Melissa officinalis is a herbaceous plant widespread in many regions of the Northern Hemisphere of the Earth. For more than two thousand years, people have been using it to treat many diseases. What are the indications and contraindications for the use of lemon balm? How to grow it in your garden? Read more about all the properties and features of the plant in our article.
What is Melissa?
Plants of the genus Melissa are perennial herbs that belong to the family of labiales. In nature, they are found in places with a warm subtropical climate and do not tolerate the action of cold air. Can also grow in the temperate zone.
The plant is native to Western Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean. Now it is found in North America, North Africa, in the countries of Western Asia, Central and Southern Europe. It is also cultivated in Ukraine, Russia, the B altic States and the Caucasus.
Melissa has many names. For its bright aroma with a hint of lemonnicknamed "lemon mint", and because of the large amount of essential oils that attract bees, they are called "honey" or "queen".
The most famous species of this genus is lemon balm. The plant is valued not only as a honey plant, but also as a folk remedy for various diseases. This is a universal remedy that can be used for treatment, beauty, immunity maintenance, etc. In addition to medicinal properties, lemon balm has other important qualities, thanks to which it is used in cooking and cosmetology.
Appearance and features
Melissa officinalis or lemon mint lives for several years. It grows from 30 centimeters to one and a half meters in height. In appearance, it can be confused with real mint, but the plants have characteristic differences. They differ in the shape of the bushes, the color of the leaves and flowers, as well as the aroma.
Mint leaves are elongated and sharp. The leaves of lemon balm, on the contrary, are oval and gradually taper towards the end. They are painted in a light green hue, and feel a little velvety.
Mint grows up to a maximum of a meter in height. It has even stems that end in purple inflorescences resembling spikelets in shape. In Melissa, the stem is highly branched and covered with small hairs. Its small flowers are painted in white, pink or light lilac. They are collected in inflorescences false whorls and are placed at the base of the petioles. Melissa begins to bloom from June, and already in August-September, rather large black fruits of an elongatedegg-shaped.
Chemical composition
The culinary and medicinal properties of lemon balm, for which it is valued, are determined by the presence of vitamins, minerals and other useful substances in its composition. It lacks dietary fiber and saturated fatty acids, but contains proteins, carbohydrates, fats, as well as zinc, iron, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, manganese, sodium and copper.
In addition, lemon balm contains: beta-carotene, vitamins C, B1, B2, B6, B9, PP, A. The plant contains substances flavonoids with antioxidant and antibacterial effects, coumarins with antispasmodic effects. Melissa also contains tannins and a variety of acids (coffee, salicylic, lilac) and esters.
Indications for use
Melissa officinalis was studied in ancient Rome. Even then, there was talk that the herb helps with inflammation and insect bites, with various pains. In the Middle Ages, it was believed that it was able to heal blues and melancholy, relieves asthma, stomach ulcers and joint diseases.
Today, the herb melissa officinalis is used both in official and traditional medicine. Indications for its use are spasms, headaches, diseases of the cardiovascular system and the gastrointestinal tract. It is useful for inflammation, swelling, problems with digestion and the excretory system. In folk medicine, the herb is used against gout, joint diseases, in the treatment of hemorrhoids and constipation, to increasemilk from nursing mothers, in violation of menstruation.
Lemon mint has a calming effect on the body, so it is used for all kinds of nervous disorders - neuroses, sleep disorders, stress, irritability and depression. Coumarins in its composition have antitumor and anticoagulant effects. Due to the high content of essential oils, lemon balm eliminates inflammation well, fights herpes, colds, and measles viruses.
Side effects and contraindications
The use of lemon balm, with all its advantages, can have negative consequences. Like other herbs, it can cause allergic reactions in case of personal intolerance. The main contraindication of lemon balm is chronic low blood pressure. It is also not recommended to use it while taking sedatives.
Side effects of lemon balm occur when it is consumed too often or in unlimited doses. Possible effects include diarrhea, dizziness, heartburn, muscle cramps, itching, nausea.
In addition, the soothing and relaxing effects of lemon balm can negatively affect performance. Grass causes drowsiness, can cause muscle weakness and fatigue. It should not be consumed before driving or other activities that require quick reactions, high concentration, active thought processes.
Melissa in cosmetology
Due to the rich composition and wide range of properties, lemon balm is popular incosmetology and pharmaceuticals. It perfectly tones the skin, stimulates the restoration of its cells and removes toxins from them. Melissa has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Lemon mint extract is added to various tonics, lotions, aromatic waters and creams. As part of cosmetics, it is able not only to give its own aroma, but also to enhance the aroma of other components. It can often be found in combination with lavender, bergamot, jasmine, orange.
At home, lemon balm is used as masks and lotions for acne, inflammation, and swelling. Herbal tincture is used against peeling and dry skin, lotion - against oiliness and blackheads. Decoctions and masks are usually used for hair and scalp. It is believed that lemon balm relieves dandruff, nourishes hair and promotes their growth. Fresh plant juice can be added to a variety of shampoos, conditioners, and other personal care products.
