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Lemon balm had historic use as an attractor of honeybees. (See History & Folklore section.) Research has shown that the plant contains several compounds found in the worker honeybee’s Nasonov gland,

which helps bees communicate about food sources and hive location (17). Both contain citral and

geraniol, and honeybee pheromone contains nerolic acid, which is similar to the nerol found in Melissa citrus packing machine

officinalis (17).

Lemon balm essential oil is extracted from the leaves and flowering tops by steam distillation (65). Oil

yield is typically less than 0.5 ml oil/kg herb (70). The essential oil available commercially may be

adulterated (65, 66) with lemon, lemongrass or citronella (11, 65).

Although the essential oil content of plants of the same species can vary due to environmental

conditions, harvest time and stage of growth (1), for Melissa officinalis, oil content is reportedly highest

in the upper third of the plant (14).

Lemon balm essential oil, oleoresin and natural extractives are considered GRAS (Generally citrus packing machine

Recognized as Safe) (99, 100). The essential oil is GRAS at concentrations of 1-60 ppm (97). The leaf

extract is GRAS at 2000-5000 ppm (97), and up to 0.5% can be included as a flavoring in baked goods

according to U.S. GRAS regulations (14).

Melissa officinalis contains both Vitamin C and Thiamin (a B vitamin). One study detected an average of

254 mg vitamin C per 100 ml of solution (37). According to the same study, drying and storing lemon

balm for over 12 weeks resulted in a 50% reduction in vitamin C content, and deep freezing for this

same time period resulted in a 25% reduction in vitamin C. The Thiamin content was significantly  citrus packing machine lower,

on average only 76.4 mcg per 100 ml of solution (37).

Although lemon balm is generally considered non-toxic, be aware that the plant/leaves may cause

contact dermatitis in susceptible individuals (65, 84).

Lemon balm’s herbal use dates back over 2000 years (54, 72). 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 (60 in 54).

The plant likely originated in Southern Europe and was brought to Spain by the Moors in the 7th  citrus packing machine century;

by the Middle Ages it was cultivated and used throughout Europe (60 in 54).

The genus name, Melissa, means “bee” in Greek, and the plant was likely named for its reputed ability

to attract bees (92, 97). First century Roman naturalist, Pliny the Elder, wrote that lemon balm planted

near bee hives would encourage bees to return (38), and Gerard later claimed that rubbing the leaves

on a hive would “causeth the Bees to keep together and causeth others to come unto them” (38).  citrus packing machine

The specific epithet, officinalis, means “used in medicine” (93) indicating that the species had historic

medicinal uses (87). The common name is derived from the Greek word balsamon, which means

balsam, or “an oily, sweet-smelling resin” (27). Lemon balm appears in historic works under various

spellings including bawme, baume, balme and baulm (91).

Early herbalists and writers praised lemon balm for its medicinal and uplifting qualities. Eleventh century

Persian physician and philosopher Avicenna was an early advocate for the use of lemon balm in treating

depression/melancholy (27). According to an old Arabian proverb, “Balm makes the heart merry and

joyful.” (80)

First century Greek physician Dioscorides wrote that lemon balm would promote menstruation, improve gout, remedy toothaches and if mixed with wine, could be used to treat scorpion stings and dog bites citrus packing machine

(44). Later English herbalists John Gerard (1545-1612) and Nicholas Culpeper (1616-1654) shared

Dioscorides' beliefs on many of lemon balm’s uses. Gerard wrote that, “Bawme drunken in wine is good

against the bitings of venomous beasts, comforts the heart, and driveth away all melancholy and

sadness.” (38). He advised that the juice of lemon balm would “glueth together green wounds.”

Culpepper believed the herb would treat boils, cure melancholy and was good for the heart, mind, liver,

spleen, digestion and fainting (22). According to the London Dispensary (1696) lemon balm in wine

could even prevent baldness (42). Some sources claim that lemon balm was once believed to staunch

blood flow from a sword wound (23, 64) but according to Pliny and Gerard, the plant in question was not

actually common lemon balm (Melissa sp.), but a type of balm known as Smiths Bawme, Iron-wort or

Iewes All-heale, which Gerard classified as Herba indiaca (or Herba indaica) (38).  citrus packing machine

Swiss physician and alchemist Paracelsus (1493-1541) believed that lemon balm was an “elixir of life”

and would increase strength and lengthen life (11, 92, 97). There are a few legends surrounding lemon

balm, health and longevity, and royalty. Both King Charles V of France and Holy Roman Emperor

Charles V are said to have consumed lemon balm beverages to promote health (42, 87).

Members of the Carmelite religious order created a concoction known as Carmelite water or Eau de

Melisse de Carmes, which was believed to promote longevity and improve headaches and neuralgia

(20, 42, 87). (Some sources date the creation of Carmelite water to the seventeenth century (6, 87)  citrus packing machine and

others to the fourteenth century (58).