melisa

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis L.)

Identity and Botanical Classification

Melissa officinalis L., commonly known as lemon balm, is a well-known medicinal plant of the family Lamiaceae. It is a perennial herb belonging to the Lamiaceae family, widely recognized for its medicinal properties and therapeutic benefits. The genus name reflects the plant's long association with pollinators: the genus name, Melissa, means "bee" in Greek, and the plant was likely named for its reputed ability to attract bees. The species epithet officinalis denotes its historical status as a plant sold in pharmacies and apothecaries.

Lemon balm is a flowering perennial shrub native to the east Mediterranean and west Asian regions that is now cultivated widely. The plant likely originated in Southern Europe and was brought to Spain by the Moors in the 7th century; by the Middle Ages it was cultivated and used throughout Europe.

The common name "lemon balm" derives from the strong lemon aroma released from the leaves. The word "balm" itself is derived from the Greek word balsamon, which means balsam, or "an oily, sweet-smelling resin."

Melissa officinalis L. is listed in several pharmacopeias, including the European Pharmacopoeia, the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, and the Iranian Herbal Pharmacopoeia.

Common Names and Synonyms

• Lemon balm (English)
• In European traditional medicine, M. officinalis was known as melissophyllon, baulme, melissa, and balm.
• Melissenblatt, Mélisse officinale, Melisa (various European languages)
• Melissae folium (pharmacopoeial Latin for the dried leaf)

Common Preparations and Dosage Forms

Oral preparations include herbal tea (dried, broken-up herb infused in boiling water), powdered dried herb, tinctures, liquid extracts of the dry herb, and dried liquid extracts. Topically, a cream or ointment formulated with liquid or dried extract can be applied directly to the skin, or a cotton ball soaked in lemon balm tea may be used. For aromatherapy, lemon balm essential oil can be inhaled, or diluted in a carrier oil and used for aromatherapeutic massage.

Traditional and Historical Use

Ancient Greece and Rome

Lemon balm's herbal use dates back over 2,000 years. The ancient Greeks and Romans used it medicinally, and information about the herb was recorded as far back as 300 B.C. in Theophrastus's Historia Plantarum.

Dioscorides (40–90 CE), often considered the father of pharmacology, addressed the plant in his De Materia Medica: "A decoction of the leaves is good for those touched by scorpions, or bitten by harvest spiders or dogs." He also recommended the plant for the treatment of amenorrhea and dysentery.

It was used to encourage bees to return to their hives in first-century Rome.

Medieval and Renaissance Europe

Eleventh-century Persian physician and philosopher Avicenna was an early advocate for the use of lemon balm in treating depression and melancholy.

The famed Hildegard of Bingen, a 12th-century German abbess and herbalist, praised it for its uplifting effects on the heart and spirit. Monks of the Carmelite order used it as a primary ingredient in their famous "Carmelite Water"—an herbal tonic made with lemon balm, alcohol, and other botanicals—used for headaches and nervous conditions.

The English botanist Nicholas Culpeper considered lemon balm to be ruled by the planet Jupiter in Cancer, and suggested it to be used for "weak stomachs," to cause the heart to become "merry," to help digestion, to open "obstructions of the brain," and to expel "melancholy vapors" from the heart and arteries.

"Balm water" or "Aqua Melissa" was used as a healthy beverage from the 18th century. In traditional Austrian medicine, M. officinalis leaves have been prescribed as an herbal tea or as an external application in the form of an essential oil.

Broader Traditional Uses

Lemon balm has been used traditionally for mood disorders, insomnia, migraines, infections, the symptoms of hyperthyroidism, gastric conditions, bronchial complaints, and hypertension.

Lemon balm was used in traditional medicine for nervousness, anxiety, insomnia, and menstrual irregularities.

It has historically been used as a remedy for the home-management of fever due to its diaphoretic properties. Lemon balm was also traditionally used to support fertility and has long been an ingredient in love potions for fertility and as an aphrodisiac.