Recipes with lemon balm
In order for lemon balm to be beneficial, you need to know in what proportions and with what ingredients it can be used. Here are some recipes with her:
- For pain in the stomach, asthma and respiratory diseases, a decoction is used, which increases sweating, and also acts as a laxative and diuretic. So, 20 grams of lemon balm greens are poured into two glasses of water and boiled for 10 minutes. Strain and drink a teaspoon three times a day.
- To relax and improve sleep, drink lemon balm tea. For this, grass leaves are poured with boiling water and then boiled for 10-15 minutes.
- To prepare a hair mask, pour 2 tablespoons of dry grass with a liter of boiling water and leave for about 20 minutes. Then filter and pour on the head, lightly rubbing the tincture into the skin.
- For bruises, abscesses or pain in the joints, compresses are prepared from gauze soaked in lemon balm tincture.
- From peeling and dryness of the skin of the face, a mask of crushed leaves of fresh grass, mixed with melted butter and honey, helps. It is applied to clean skin and kept for half an hour, and then washed off with warm water.
Melissa in cooking
The use of lemon balm is not limited to the medical field. Whether fresh or dried, it has long been used in cooking. Thanks to its pleasant lemon aroma, it is an excellent spice. It is added to various sauces, salads, meat and fish dishes, soups and even drinks.
Melissa is added to milk, cottage cheese, yoghurts and other dairy products. Teas, compotes and beer are prepared with dry grass, wine and broths are seasoned with it. Lemon balm leaves and sprigs add spice to lamb and veal, great for canning vegetables.
Fresh lemon balm is good to add to marinades. It is better to add it dry to hot dishes. But it is advisable to do this at the very end of cooking, just a few minutes before removing it from the stove. Adding the seasoning too soon will cause the flavor to quickly dissipate without producing the desired effect.
Lemon mint plantations
For the production of drugs, cosmetics and culinary products, lemon balm is grown on plantations. It is propagated by seeds, layering or root cuttings. It grows best not in fresh soil, but in areas that have previously grown potatoes or crops.
Melissa prefers soils mixed with sand and clay with an acidity level of 4.5 to 7.8. She loves the sun, but does not tolerate dryness, therefore, when growing in plantations, she requires constant moisture control. An excess of water can also harm it and lead to the appearance of fungi.
Melissa may well grow up in the shade. In nature, it is found not only on well-lit forest edges, but also in shady ravines and gorges. However, under such conditions, it becomes less fragrant and bears much less fruit. In various countries, it is grown both on the plains and on mountain hills up to one kilometer above sea level.
Melissa on the windowsill
If you want to cultivate this wonderful herb yourself, it is not necessary to allocate hectares of land for it. Growing lemon balm is possible both in a small garden bed and on a windowsill. To do this, you need to choose high-quality seeds and a non-acidic substrate.
The seeds of the plant do not need to be stratified or somehow prepared in advance. It is enough just to lower them into the soil substrate to a depth of about 0.5 cm. The main thing is not to choose seeds older than 2-3 years, by this time they are already losing their germination capacity.
The pot for planting should not be too small, but a huge box is also not necessary for this. A container with a diameter of 20-30 centimeters and about the same depth is quite suitable. Melissa is usually planted in March, when there is enough natural light and heat for the plant to germinate without much effort. The best temperature for this is 20-24 degrees.
The first sprouts appear in a week or two. When they get stronger and stretched, they can be periodically cut from above. In this case, lateral shoots will appear more actively, and the lemon balm will be very lush. Buds that have started can also be safely cut off - this way more greenery will appear on the plant, and useful substances will not be spent on maintaining flowers.
Melissa lives quietly in one pot for 3-4 years, after which it should be transplanted into a container with new soil. On a well-lit window sill, the plant feels best, but will not die in the shade. In winter, lemon balm does well without additional lighting, only the leaves become less fragrant and lighter. It requires watering several times a week, but does not like stagnant moisture. If you meet the necessary conditions and follow the lemon balm, the plant will regularly supply you with he althy herbs and delight you with lemon flavor for more than one year.
Blank
Most of all in Melissa officinalis its leaves and stems are valued, they are used for various needs. Roots, fruits and seeds are rarely used in any field, they are needed mainly for plant propagation.
The collection of raw materials takes place beforeflowering. This is due to the fact that after the appearance of beautiful lemon balm flowers, its aroma becomes not very pleasant, reminiscent of bedbug excretion products. The strongest lemon smell is felt in the last days before flowering, in the phase when the buds have not yet blossomed. Preparations made during this period are of the highest quality and have a large amount of useful substances.
Procurement of raw materials, as a rule, takes place from May to August. Freshly harvested above ground parts of the plant are immediately dried or processed by steam distillation. Obtaining lemon balm oil is quite a costly business, which is why the final product is rare and one of the most expensive. Thus, one hectare planted with lemon mint yields only about 30 kilograms of essential oil.
Dry or fresh lemon balm is much cheaper. Dry it in a well-ventilated place without access to direct sunlight. At home, you must diligently monitor so that it does not become moldy. To do this, periodically the raw materials need to be turned over and it is necessary to sometimes open a window for fresh air access. Lemon mint is dried and in bunches of several stalks, hanging them with the tips down.
Further storage of lemon balm is carried out according to the same rules: coolness, lack of direct sunlight and moisture. It is best to keep it in a glass container or rag bags. This prevents the lemon balm from suffocating, but retains its flavor.
