Evidence supporting the use of: Lemon balm
For the health condition: Anxiety Disorders

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) for Anxiety Disorders: Evidence Synopsis

Lemon balm has a long history of traditional use as a calming herb for nervousness and insomnia, but in recent years, several scientific studies have evaluated its efficacy for anxiety. The active compounds in lemon balm, such as rosmarinic acid, are believed to exert anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) effects, possibly via modulation of GABA receptors in the brain.

Several small randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have explored the effects of lemon balm extracts or preparations on anxiety and mood. For example, a 2004 double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (Kennedy et al., 2004) reported that a single dose of a standardized lemon balm extract reduced experimentally induced laboratory anxiety in healthy volunteers. Other studies have evaluated combinations of lemon balm with valerian, but these make it difficult to attribute effects solely to lemon balm. There is also limited evidence from studies in people with mild-to-moderate anxiety symptoms showing positive effects on subjective anxiety ratings.

However, these studies tend to be small in size, short in duration, and often focus on acute rather than chronic anxiety or clinical anxiety disorders. Systematic reviews conclude that while there is promising preliminary evidence, larger and more rigorous trials are needed to firmly establish efficacy for anxiety disorders. Overall, the scientific evidence is modest (rated 2/5), supporting lemon balm as a possible adjunct for mild anxiety but not as a primary treatment for diagnosed anxiety disorders.

More about lemon balm
More about Anxiety Disorders

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5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)
amino acids
ashwagandha
waterhyssop
beta caryophyllene
bifidobacterium infantis
bifidobacterium longum
cannabis sativa oil
chamomile
citrus oil
curcumin
ginkgo biloba
ginseng
gotu kola
green tea
hemp oil
inositol
kava
L-glycine
L-taurine
L-theanine
L-tryptophan
lactium casein decapeptide
lactobacillus casei
lactobacillus paracasei
lactobacillus rhamnosus
lavender
lion's mane
lithium orotate
magnesium
magnolia
matcha
melatonin
motherwort
muira puama
n-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
omega-3 fatty acids
passionflower
phosphatidylserine
phytocannabinoids
polygala root
prebiotic blend (proprietary)
pregnenolone
pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P-5-P)
reishi mushroom
relora® (proprietary)
rhodiola
SAMe (s-adenosyl-l-methionine disulfate p-toluensulfate)
sceletium
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valerian root
velvet bean
vitamin B
vitamin B12
vitamin B6
zinc
catnip
shen-chu
St. John's Wort
herbal blend (proprietary)
cocoa
star of Bethlehem
7,8-Dihydroxyflavone
Apigenin
Albizia
Aconite
Baikal Skullcap
Bifidobacterium adolescentis
Bacopin
Brahmi
Bacopa
bacoside
Clary sage
Cymbopogon Martini
Centella asiatica
Capitate Valerian
Cowslip
Cannabidiol
Convolvulus prostratus
Convolvulus Pluricaulis
Essential Oil Blend
Gelsemium
Griffonia simplicifolia
Ginkgoside
Gastrodin
Honokiol
Hypericum
hyperforin
Hericium mushroom
Hemp
Jujubosides
Kavalactones
Kefir
lemon balm
Linden
Lactococcus rhamnosus
Lavandin
Large-Leaved Linden
Lactobacillus
Linalool
Mimulus
Monoterpenes
Magnolol
Mulungu
Mesembrine
Pulsatilla
Probiotics
Passionfruit
Polygala
Purple Monkeyflower
Rosavins
Rosmarinic Acid
Spikenard
Scleranthus annus
Shankhpushpi
Sandalwood
Saffranal
Terpenoids
Tea
Trichilia catigua
Tetrahydropalmatine
Valerenic acid
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Vitexin
Wogonin
yohimbine

Products containing lemon balm

We currently have no products on Vitabase that contain this ingredient.