Lemon balm has been widely used in Asian traditional medicine as a sedative to treat many psychiatric disorders, such as stress, depression, anxiety, and insomnia.

Key Phytochemical Constituents

The main active constituents of lemon balm are volatile compounds, terpenes, phenolic acids, and flavonoids. Hydroxycinnamic acids, commonly expressed as rosmarinic acid, are biomarkers of quality control according to World Health Organization (WHO) monographs on medicinal plants.

Key bioactive compounds include phenolic acids (including rosmarinic and caffeic acids), flavonoids, essential oils (such as citral and citronellal), and triterpenoids (ursolic and oleanolic acids).

Lemon balm extracts contain aromatic, lemony-smelling oils, chief of which are citronellal and geranial. Lemon balm also contains glycosides, caffeic acid derivatives, flavonoids, and triterpene acids.

Its flavour comes from geraniol (3–40%), neral (3–35%), geranial (4–85%) (both isomers of citral), (E)-caryophyllene (0–14%), and citronellal (1–44%).

Rosmarinic Acid

Melissa contains rosmarinic acid, a phenolic compound derived from caffeic acid that is credited with many anti-inflammatory effects. Rosmarinic acid is a polyphenolic compound abundant in lemon balm with strong radical-scavenging and antimicrobial properties.

Triterpenes

Melissa contains phenolic acid derivatives such as rosmarinic and the related lithospermic and chlorogenic acids, and it is a natural inhibitor of angiotensin-converting enzymes. Rosmarinic acid and the triterpenoids oleanolic acid and ursolic acid inhibit γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transaminase.

Essential Oil Constituents

The plant produces distinctive lemon-scented leaves containing essential oils rich in citral, citronellal, and geraniol. These volatile compounds contribute to the characteristic aroma and are the basis for aromatherapeutic applications.

Established Mechanisms of Action

GABAergic Modulation

The mood and anxiolytic effects of lemon balm may be attributable to known interactions with GABA-A receptors. More specifically, the mechanism of action involves rosmarinic acid, which inhibits GABA transaminase, thereby increasing GABA availability; this effect is supported by in vitro studies. Weak sedative effects due to modification of GABA action have been demonstrated for extracts from Melissa officinalis among other Lamiaceae species.

Cholinergic Modulation

In vitro analysis has established IC(50) concentrations for the displacement of tritiated nicotine and scopolamine from nicotinic and muscarinic receptors in human cerebral cortex tissue, though no cholinesterase inhibitory properties were detected in that particular extract. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition has, however, been proposed as a secondary mechanism in other in vitro models.

Antioxidant Activity

Rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, and terpenoids such as geranial and neral represent key constituents whose redox properties neutralise reactive oxygen species, protecting cells from oxidative damage.

Antimicrobial and Antiviral Activity

Phytochemicals in lemon balm disrupt microbial cell membranes, inhibit key enzymes, and interfere with biofilm formation, reducing the viability of bacteria and fungi. Extracts of Melissa officinalis have been shown to inhibit protein synthesis and exhibit antiviral action against Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Considering the lipophilic nature of lemon balm essential oil, which enables it to penetrate the skin, and a high selectivity index, Melissa officinalis oil might be suitable for topical treatment of herpetic infections.

Thyroid Hormone Modulation (In Vitro and Animal Data)

In vitro, constituents of lemon balm extract bind to thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), preventing TSH receptor-binding and leading to the inhibition of TSH-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. In animals, lemon balm extract has been shown to decrease levels of circulating TSH and inhibit thyroid secretion. These findings remain at the preclinical level.

Anti-inflammatory and Spasmolytic Activity

Reduction in inflammation-induced edema in rat paws has been attributed to the administration of aqueous extract of lemon balm. According to Reiter et al., M. officinalis inhibited contractions in guinea pig ileum, rat duodenum and vas deferens, and rabbit jejunum. The essential oil also exhibited smooth muscle relaxant activity in tracheal muscle of guinea pig.

