Melissa

Melissa. No, I don’t mean your neighbor. And it’s definitely not your mother’s friend’s cat’s vet either. By Melissa, I mean the plant. Melissa officinalis. Otherwise known as bee balm, common balm, or lemon balm.

Melissa officinalis belongs to the mint family, Lamiaceae. And being such, it is known for its refreshing quality like lemon or lemon grass. The name Melissa was actually taken from the Greek “melisso-phyllon” which literally means “bee-leaf.” It was so named because the plant is so rich in nectar, it is commonly planted to feed bees.

Melissa officinalis is a perennial herb that was originally cultivated in Southern Europe. Now, it is common in almost all parts of the world, including Central Europe, Western Asia, North Africa, Panama, and USA. Its leaves have a characteristic lemony scent that’s gentle and soothing. This is perfect since the plant seems to have the propensity of growing in laid-back areas near human habitation.

Nearing the end of summer, the plant produces tiny white flowers that are full of nectar, much to the happiness of bees who feed on it. When in full bloom, the plant becomes even more attractive so that once, because of its beauty, even the Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne ordered that Melissa officinalis be planted in every monastery garden. The stems of Melissa officinalis wither and die at the start of the winter season but with the coming of spring, they spring back to life.

Health Benefits

The Melissa officinalis was formerly used for a variety of illnesses and conditions. Traditional medicine has deemed it an all-around plant used to treat anything from gas to sleeping difficulties and even heart problems. Herbalists also applied Melissa balm topically to the temples for insomnia and nerve pain.

Throughout history, Melissa officinalis was used in many cultures for several different reasons. In the 4th century, the plant was introduced to Britain where it has been used chiefly to pacify a disordered nervous system. The London Dispensary (1969) says: “An essence of Balm, given in Canary wine, every morning will renew youth, strengthen the brain, relieve languishing nature and prevent baldness.” Additionally, John Evelyn wrote: “Balm is sovereign for the brain, strengthening the memory and powerfully chasing away melancholy.”

The English were so convinced of the plant’s rejuvenating qualities that they called it the “elixir of life” and used it as an important ingredient in wine-making. Many cultures, besides the English, were enamored by the plant’s many good qualities. Melissa officinalis was known to help clear the head, increase understanding, and sharpen the memory. In fact, the famed Carmelite water that is used to treat nervous headache and neuralgic affectations is actually a spirit of Melissa, combined with lemon-peel, nutmeg, and angelica root.

History has recorded the many virtues of Melissa officinalis. Both Pliny and Dioscorides who are among the wisest of Greeks, believed that it was useful for counteracting the venom from the bites of snakes and scorpions. Today, modern science is continuing to explore the many of benefits of this plant.

Many clinical trials led to the discovery of active constituents present in the plant that makes it so effective as an all-around cure. Terpenes, part of the pleasant-smelling volatile oil from Melissa, are thought to produce this herb’s relaxing and gas-relieving carminative effects. The plant is also found to be rich in flavonoids, phenolic acids, and other compounds which are responsible for its anti-herpes and thyroid-regulating actions.