real paradise! Beautiful, soft green and very fragrant, this herb will fill the air with healing aromas. Caring for the plant in a garden is not at all difficult - it is unpretentious.

♦ Location. Choose for the beauty a warm, dry, sunlit place with partial shade, enriched with loamy, loose soil.

In a shady place, it loses the aroma of its leaves; few essential oils and nutrients accumulate in them.

• It is forbidden! Planting Melissa near water means it can get sick and die.

Please note that this is a long-lived plant - in favorable conditions, grass can grow in one place for up to 10 years!

Therefore, choose a site for planting it in the fall: dig up the soil to a depth of 20 cm and carefully remove all residues and roots of weeds. Fertilize the soil generously with manure.

Plant young seedlings in open land at the age of one and a half months and be sure to wait until the cold weather goes away.

Little Lemon Mint is frost-resistant. Plant seedlings are planted 30 cm apart from each other, but the row spacing needs to be increased to 50-60 cm.

♦ Care. All plant care consists of regular watering (in dry summers), loosening the soil and timely removal of weeds.

• Over the entire season, it is necessary to completely trim the shoots of the plant 2-3 times (leaving about 10 cm of the stem). By doing this we will achieve the development of denser growth.

If you decide to collect seeds when the plant is flowering, do not feed it, otherwise they will not ripen.

But at other times, do not forget to fertilize Melissa in garden conditions with manure or humus.

♦ Wintering. This is a rather important period in the life of grass. At the end of summer it needs to be fertilized with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers, and in winter mulched with compost, peat and humus.

This should be done regularly in winter (so that the plant’s rhizome does not freeze out). After mulching, cover the grass roots with a thick layer of straw.

• When the plant becomes older than 5 years, it weakens, its winter hardiness is significantly reduced!

In spring it is necessary to feed the plant well. Especially after massive regrowth.

Along with organic additives (a solution of manure 1:6 or bird droppings 1:10), mineral additives are also added: superphosphates (30 g/sq.m.), potassium salt (25 g/sq.m.) and ammonium nitrate (20 g/sq.m.) sq.m.).

♦ Cleaning and storage. You will harvest Melissa throughout the summer. But for harvesting for future use, older plants are needed (after the second year of life).

The grass is cut at a distance of 6 cm from the ground during the flowering period. It is necessary to collect raw materials only during the dry period.

The tops of the plants are tied in bunches and hung in a shady place in a draft.

• When drying Lemon Balm, do not let it get wet! Damp grass immediately begins to rot.

If you have a very rich harvest, drying can be done artificially (at a temperature of +25-35 ° C).

After drying (when the weight of the grass has decreased by four times), the leaves of Melissa are torn off and placed in porcelain or glass containers and closed tightly.

The grass can also be packaged in plastic bags. In this form, its aroma will remain fresh for two to 2 years (if you store it in ventilated and dry areas).

And, of course, . You can read about how to properly grow these plants in the relevant articles.

See you soon, dear readers and have a rich harvest!

Description.

Melissa officinalis or lemon grass or catnip or lemon balm is a perennial herbaceous plant up to 1 m high. It belongs to the Lamiaceae family. Its stems are branched, erect, pubescent, tetrahedral. The leaves of the plant are oval, opposite, pubescent below, glabrous above, serrated along the edge, ovate. Melissa flowers form whorls in the axils of the upper leaves, pink or white in color, two-lipped, small. The fruits of the plant are small brown nuts that ripen from August to September. Melissa blooms from June to August.

Spreading.

Melissa officinalis grows in Western Siberia and Central Asia, the Caucasus and the southern regions of the European part of Russia. Melissa grows in gardens and vegetable gardens as a medicinal and spicy plant.

Preparation.

Medicines are prepared from the leaves of the plant and the ends of lemon balm flower shoots. They are stored during flowering, then dried under a canopy in the shade or in dryers at 35°C or in ventilated areas. The shelf life of the herb is 24 months.

Chemical composition.

The herb of the lemon balm plant contains tannins, tannins, essential oil, bitterness, resins, ascorbic acid, mucus. They determine what properties lemongrass has and how beneficial it is for the human body.

Melissa - beneficial properties.

