Lemon Balm Tea

The reason the plant received the name lemon balm is because it has a similar scent of lemons. It has other common names such as Melissa, Bee Balm, Sweet Balm, Honey Plant, English Balm, and so on. In ancient eras, the bee keepers used to crush the leaves and rub on the beehives to encourage the domesticated bees to come back to the hives. Also, it would attract other bees to come with them as they returned. For about 2,000 years, the Greeks have used lemon balm leaves for many medicinal benefits which are mentioned below. The most common way of using the leaves is to make the tea with dry or fresh leaves. Let's see how we can make the tea and avail the health benefits.

Health Benefits from the Tea

• As it contains sedative properties, it calms your senses and promotes sleep while reducing stress.
• Regular consumption of tea treats nerve pain.
• The tea aids in relieving digestive system disorders and gastrointestinal problems, as it helps in soothing the liver and the gallbladder.
• Lemon balm tea has also been proven to strengthen memory and other functions of brain.
• Although, people with thyroid-related problems are asked to drink the tea, doctor's consultation is required for those who are under thyroid hormone treatment.
• The tea works in enhancing and improving overall mood; makes you feel calm and relaxed.
• As common household uses, the tea treats common cold, flu, influenza, fever, bronchitis, cough, migraine, problems like vertigo, and buzzing sensations in ears.
• Patients suffering from depression or anxiety are advised to drink the tea, as it contains mild antidepressant properties.
• It also helps lower blood pressure because of its tonic effect on the heart and circulatory system.
• With a regular consumption of tea, women can find relief from depression which tend to occur during PMS, postnatal, and menopause.

Make the Tea at Home

As we read about the wondrous tea benefits, to avail all those benefits let's see the different ways of preparing it. You can make the tea with dried or fresh leaves, which you can find in herb gardens or any of the local natural food stores.

Classic Lemon Balm Tea

Ingredients

• 1 large bunch young lemon balm
• Hot water
• Lemon or honey, for taste

Directions

In a pot, boil 300 ml of water. Once the water is hot, add the leaves in the pot and let it sit for at least 10 minutes. Strain the tea in a clean mug and pour in honey and lemon juice for some extra flavoring. You can either drink it hot or keep it in the refrigerator to chill.

Lemon Balm Tea for Cold Relief

Ingredients

• ½ cup dried basil
• ½ cup dried lemon balm
• Whiskey or brandy, optional
• Honey, for taste
• Hot water

Directions

In a bowl, mix the dried basil leaves with the dried tea leaves. Take a tea ball and place the mixed leaves inside as you would for brewing black tea. Boil a cup of hot water. Keep the tea ball inside a pot filled with boiling water. Let the leaves steep for about 5 to 7 minutes. If you have a head cold, it's traditional to add a shot of whiskey or brandy in the tea. But if you have been prescribed or are taking over-the-counter cold medicine, then don't add whiskey or brandy to your tea. Add honey to the hot tea and drink it immediately.

Lemony-Minty Tea

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons orange peel, grated
• 1 cup lemon balm leaves
• 1 cup spearmint leaves
• ½ tablespoon cloves
• Hot water

Directions

In a bowl, mix all the herbs together. In a pot, boil 1 ½ cup of water till it starts to bubble. To make one cup of tea, steep 1 tablespoon of the mixed herbal tea with 1 cup of water. Let it steep for about 5 to 7 minutes and then strain into a clean mug. Drink the hot tea immediately.

Lemon-Rose Tea

Ingredients

• 2 cups dried lemon balm leaves
• 1 cup rosebuds
• 1 cup orange blossoms
• Hot water

Directions

If you purchased the twigs instead of the leaves, then remove the leaves off the twigs and discard them. In a stone grinder, crush the rosebuds, orange blossoms, and lemon balm leaves properly. To make 1 cup of tea, take 2 tablespoons of the mixture and hot water. You can sweeten the tea with 1 tablespoon of honey. Strain it and drink the hot tea immediately.

As far as it is known, there are no known or significant side effects. You can consume the tea while driving and operating heavy machinery. Also, as an added advantage, if you happen to drink alcohol after drinking the tea, alcohol won't be able to hinder the beneficial effects of the tea.