Lemon Balm was growing in my yard when I first moved into this property. My first experience with it was it's lovely scent. Definitely lemony. In addition it was quite beautiful!
At first I studied it's use. I found out that it is antiviral. This was attractive to me raising four kids. However, I wasn't fond of it's flavor. It didn't taste as much like lemon as it smelled.
Nevertheless, over the years, Lemon Balm has grown on me, and lavishly in my yard! This is mainly because, as I used it, I realized it was more than antiviral!
For me, and many others, Lemon Balm is a mood enhancer. It lifts the spirits, and brightens the heart. Lemon Balm is wonderful as a warming cup of tea on days when one needs a lift. For one thing it's scent alone is comforting!
This lift of spirits is more than casual! In fact, I soon noticed that when I had anxiety, which I am prone to, a cup of Lemon Balm tea would calm my frayed nerves, and restore balance.
In 2006 I was struck with Peri-partum Cardiomyopathy, or pregnancy related heart failure. I also lost the baby due to a knot in her umbilical cord. Needless to say I was broken hearted in more than one way.
In the following years, even though my heart healed in both ways over time, I endure much anxiety, and heart palpitations. Lemon Balm came to my rescue, calming not only the anxiety, but also relieving my palpitations. Now I rarely get palpitations, and my cure, when I do, grows in my back yard!
Even more advantageous, was after awhile I determined that I needed to go off my blood pressure medication, and Lemon Balm eased my transition to weaning off of it, and distinctly lowers my BP, which has always responded unfavorably to my emotional state!
Shortly stated Lemon Balm has been a life saver for me! I will never be without it again! I cut it, and dry it for winter, when it assists the winter doldrums very well! A dose of summer in a cup! I drink it a couple times a week, which seems sufficient for me, except when I get upset or stressed.
Today, I had a family meeting which I was stressing some over, so I took a cup with me to help sooth my mind. Lemon Balm is great for stressful situations, or to soothe someone else who is grieving, or anxious.
Lemon Balm is also good for repelling mosquitoes, either by rubbing it on the skin, or burning in the fire to fend the little blood suckers away from your yard! It can also be baked into a cake for muffins.
It should be noted that in normal doses it is beneficial to heart function, but in excessively high doses it has been shown to have the opposite reaction. This makes sense homeopathically! So be sensible if you use it! Be sensible if you use water too!!!
So, in short, grow Lemon Balm, and brighten your garden, and your life!!! You will be thankful that you did!
I just harvested some more lemon balm yesterday too!
I have some lemon balm vinegar fermenting and brewing right now.
Lemon is my favorite scent! Always reminds me of clean and fresh!
Yes, I love lemon just about everything! It's just invigorating!
Oh it sure is!!! I love cleaning with lemon- I just started a lemon balm vinegar the other day and I'm hoping it ferments correctly so I can use it clean my kitchen counters, etc
I often tincture in vinegar instead of in alcohol. A good vinegar is often just as efficacious, and can be used in many more ways, such as cleaning! Not to mention, you can always make salad dressing, which to my way of thinking is WAY better homemade!
I'm so glad I found your article, it's really helpful to me. I want to dig deeper into it, learn as much as I can and plant some in our garden next year.
Előre szólok, hogy érdemes leásni a töve mellé valamilyen határolót, mert ha nem, akkor addig terjed, amíg a fűnyíróval nem találkozik :D Tulajdonképpen semmi nem tudja kinyírni, mi azt tapasztaltuk :D
Sejtettem, hogy terjedő fajta, de azért köszi, hogy szóltál :)
Yes, I would say put it in an area of your yard that you don't mind it spreading. However, mine is basically in the same place as it always was, but we mow up to it! It makes a fine border for a lawn, and mine is growing on the north side of the house in the shade. So I think it in the south of the United States, it appreciates some shelter from the sun.
Not need shelter, this stuff is like a spartan :D Our plant get all-day-sun, and it like :)
Interesting. The plants I have in the sun are not near as rampant as the ones I have in the shade!
If i know correct, there is more dozen of types. Maybe ours is another one. Or just have much success in adaptation :D
Thank you! It is a very useful plant! Hope you enjoy it in your garden!
I'll let you know about it :)
Thank you also for the resteem!
My pleasure! Interesting and good content must be supported!
I really love lemon balm but my husband can't stand the smell so I can't grow it. It makes such a lovely iced tea too
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Interesting. I have a hard time with citronella, but Lemon Balm doesn't effect me the same way.
So that's the name of that plant! My yard its covered in that!
If it has a lemon scent then it probably is Lemon Balm. Just always remember to properly identify wild plants before using them!
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Thanks the resteem @erikah ;)
The lemon grass (yes, in our country we call this as lemongrass, but i know, this is not that) its pretty good in syrup too :) We make it almost every year with caramel and a lil' mentha.
I got some from my godmother a couple of years ago. They have it in their garden. I guess I made tea outof it.
Nice post @littlebitfarm!
That was some uses of Lemon Balm that I wasn't aware of, thanks for sharing :)
We might want to use the #naturalmedicine tag. It is a very supportive community and your post is precisely what it is all about.
Thanks for the reminder of this under appreciated herb @littlebitfarm. I love it (so do the bees!) but it is not one of the first that I reach for in my herb garden.
You are welcome! Took awhile of me discovering it's uses for me to think of it first for things as well, but it has proven itself time, and time again!