Makes a nice tea.

FataMorgana

Here is a link that might be useful: Using Lemon Balm

tea hmm not a bad idea but is that all?

I'd also like to know about more uses for Lemon Balm other than tea. So I'll bump this up. Anyone else have anything to offer?

Susan

Culinary Uses: Use fresh leaves in salads and as a garnish for fish and other dishes. When candied, the leaves make attractive cake decorations. Chopped leaves can be added to egg, fish and chicken dishes and sprinkled over fresh vegetables. Goes well with corn, broccoli, asparagus, lamb, shellfish, ground black pepper, olives and beans. Add the leaves to cooked dishes in the last few minutes. They can also be added to summer drinks and fruit salads, soups, sauces and ice cream, and make a good substitute for lemon peel in recipes. An ingredient of Benedictine and Chartreuse. The flower tips and young leaves are floated in wine or fruit cups as a flavouring and garnish. Substitute for lemon rind in jam making and add to marmalades. Makes a delicious tea, alone or added to ordinary tea.

Medicinal Uses: It helps relieve anxiety attacks, palpitations with nausea, mild insomnia and phobias and when used as a sedative it is good for children. It combines well with peppermint to stimulate circulation and can also be used for colds and flu and is most effective in the early stages of a cold. The tea is used to treat headaches and tiredness, mild depression, eczema, laryngitis, colic and dizziness and is reputed to enhance the memory. It calms a nervous stomach, controls high blood pressure, relieves menstrual cramps, promotes menstruation and treats insomnia. Useful for liver, spleen, kidney, bladder and bowel troubles. Helps if suffering from tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Fresh juice is used to treat goitre and GraveÂs Disease. It is especially suitable for children and makes a good substitute for chamomile. A crushed fresh leaf applied to insect bites eases discomfort. As a poultice, it treats sores and tumours. In ointment, it is good for cold sores.

Other Uses: Attracts bees to the garden. Potpourri. An infusion of leaves makes a refreshing skin toner and can be used in rinse water for clothes. A stronger infusion makes a good rinse for oily hair. Use as a facial steam for dry skin and to treat acne. Use in furniture polishes. The leaves rubbed onto wooden furniture make a fine furniture polish. Rub on a fresh leaf to soothe insect bites. Use in sleep pillows and add to soaps. Used to bathe discharging eyes in puppies. Used to bring down retained afterbirth in farm animals. Also used for farm animals for eye ailments, nervous and brain disorders, heart abnormalities, uterine disorders, to increase milk yield and to prevent miscarriage.

Warning: Avoid medicinal doses when pregnant or if suffering from night sweats. People with either Grave's disease or thyroid-related illness should not use this herb except under medical supervision. Prolonged contact with balm plants or leaves may cause contact dermatitis (itching, sting, burning, reddened or blistered skin) or it may sensitise you to other allergens.

Wow--i use this in chicken dishes and with fish. This also makes a mean pesto when combined with almonds, garlic, olive oil, and parm.

I didn't know any better & let it flower. It set seeds. Millions. It self-seeded and is now showing up in the lawn and everywhere else. And no, mowing does not kill it. LB thrives and is very difficult to pull. I'm sorry I planted it.

How do you make a tea with it? I would love to use it for my insomnia.

lemon balm leaves + hot water = tea

FataMorgana

Take heart, ppod; I had that happen, too, and after several years and only a bit of pulling up here and there it mostly left. Motherwort did the same for me at one point. They just seem to do that under optimum conditions, but when the conditions change a bit due to more or less shade, moisture, etc. they just go away more or less on their own. Take advantage of it while it lasts and store up some extra for the leaner years ahead, is my recommendation.

I am having a simlilar experience with wild mustard right now, and have decided to enjoy some good spring greens, in quantity....

;)

I haven't used it topically, but this site says it helps herpes and agitation in Alzheimer's patients:

http://www.med.nyu.edu/content?ChunkIID=21798

Jan

Here is a link that might be useful: Topical Use of Lemon Balm

This post was edited by jll0306 on Fri, Apr 19, 13 at 10:45