Let us list the properties of lemon balm: it is an antispasmodic property, thanks to which it improves digestion. The essential oil contained in it has an antifungal, soothing and antibacterial effect on the nervous system. Medicinal lemon balm extract has antiviral activity.

Lemon grass - uses.

Melissa is used as an antispasmodic in the treatment of flatulence, belching, bloating, and slow digestion.

Plant preparations are used for nervous insomnia, agitation, general loss of strength, migraine, skin rashes, colds, arrhythmias and heart pain.

Melissa officinalis is used as an external remedy for furunculosis and gum inflammation. Poultices made from the herb of the plant help as a pain reliever for ulcers, arthritis and bruises.

Medicinal preparations of lemon balm.

Infusion for increased anxiety and nervous diseases.

Brew a tablespoon of lemon balm herb (leaves or ends of flower shoots of the plant) with a quarter liter (1 cup) of boiling water, after cooling, filter through cheesecloth, squeeze out the raw material. Take a tablespoon 5-6 times a day.

Infusion for pain in the intestines and stomach.

4 tbsp. Brew spoons of leaves or ends of flower shoots of the plant with a quarter liter of boiling water, leave for 4 hours in a thermos, then filter. Take a tablespoon 4-5 times a day before meals.

Infusion for menstrual irregularities.

Brew 15 g of medicinal lemon balm herb with a quarter liter of boiling water, leave for 1 hour (wrapped), then filter through gauze, squeeze out the raw materials. Take a tablespoon 3-4 times a day.

Infusion for external use.

Brew 40 g of medicinal lemon balm herb with a quarter liter of boiling water, leave when it cools down, and filter. Use for baths, compresses and lotions.

Tincture for gastrointestinal diseases.

Pour a tablespoon of medicinal lemon balm plant herb into a glass of vodka, leave for 15 days, filter. Use 15 drops three times a day.

Melissa for poor metabolism.

To do this, you need to take 20 g of yarrow, peppermint, lemon balm, oregano, wormwood, calamus root and pine buds and pour 10 liters of water, and then boil the collection for about half an hour. After cooling, strain and add to the bath. Take a bath at a water temperature of 37-38 ° C for 15-20 minutes.

Contraindications.

Melissa is contraindicated for low blood pressure and individual intolerance.

Think and guess!

There are many versions and legends associated with the origin of this wonderful plant. For example, the Greeks believe that lemon balm dates back to the time of the existence of the Gods. In ancient mythology, Melissa was the daughter of King Melisseus. She was a nymph and fed Zeus milk and honey. Her task was to teach people how to make honey from pollen. Another legend says that Melissa was a woman of extraordinary beauty. She blinded the Gods so much that everyone wanted to make her their mistress. But the jealous Goddesses decided to punish her, so that it would not happen to others, and turned her into a bee. Yes, this plant has been very popular at all times. It not only has healing properties, but still has a wonderful aroma.

Of course, the first answer is correct, because translated from Greek, melissa is a honey bee. This is also clear from the background of the issue.

What is lemon balm
Beneficial properties of lemon balm
Treatment with lemon balm
Melissa infusion
Melissa decoction
Green tea with lemon balm
Melissa contraindications
Melissa photo

What is lemon balm:

Many of us go to the dacha to plant the vegetables and herbs we need in the beds and fruit trees in the garden. But we usually go to the forest for medicinal plants. But there are herbs that can be grown directly in the garden. One of them is lemon balm herb. And if you don’t know the beneficial properties of lemon balm, then we will help you understand this issue.

Of course, due to the mass of dacha troubles, we are not always able to get out of our area to look for the necessary herbs in the forest thickets. But it doesn’t cost anything to plant these same herbs right next to your home, and, having grown them, prepare them so that you can then use natural medicines as needed.

To such medicinal plants, which you can grow yourself, also includes lemon balm herb.

Melissa is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Lamiaceae (Lamiaceae) family. At favorable conditions can remain in one place for up to 8-10 years, but as the bushes age, their resistance to frost decreases. Stems are erect, branched, drooping, tetrahedral, from 30 to 80 cm in height. It is a good honey plant (the name of the crop translated from Greek means honey-bearing).