Scientific Evidence by Health Area

Anxiety and Mood

Lemon balm is a Lamiaceae species widely used in traditional and contemporary herbal practice, yet its reported bioactivities are strongly preparation-dependent, reflecting variability between polyphenol-rich extracts and volatile essential-oil fractions.

Several randomized, controlled human trials have investigated lemon balm's effects on anxiety and mood. Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical studies investigating the acute effects of lemon balm extract on cognition and mood have demonstrated a calming effect (Kennedy et al., Pharmacol Biochem Behav, 2002). A subsequent trial by Kennedy et al. (Psychosomatic Medicine, 2004) examined acute stress: Kennedy et al. (2004) found that 600 mg of lemon balm reduced acute stress in a controlled setting.

In an open-label pilot study, Cases et al. (2011) reported significant reductions in anxiety by 49% and insomnia by 39% over 15 days with the Cyracos extract. While these results are promising, open-label design limits their interpretability.

A 2023 prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in Frontiers in Pharmacology examined a phospholipid carrier-based standardized Melissa officinalis extract in healthy adults with emotional distress and poor sleep.

A systematic review and meta-analysis published in Phytotherapy Research (2021) specifically examined lemon balm's effects on anxiety and depression across randomized clinical trials: a systematic review and meta-analytic approach investigated the effects of lemon balm as a medicinal herb on anxiety and depression in clinical trials; all randomized clinical trials published up to October 30, 2020 that examined lemon balm in patients with symptoms of depression or anxiety were searched in 12 online databases. Based on meta-analysis results, lemon balm significantly improved mean anxiety and depression scores compared with placebo (SMD: −0.98; 95% CI: −1.63 to −0.33; p value reported). The authors note this evidence is promising, particularly for mild-to-moderate presentations, and that study quality and heterogeneity remain limiting factors.

Food-matrix delivery has also been examined: following a pilot study with lemon balm extract administered as a water-based drink that confirmed absorption of rosmarinic acid and effects on mood and cognitive function, two similar double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover studies evaluated the mood and cognitive effects of a standardised M. officinalis preparation administered in a beverage and in yoghurt. In each study, a cohort of healthy young adults' self-rated aspects of mood were measured before and after a multi-tasking framework administered one and three hours following one of four treatments. Both active lemon balm treatments were generally associated with improvements in mood and/or cognitive performance, though there were some behavioral "costs."

The European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy (ESCOP) recommends the use of lemon balm to relieve mild symptoms of anxiety, including mental stress, restlessness, and irritability.

Evidence strength: Moderate for mild anxiety and stress reduction in short-term human trials; effect sizes vary by extract type, dose, and population. Larger, well-controlled, long-term trials are still needed.

Sleep

Lemon balm, both alone and in combination with valerian, has been studied for sleep disturbance. The combination of valerian and lemon balm has been studied in European trials for sleep support (Cerny & Schmid, 1999). That study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre design in healthy volunteers.

Among 58 postmenopausal women with decreased sexual desire treated with lemon balm (1 g) or placebo daily for 4 weeks, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores improved in both groups but more with lemon balm, and "no negative effects were observed."

Certain lemon balm formulations have shown improvements in sleep quality measures in controlled studies, and monographs support traditional use to aid sleep.

Evidence strength: Preliminary to moderate. Most positive sleep findings come from combination products (lemon balm plus valerian) or small trials, limiting attribution to lemon balm alone.

Cognitive Function and Dementia

Studies have shown that the plant improved cognitive performance and mood. In elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer's disease, extracts standardized in rosmarinic acid stabilized cognitive functions and reduced neuropsychiatric symptoms such as agitation.

