Historically lemon balm has been said to possess sedative/tranquilizing, anti-gas, fever-reducing, antibacterial, spasmolytic, hypotensive, memory-enhancing, menstrual-inducing, and thyroid-related effects and has been proposed by some to be an herbal cure-all.The Muslim herbalist Avicenna recommended lemon balm “to make the heart merry.” Paracelsus claimed this herb could completely revitalize the body and called it the “elixir of life”, and 14th century French King Charles V drank its tea every day to keep his health.
Lemon balm has anti viral activity against herpes simplex virus type 2, influenza virus A2, influenza viruses and myxoviruses in vitro and vaccinia virus 1.
Traditionally lemon balm has been used for gastrointestinal tract disorders, to promote digestion. The tea has also been shown to inhibit the division of tumor cells. Studies indicate that the herb slightly inhibits the thyroid-stimulating hormone and restricts Grave’s disease, a hyperthyroid condition.
A common dose of lemon balm is one cup of tea taken several times per day as needed. Anecdotally, others have suggested 1.5 to 4.5 grams of lemon balm herb taken several times per day as a tea.
Lemon balm tea and health benefits