The leaves have serrated edges, opposite, petiolate, ovate, large (6-7 cm long), dark green, covered, like the stems, with sparse hairs. It blooms in the second year after sowing. The flowers are bisexual, light purple, sometimes pink or yellowish-white. Flowering from June to August. Small seeds, 1000 pcs. weigh 0.62 g, remain viable for 2-3 years.

The following varieties are common in cultivation: Erfurt erect, Quedlinburg creeping and other local varietal populations. Plants vary in bush shape, flowering time and winter hardiness.
Melissa grows well in rich clay or loamy soils with sufficient moisture. Acidic heavy soils are unsuitable for its culture.
It is sensitive to frost and often freezes in open areas.

Propagated by seeds (per 10 m2 - 5-7 g), seedlings (per 100 m2 - 3 g), dividing bushes, layering and cuttings. Sowing seedlings in March-April. Shoots appear after 3-4 weeks and are thinned out in a row by 4-5 cm. Seedlings are planted in the ground at a distance of 40-50 cm row from row, in a row 20-30 cm, and in relatively large areas, respectively - 60-70 cm and 25-30 cm. Planting begins when the danger of return frosts passes.

When propagated by dividing the bushes, a high yield of green mass is obtained already in the first year. For division, 3-4 year old bushes are used. They are divided in spring or early autumn and planted at the same distances as seedlings. Care consists of fertilizing, loosening and removing weeds.

When propagated by dividing the bush, already in the first year, and when sowing with seeds, in the second year, a good harvest of green mass of shoots is obtained. They are cut off at the beginning of flowering.

The crop is harvested - leaves with parts of young shoots, before flowering or during the opening of flowers, when they contain the maximum amount of aromatic substances. You need to dry lemon balm quickly, in the shade, as the leaves easily turn brown. For mass collections, it is better to use artificial drying at a temperature of 25-35°C. Plants are harvested for seeds when the lower seed pods begin to turn brown.

Beneficial properties of lemon balm:

It is brewed, added to tea, tinctures and infusions are made from it, and used as a valuable ingredient in many culinary delights.

Lemon balm herb has the ability to stimulate appetite and normalize the functions of the gastrointestinal tract. The unsightly plant can have an anti-inflammatory effect, relieve spasms, help with digestive disorders (constipation) and serve as a diaphoretic. In addition to all this, lemon balm has beneficial properties that many people know about - it is a natural antidepressant that has a calming effect on the nervous system.

The medicinal raw material of lemon balm contains essential oil with a strong lemon aroma. In addition, it contains tannins, carotene (vitamin A), ascorbic acid (vitamin C), caffeic acid, ursolic acid, mineral compounds and sugary substances.

Traditional medicine has long recognized lemon balm for its many medicinal properties. For example, an infusion of lemon balm (the herb itself and the tops of the stems with flowers are taken) helps with heart disease. After consuming it, heart pain decreases, the infusion relieves shortness of breath, and normalizes blood pressure.

This infusion is useful for asthma, migraine attacks, anemia (anemia) and neuralgia. It is used to treat dysfunctions of the genital organs and digestive system.

Melissa, the beneficial properties of lemon balm, are used externally: as a mouth rinse - for gum diseases and toothache; for compresses for gout, joint inflammation (rheumatism), skin diseases and minor injuries.

Melissa decoction helps relieve headaches and dizziness. This lemon balm decoction was used for fainting and hysterical conditions.

Here are some other beneficial properties of lemon balm. The oil obtained from this medicinal plant is used as a remedy for heart pain and rheumatic pain, for menstrual irregularities and to normalize metabolism. Melissa essential oil is highly valued in the food industry and pharmaceuticals.

Treatment with lemon balm:

Melissa is used for women's diseases, diseases of the digestive system, oncological diseases various localizations, respiratory diseases, diseases of the liver, kidneys, genitourinary system, nervous and endocrine systems, cardiovascular diseases, skin diseases, metabolic diseases.

For nervousness, nervous spasms, nervous weakness, heart neuroses, stomach neuroses, depression, stress, melancholy, hypochondria, sleep disturbances, fainting, migraines and unexplained headaches, dizziness and tinnitus, hysterical attacks, increased sexual excitability, arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, vomiting in pregnant women, painful menstruation It is useful to use lemon balm infusion.
Melissa is especially effective if stress has affected the stomach, digestive organs and heart. It relieves the feeling of heaviness and spasms, pain in the heart, improves digestion, and increases appetite.