The most notable cognitive and mood effects were improved memory performance and increased "calmness" at all postdose time points for the highest (1,600 mg) dose. However, while the profile of results was overwhelmingly favorable for the highest dose, decrements in the speed of timed memory task performance and on a rapid visual information-processing task increased with decreasing dose. These results suggest that doses of Melissa officinalis at or above the maximum employed here can improve cognitive performance and mood and may therefore be a valuable adjunct in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

A landmark randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial by Akhondzadeh et al. (J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry, 2003) demonstrated that the cognitive function of Alzheimer's patients has been shown to be improved by the use of lemon balm extract. In this study, the treatment group also displayed less agitation than the placebo group, suggesting an improvement in mood.

Evidence strength: Preliminary to moderate. Positive findings exist from several human trials, including one double-blind RCT in Alzheimer's patients, but sample sizes are small and replication is limited.

Herpes Simplex Virus (Topical Use)

The most clinically developed application of lemon balm is topical use against HSV-1. Many people with HSV use a commercial over-the-counter cream containing 1% dried lemon balm extract to treat oral or genital herpes sores. Two randomized, placebo-controlled trials of lemon balm cream for herpes sores have been published in English; the cream was moderately effective compared to placebo.

The most relevant human trial is Koytchev et al. (1999), a randomised controlled trial published in Phytomedicine. Participants applied a topical 1% lemon balm cream to active cold sores. Results showed shortened healing time and, in a subset followed over six months, reduced recurrence frequency.

One of the most widely used topical preparations in the treatment and prevention of herpes outbreaks is a concentrated extract (70:1) of Melissa officinalis. Rather than a single antiviral chemical, Melissa contains several components that work together to prevent the virus from infecting human cells. When Melissa cream was used in patients with an initial herpes infection, results from comprehensive trials in three German hospitals and a dermatology clinic demonstrated that there was not a single recurrence.

The proposed mechanism involves rosmarinic acid, a polyphenol concentrated in lemon balm leaves. Some research suggests rosmarinic acid may interfere with viral attachment proteins, reducing the virus's ability to enter host cells.

Almost all clinical work on lemon balm and herpes targets HSV-1, the strain responsible for oral cold sores. The Koytchev trial used topical cream on oral lesions. Extrapolating those results to HSV-2 (genital herpes) is theoretical: no well-designed clinical trial has specifically tested lemon balm against HSV-2.

Oral antiviral medications are more effective than topical ones and are currently the standard of care for oral herpes.

Evidence strength: Moderate for topical application in HSV-1 cold sores, based on two published RCTs. Evidence for oral use or for HSV-2 is absent or purely preclinical.

Gastrointestinal Effects

Lemon balm's high essential oil content is why it is traditionally used to support digestion, giving the herb a carminative action on the digestive tract. Carminative herbs are especially useful at dispersing gas in the lower gastrointestinal tract.

In a study of individuals diagnosed with IBS, those given a combination of lemon balm, spearmint, and coriander three times per day experienced significant relief in abdominal discomfort and bloating. Notably, this was a combination product, precluding attribution of effects to lemon balm alone.

Evidence strength: Weak to preliminary for isolated lemon balm; combination product data are more supportive. Traditional use as a carminative and antispasmodic is pharmacologically plausible given in vitro spasmolytic findings.

Menstrual Health (Dysmenorrhea and PMS)

A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the impact of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) on the bleeding and systemic manifestations of menstruation. A total of 90 students were randomly assigned to treatment or placebo group. Bleeding and systemic manifestations were evaluated with a menstrual pictogram and multidimensional verbal scale before and during 2 consecutive menstrual cycles. Among the 90 students with dysmenorrhea treated with lemon balm (330 mg) or placebo three times daily for two menstrual cycles, symptoms of dysmenorrhea decreased in both groups to a similar degree. This result indicates no significant advantage over placebo for this endpoint.

Research shows that 1,200 mg of lemon balm per day can significantly reduce overall PMS symptoms, including psychosomatic symptoms, anxiety, and poor sleep in female adolescents. A clinical trial of 43 females with moderate-to-severe dysmenorrhea was conducted to compare lemon balm and a common pain drug (mefenamic acid) for pain management. Results revealed that lemon balm supplementation leads to a greater decrease in pain intensity than mefenamic acid.

