Herbal Highlight: Lessons on Lemon Balm

I was first introduced to lemon balm back in 2014 when I was diagnosed with mononucleosis. I was in the homestretch of our homeschool year, nursing baby #4, juggling work and home, and I was downright exhausted. My body collapsed and the mono diagnosis forced me to rest and recuperate from May through August. During my recovery summer, I purchased Rosemary Gladstar’s book, Medicinal Herbs, and reacquainted myself with the herbs growing in my backyard garden. Lemon balm, Melissa officinalis, was one of those herbs.

Rosemary taught me that lemon balm was antiviral and would help fight my mono infection. It was a calming herb and a mood booster…and I sure needed all of those things.

I’d pick a handful of fresh lemon balm, mint, and stevia leaves and steep in hot water to make tea. Sometimes I’d drink lemon balm plain and sometimes added to other tea blend from Mountain Rose Herbs. Slowly over the summer after a lot of rest, reading, gentle yoga, and herbal tea, my body gained strength.

In our homeschool, my family has studied the musical works of Hildegard Van Bingen, a nun and herbalist from the middle ages. She’s fascinating and worth your time to study. She is believed to have taught that “lemon balm contains within it the virtues of a dozen other plants.” So much packed into a simple-to-grow herb! Being part of the mint family, lemon balm is easy to grow, cultivate, and enjoy. If you need a starter plant, come on over and I’d be glad to pull some up to share with you!