An infusion of leaves and an infusion of the tops of shoots with flowers is excellent. cardiac remedy. In patients with heart disease, shortness of breath disappears, attacks of tachycardia stop, pain in the heart area is relieved, the heart rate becomes less frequent, breathing slows down, and blood pressure decreases.

Melissa infusion is extremely useful to take orally to stimulate appetite, for disorders of the digestive system caused by depression, neuroses, stress, for gastric hyposecretion, hyperacid gastritis, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting, flatulence, severe stomach pain, for bile and renal colic, anemia, gout, severe headaches, migraines caused by poor digestion, after severe debilitating illnesses to restore strength, with postpartum weakness, toxicosis in pregnant women, to increase the amount of milk in nursing women, with bronchial asthma, pharyngitis, tracheobronchitis, various diseases in the female genital area (for pain during menstruation, ailments associated with menopause, such as “heat flushes”, palpitations, depression, insomnia, to relax and strengthen the nervous system during labor), for toothache, unpleasant odor mouth, otitis, sinusitis, allergic dermatoses, neuralgia, increased excitability, insomnia, nervous attacks, melancholy, dizziness, fainting, skin rashes.

Well, a little about how to properly use medicinal raw materials from the lemon balm herb:

Melissa infusion:

It is prepared as follows: 2 tablespoons of crushed dried leaves and flowers of this plant are poured with 2 cups of boiling water. The container with the infusion is tightly closed, wrapped and left for 4-5 hours to infuse. After this, the infusion is filtered. It should be taken half a glass before each meal. Helps with heart disease, heart pain.

Melissa decoction:

Prepare like this: pour a tablespoon of dried medicinal raw material into a glass of boiling water, then cook in a water bath for about 10 minutes. Then cool and filter through cheesecloth. The resulting decoction should be consumed 1 tbsp. l. Three times a day before meals for cramps and pain in the gastrointestinal tract. The decoction works well as a sedative - before bed, half a glass, once a day.

Green tea with lemon balm:

Melissa is best consumed in the form of tea or decoction. Tinctures also have a good effect on the body, but most of them contain alcohol. Tea with lemon balm can be consumed often, and in small quantities - even daily. A decoction is a more effective remedy, so it should be used only for medicinal purposes.

Green tea with lemon balm is used mainly as natural remedy, calming the nervous system. This drink will be useful for stress, depression, excessive irritability and neuroses. Green tea, including lemon balm, improves appetite, has a beneficial effect on the heart and strengthens the body. For colds, green tea with lemon balm and honey helps our body to more quickly activate defense mechanisms and overcome the disease.

There are many different ways to brew green tea with mint. However, if you want the tea to bring the desired result, you should follow some rules:

Dishes should be made of porcelain or glass;
Water needs to be boiled, but then it must cool to 80 degrees Celsius;
For 1 liter of water, take 1 teaspoon of mint and tea;
Tea should only be consumed when it is freshly brewed;
Lemon balm often grows in hard to reach places– forest edges, dense thickets, thickets. It is not always easy to find and collect. So it would be best to land this medicinal plant on your own plot. In this case, fresh lemon balm and the beneficial properties of lemon balm can be used for treatment as quickly and effectively as possible.

Melissa contraindications:

The property of lemon balm to act as a sedative determines contraindications for its use. Melissa is contraindicated in case of arterial hypotension, that is, with decreased tone vessels and muscles.

In simple terms, lemon balm, or more precisely, the essential oil from this herb and the preparations in which it is included, are not indicated for people with low blood pressure, since it can further reduce it. For example, if a person with normal or high blood pressure If you feel a calming effect from consuming this plant, people with hypotension may experience weakness, dizziness, and possibly even loss of consciousness.

Also, when using lemon balm for medicinal purposes, you need to give up activities that require a good mental reaction, maximum attention and concentration, and physical activity (for example, driving a car or any other vehicle, etc.). From side effects from the use of lemon balm we note: vomiting and nausea, muscle weakness and fatigue, dizziness, drowsiness, diarrhea, cramps, heartburn, lethargy and decreased concentration, itching, constipation, etc.