Evidence strength: Mixed and preliminary. Some trials show benefit for PMS symptoms and pain severity, while others show no advantage over placebo for dysmenorrhea endpoints. Small sample sizes limit conclusions.

Cardiovascular and Cardiometabolic Effects

The administration of ethanolic extract of lemon balm was reported to reduce ventricular fibrillation, tachycardia, and premature beats in CaCl2-induced arrhythmias. β-Adrenergic antagonistic activity of lemon balm was reported to have antidysrhythmic activity and induce bradycardia. These findings are from preclinical models.

Supplementation with lemon balm can also improve blood lipids and blood pressure, according to summarized clinical trial data reviewed on Examine.com, which cites a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial on borderline hyperlipidemia.

Across model systems, lemon balm most consistently shows antioxidant and anti-inflammatory signatures, with additional domain-specific signals reported in neurobehavioral, cardiometabolic, gastrointestinal, and dermatological models; however, comparability is limited by heterogeneous plant parts, extraction procedures, and chemical standardization.

Evidence strength: Preliminary (mostly preclinical). Limited human trial data suggest modest effects on blood pressure and lipids, but large, replicated RCTs are lacking.

Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Activity

Modern studies have demonstrated that Melissa officinalis L. has several biological properties including hypoglycemic, antioxidant, hypolipidemic, anticancer, antidepressant, antimicrobial, anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, and spasmolytic properties. However, the bulk of this evidence derives from in vitro and animal studies, and direct extrapolation to human health outcomes requires clinical confirmation.

Dosage Forms and Dosages Reported in Studies and Regulatory Guidance

In the United States, lemon balm is listed as a substance which is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) under 21 CFR Part 182.10 and 182.20 for use as a flavoring agent, adjuvant, or flavor enhancer. For its use as a medicinal agent, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) evaluated Melissa officinalis L., folium and established a traditional use on the basis of sufficient safety data and plausible efficacy. It was noted that conventional clinical safety data are absent; however, long-standing medicinal use and experience of M. officinalis L., folium has been documented within the EU, and during this time no clinical signs that the herb is harmful under the specified conditions of use have been identified.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has published dosage guidance for lemon balm in adults, based on traditional and community use (Community herbal monograph on Melissa officinalis L., folium, 2013).

• For herbal tea: 1.5–4.5 g of the herb (in 150 ml of boiling water), 1–3 times a day. For powder: 0.19–0.55 g, 2 to 3 times a day. For liquid extract: 2–4 ml, 1–3 times a day. For a tincture: 2–6 ml, 1–3 times a day.

In human clinical trials, specific dosages used include:

• 600 mg of lemon balm (acute dose) to reduce laboratory-induced stress (Kennedy et al., 2004).
• 1,600 mg (highest dose tested) to produce improved memory performance and increased "calmness" (Kennedy et al., 2003, in a crossover design).
• 1,200 mg per day to significantly reduce overall PMS symptoms in female adolescents.
• 330 mg three times daily (990 mg/day) for two menstrual cycles in a dysmenorrhea trial.
• 1 g daily for 4 weeks in a trial involving postmenopausal women assessing sleep quality.
• Topical: 1% lemon balm cream applied to active cold sores in the Koytchev (1999) RCT.

Body Systems and Health Areas of Association

• Nervous system: Anxiolytic, mild sedative, mood-modulating, and potential cognitive-protective effects, mediated in part through GABAergic and cholinergic pathways.
• Sleep: Traditionally and clinically studied for supporting sleep onset and quality, particularly in combination with valerian.
• Digestive system: Carminative and antispasmodic properties; traditionally used for indigestion, bloating, and IBS-type symptoms.
• Immune/Antiviral: Topical antiviral activity against HSV-1, supported by clinical trial data.
• Cardiovascular: Preliminary evidence for blood pressure reduction, antiarrhythmic activity (preclinical), and modest effects on lipids.
• Reproductive/Hormonal: Clinical investigation into dysmenorrhea, PMS, and menopausal symptoms.
• Endocrine: In vitro and animal evidence for effects on thyroid hormone axis (relevant to safety as well as potential therapeutic interest in Graves' disease).
• Skin: Topical preparations for cold sores; essential oil studied for antimicrobial skin applications.

