A – Z of Herbal Remedies

Other Names: Common Balm, Balm, Sweet Mary, Honey Plant, Cure-All, Dropsy Plant, Bawn, Sweet Balm, Melissa, Sweet Melissa, Bee Balm, Melissa Officinalis
Traditional Usages: Relieve Weak Stomachs and Sick Bodies, Baldness, Toothache, Pregnancy Sickness, Helps Digestion, Scorpion Stings, Bites of Mad Dogs, Bloody Diarrhea, Cure Mild Depression, Antibacterial, Antiviral, Insect Repellent, Relieve Pain from Stings, Herbal Tea to lift one's Spirits, Improves Memory, Calming, Relaxing and Releases Tension, PMS, Hay fever, Eczema, Cramps, Flatulence, Herpes and associated Itching, Burning and Swelling, Longevity, Shingles, Sleeping disorders.
Resources: South Europe, Mediterranean, Western Asia, North Africa, Venezuela, Nervous Complaints, Stress, Wounds, Sores and Skin Ulcers
Parts Used: Leaves, Essential Oil
Administration Method: Powdered herb, extracts for teas, ground herb for oral use.
Herb Action: Sedative, Carmative
Herbal Research: Lemon
Health Warning: Avoid during Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Lemon Balm - Natural remedy for Anorexia: Lemon Balm boosts the appetite. It can be taken as a herbal tea or in the form of tablets and extract.

Lemon Balm - Natural remedy for Bulimia: Use 2-3 tablespoons of fresh lemon balm leaves or use 1-3 teaspoons of dried leaves per cup of tea. Place the leaves in a tea pot. Fill with boiling water and let it infuse for 10-minutes. Drink a cup twice daily.

Lemon Balm – Natural remedy for Cold Sores: Lemon Balm is a member of the mint family that also contains anti-viral tannin compounds. Applying the tea should be sufficient to see results.

Lemon Balm - Natural remedy for Herpes:  Lemon balm cream helps stop the infection. Apply lemon balm cream to the affected area four times daily.

Lemon Balm – Natural remedy for Oral Herpes:  Apply some lemon balm cream on cold sores.

Lemon Balm - Natural remedy for Shingles: Lemon balm may be helpful in treating shingles. It can act as an antiviral and is especially helpful in preventing the internal spread of the virus. Make a tea with two teaspoons of dried leaf per cup of boiling water. Apply the tea directly to the rash with a cotton pad several times daily and drink a few cups a day. You can also apply diluted lemon balm essential oil on the wound itself or you can purchase a lemon balm cream from your local health food store.
Health Warning: Applying diluted essential oil can be a little more painful than applying a cream because the direct essential oil is considered much stronger.

Lemon Balm - Natural remedy for Social Phobia: Lemon balm has been used for generations to calm and relax the nerves as well as to relieve sleeplessness. This herb is still used today in herbal therapies to treat anxiety, nervousness and insomnia.  Lemon balm is good for digestive problems linked to anxiety. Drink two cups of infusion daily for three weeks. Infguse one teaspoon of  chopped fresh or dried lemon balm in a cup of  hot water. Strain and drink.

• Anorexia
• Bulimia
• Cold Sores
• Herpes
• Oral Herpes
• Shingles
• Social Phobia