Is Melissa officinalis the same as lemon balm?
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a lemon-scented herb that comes from the same family as mint. The herb is native to Europe, North Africa, and West Asia, but it’s grown around the world. Lemon balm has traditionally been used to improve mood and cognitive function, but the potential benefits don’t stop there.
Why is Melissa officinalis so expensive?
Melissa Oil growing and production The plant has a distinct fragrant lemon scent and taste. The true oil high cost is justified due to its hard production, manual labor involved and of course, its unique benefits and uses. You need around 3.5 to 7.5 tons of its leaves to produce just 1 pound of essential oil.
What is Melissa officinalis used for?
Melissa officinalis is a plant cultivated in some parts of Iran. The leaves of lemon balm, Melissa officinalis L (Lamiaceae), are used in Iranian folk medicine for their digestive, carminative, antispasmodic, sedative, analgesic, tonic, and diuretic properties, as well as for functional gastrointestinal disorders.
How does Melissa officinalis work?
Melissa officinalis inhibits the activity of acetylcholinesterase and GABA-transaminase enzymes, which increase the cholinergic and GABAergic influences, respectively (10). These mechanisms may be related to the sedative, anxiolytic, hypnotic, and cognitive effects of Melissa officinalis.
Is lemon balm bad for the liver?
It has been proved that high concentrations of flavonoides increase production of reactive oxygen species by autooxidation (28). These cases show that consumption of high doses of lemon balm hydroalcohoic extract in the short period causes toxicity effects on liver cells.
Is lemon balm and lemon verbena the same thing?
While lemon verbena is often used as a seasoning for fruits and desserts, lemon balm is more often used for flavoring meats, fish and poultry or added to vegetable dishes. Both are used as garnishes for cold drinks and can be used interchangeably in recipes.
What does Melissa smell like?
What does Melissa essential oil smell like? As for the scent, the oil has a lovely lemony smell, sometimes described as grassy. It is enjoyed for its sweet and calming aroma. It is in the Lamiaceae (mint) family.
What oil is similar to Melissa?
If you are looking to replicate the calming properties for melissa oil used to relieve depression, try bergamot (Citrus bergamia) (for a citrus aroma) or lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oils.
What are the benefits of Melissa oil?
11 Benefits of Melissa Essential Oil
- May Improve Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease.
- Possesses Anti-inflammatory Activity.
- Prevents and Treats Infections.
- Has Anti-diabetic Effects.
- Promotes Skin Health.
- Treats Herpes and Other Viruses.
- Serves as a Potential Anti-Tumor Agent.
- Boosts Mood and Aids in Fighting Depression.
What is the benefit of Melissa tea?
The tea has historically been used to treat digestive disorders and to alleviate pain including menstrual cramps and headaches. Lemon balm tea also offers a mild calming effect, making this beverage a good choice for people who suffer from sleep disorders or are looking for a bedtime tea.
How long does it take for Melissa dream to work?
The l-theanine in the tablets works to relax you in about 30 minutes. (Matricaria chamomilla L.)
Is it safe to take lemon balm everyday?
Lemon balm is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth in medicinal amounts, short-term. It’s been used safely in research for up to 6 months. Side effects are generally mild and may include increased appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness, and wheezing.
Where does the plant Melissa officinalis come from?
Melissa officinalis. Melissa officinalis (lemon balm) is a perennial herb from the Lamiaceae family that is native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean and has a history of use dating back over 2000 years.
What are the ingredients in Melissa officinalis L?
Melissa officinalis L. contains the flavonoids, quercitrin and rhamnocitrin; the 7-glucosides, apigenin, kaempferol, quercetin, and luteolin; phenolic acids and tannins; rosmarinic acid and glycosidically bound caffeic and chlorogenic acids; and the triterpenes, ursolic and oleanolic acids [36–38].
Which is the highest dose of Melissa officinalis?
Accuracy at attention was found to be significantly improved following the middle dose of 600 mg of M. officinalis, however at the highest dose (900 mg) decrements in memory performance together with reduced alertness were observed.
What are the anxiolytic effects of Melissa officinalis?
The anxiolytic effects of M. officinalis are most likely due to a non-cholinergic mechanism that is yet to be identified. There is also evidence to suggest that M. officinalis acts as a moderately effective free radical scavenger, which can be attributed to its flavonoid content ( Hohmann et al., 1999; Mantle et al., 2000 ).