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Balm for the soul: A tonic with a lemony tang

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Balm for the soul: A tonic with a lemony tang

April 2021
By Phil Rasmussen
Thursday 1 April 2021, 12:40 AM
Lemon Balm

Research supports the use of lemon balm as a daily tonic for a range of ailments, including digestive issues and anxiety, writes Phil Rasmussen, medical herbalist and pharmacist

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) grows really well in my garden, and also in the wild in various ­locations around New Zealand and other countries.
References
  1. Grieve M. A Modern Herbal. London: Jonathan Cape; 1931.
  2. Kennedy DO, Scholey AB, Tildesley NTJ, et al. Modulation of mood and cognitive performance following acute administration of Melissa officinalis (lemon balm). Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2002 Jul;72(4):953–64.
  3. Kennedy DO, Little W, Scholey AB. Attenuation of laboratory-induced stress in humans after acute administration of Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm). Psychosom Med 2004;66(4):607–13.
  4. Kennedy DO, Wake G, Savelev S, et al. Modulation of mood and cognitive performance following acute administration of single doses of Melissa officinalis (Lemon balm) with human CNS nicotinic and muscarinic receptor-binding properties. Neuropsychopharmacology 2003;28(10):1871–81.
  5. Cases J, Ibarra A, Feuillère N, et al. Pilot trial of Melissa officinalis L. leaf extract in the treatment of volunteers suffering from mild-to-moderate anxiety disorders and sleep disturbances. Med J Nutrition Metab 2011;4(3):211–18.
  6. Heydari N, Dehghani M, Emamghoreishi M, et al. Effect of Melissa officinalis capsule on the mental health of female adolescents with premenstrual syndrome: a clinical trial study. Int J Adolesc Med Health 2018;25;31(3).
  7. Ranjbar M, Firoozabadi A, Salehi A, et al. Effects of herbal combination (Melissa officinalis L. and Nepeta menthoides Boiss. & Buhse) on insomnia severity, anxiety and depression in insomniacs: Randomized placebo controlled trial. Integr Med Res 2018;7(4):328–32.
  8. Keck ME, Nicolussi S, Spura K, et al. Effect of the fixed combination of valerian, lemon balm, passionflower, and butterbur extracts (Ze 185) on the prescription pattern of benzodiazepines in hospitalized psychiatric patients–A retrospective case-control investigation. Phytother Res 2020;34(6):1436–45.
  9. Alijaniha F, Naseri M, Afsharypuor S, et al. Heart palpitation relief with Melissa officinalis leaf extract: double blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial of efficacy and safety. J Ethnopharmacol 2015;164:378–84.
  10. Haybar H, Javid AZ, Haghighizadeh MH, et al. The effects of Melissa officinalis supplementation on depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep disorder in patients with chronic stable angina. Clin Nutr ESPEN 2018;26:47–52.
  11. Ghazizadeh J, Hamedeyazdan S, Torbati M, et al. Melissa officinalis L. hydro-alcoholic extract inhibits anxiety and depression through prevention of central oxidative stress and apoptosis. Exp Physiol 2020;105(4):707–20.
  12. Awad R, Levac D, Cybulska P, et al. Effects of traditionally used anxiolytic botanicals on enzymes of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2007;85(9):933–42.

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