Safety Considerations and Drug Interactions

General Safety

Lemon balm extracts are generally recognized as safe and have not been linked to serum aminotransferase elevations during treatment or to instances of clinically apparent acute liver injury.

Genotoxicity studies confirmed that aqueous lemon balm extract is not genotoxic at up to the highest concentrations tested (5,000 μg/plate or 5,000 μg/mL). A non-GLP 14-day dose range-finding study was conducted prior to a 90-day study to confirm dietary administration of aqueous lemon balm extract at concentrations of 0, 0.5, 1.6, or 5.0%. The 90-day study was conducted using the established dietary concentrations and no test substance-related adverse effects on clinical, hematological, biochemical, macroscopic, or histopathological parameters were observed.

In clinical trials with the extract of this plant, no adverse effects, unwanted effects, or allergies have been reported.

Reported and Potential Adverse Effects

According to the EMA, there were no reported overdoses of lemon balm before 2013, the published date of their last report. However, there has since been a case where a patient reported to the Emergency Ward and was diagnosed with withdrawal symptoms from lemon balm two days after stopping lemon balm tea. The patient drank four cups of lemon balm tea a day for three months—more than the EMA recommended daily amount. Withdrawal symptoms are rare, but may occur, especially if the herb is not used correctly.

While lemon balm is generally considered safe for short-term use, long-term safety data is limited, particularly at high doses.

Drug Interactions

There are no clinical reports of drug interactions with lemon balm, but theoretical interactions include increased sedation with sedatives and reduced effectiveness of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and thyroid hormone replacement. Additionally, lemon balm may inhibit certain enzymes that are involved in drug metabolism, though no adverse reports have been documented.

There is in vitro evidence that one component of lemon balm, rosmarinic acid, may inhibit some of the enzymes also used to process drugs: cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes CYP2C19 and CYP2E1, and UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) UGT1A1, UGT1A6, and UGT2B7.

Regarding thyroid medications specifically: theoretically, lemon balm might interfere with thyroid hormone replacement therapy. In vitro, constituents of lemon balm extract bind to thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), preventing TSH receptor-binding and leading to the inhibition of TSH-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. This interaction is supported by preliminary, weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific evidence.

Key theoretical interactions to be aware of, all currently unsupported by human clinical reports but noted in evidence databases and pharmacological literature:

• Sedatives and CNS depressants: Additive sedation due to lemon balm's own mild sedative properties.
• SSRIs: Possible reduction in effectiveness (theoretical, mechanism unclear).
• Thyroid medications (e.g., levothyroxine): Possible interference with thyroid hormone axis based on in vitro and animal data.
• CYP450 substrates: In vitro inhibition of CYP2C19 and CYP2E1 by rosmarinic acid; clinical significance unestablished.

Special Populations

Pregnant or breastfeeding women should exercise caution when using lemon balm or other herbal extracts. The EMA monograph does not support use during pregnancy due to insufficient safety data.

Evidence Limitations and Research Gaps

Comparability across studies is limited by heterogeneous plant parts, extraction procedures, and chemical standardization. Further studies are necessary to refine extraction methods, standardize levels of bioactive compounds, and validate clinical applications. Human studies frequently use extracts or formulated delivery systems rather than plain leaf powder; outcomes should be treated as strongest for the tested form and translated cautiously to whole-leaf use.

For most indications, existing trials are small, often unblinded or poorly standardized, and frequently involve combination herbal products, making it difficult to attribute effects specifically to lemon balm. The evidence base is most robust for acute anxiolytic and mood effects and for topical antiviral use in HSV-1.

References

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