Melissa Officinalis - Health Benefits, Uses and Important Facts

Melissa officinalis , a herb used for relaxing, relieves everything from indigestion to anxiety. It is a perennial plant in the mint family, and the leaves have a faint lemon scent.

It is purported to be effective at bringing about tranquillity in terms of its subjective cognitive effects. This could also have a negative effect because healthy people who take lemon balm before a cognitive test seem to perform worse than a placebo on memory formation and reaction time (possibly due to sedation), while improving memory quality (the percentage of accurate memories formed, as opposed to "remembering" something that didn't happen).

What is Melissa officinalis? 

Melissa officinalis is a member of the mint family and has a lemon fragrance. It comes from southern Europe. You can drink lemon balm tea, take it as a supplement or extract, or apply it topically using lotions. Aromatherapy uses for lemon balm essential oil are also common.

The herb Melissa officinalis, also known as Lemon Balm, has been utilised for a number of cognitive uses throughout history, the most of which focus on enhancing cognition and lowering stress and anxiety. It is claimed to relax the body and calm the nerves.

Other names of Melissa officinalis: 

Many other names, including bee balm, cure-all, dropsy plant, honey plant, garden balm, heart's joy, sweet balm, and sweet Mary, are also used to refer to lemon balm.

Health benefits of Melissa officinalis:

1. Aids in digestion

Melissa officinalis  is a "carminative herb," meaning it can help with digestion issues like sluggishness and cramps in the abdomen. The volatile oils of lemon balm contain terpenes, which are chemicals that relax muscles and alleviate conditions like excess gas.

Melissa officinalis  contains substances called "choloretics" and "colagogues" that may help treat liver and gall bladder problems. Bile is created in the liver, held in the gall bladder, and then sent to the small intestine for fat digestion. A choloretic increases bile synthesis whereas a colagogue enhances bile ejection from the gall bladder. Caffeic acid, eugenol, chlorogenic acid, and P-coumaric acid are the primary substances in lemon balm that fit into these categories. These substances boost the amount of digestive juices, which improves food digestion.

Tea made from lemon balm should be consumed shortly after meals if you need digestive aid. Alternative strategies for promoting digestion include rubbing the abdomen with Melissa essential oil. "Food grade" oil can help to maintain the regular passage of bile and gastric juices into the stomach when ingested internally.

2, Treats Anxiety/Insomnia

The active component of lemon balm is rosmarinic acid, an enzyme that effectively increases GABA (gamma amino-butyric acid) in the brain. One of the inhibitory neurotransmitters, GABA, helps the brain maintain homeostasis and avoid overexcitation. It ensures that we are not overly stressed and has an impact on our sleeping habits. Lemon balm is a powerful anti-anxiety plant because it increases the calming or relaxing effects of GABA receptor stimulation.

Depending on the dosage, lemon balm can be a great herb for reducing anxiety or used as a sleep aid. Numerous studies have demonstrated how well it blends with valerian and how the two can help you get a restful, deep sleep.

To elevate mood, promote emotional harmony, and promote restful sleep, melissa essential oil can be diffused using an aromatherapy oil burner. A few drops of diluted oil applied to the neck or the back of the ears can also help to lessen anxiety and fear.

3. Neuroprotective

It has also been found that the aforementioned "rosmarinic acid" has neuroprotective properties, which may help slow down the ageing process of the brain by preserving its cells. Rosmarinic acid has been shown to reduce free radicals and protect the brain's nerve cells from ageing, according to Indian experts. Furthermore, lemon balm contains strong antioxidants like "eugenol" that prevent free radicals from harming brain tissue.

4. Helps in Thyroid

Research suggests that the adaptive plant lemon balm's flavonoids, phenolic acids, and other compounds may be to thank for its thyroid-regulating properties. Melissa officinalis protects antibodies that cause Grave's disease from attaching to thyroid cells, according to studies conducted in test tubes (hyperthyroidism). Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), a communication from the brain to the thyroid that would typically promote an overactive thyroid gland, is also blocked in this disease.

Melissa officinalis oil:

Melissa essential oil is a fantastic aromatherapy oil to boost emotional well-being, elevate and improve mood, and assist restful, deep sleep. Applying a few drops of diluted Melissa essential oil behind the ears or on the neck can help with vertigo, nausea, and vomiting.