Lemon Balm

Lemon balm is a great plant to have around. It grows well in containers, pots, inside, outside, herb gardens and any spot outside you have some dirt! :)


The plant can grow two to three feet high and makes a nice green clump of leaves among other herbs or flowers in the garden. And unlike other mint, it does not send out underground runners and become invasive. It is so easy to grow! Just give it a little water every now and then and when it gets too big, trim it up. But be sure not to waste those awesome leaves!


It's fantastic planted on or around your patio, porch, or deck because the delightful lemon aroma attracts beneficial insects such as ladybugs and pollinating honey bees and actually repels mosquitos and annoying gnats! Smells nice AND keeps the bitters away?! YES, PLEASE!

Ancient Herbal Folklore

It was used in ancient Greece and Rome as a topical ointment to treat bug bites and insect stings.Lemon balm was traditionally utilized to uplift spirits and to enhance memory. It was utilized in spells to heal broken hearts and attract love. It was also believed that a bag of fresh or dry lemon balm leaves under one's pillow promoted sleep. In ancient Middle East, a bath in lemon balm leaves was said to promote heart and skin health. Lemon balm is a particularly soothing herb that will help bring relaxation to most people. 

Culinary Uses of Lemon Balm

Lemon balm is a member of the mint family yet smells like sweet lemons! I love fresh lemon balm leaves in my ice tea, cocktails, steeped in hot tea or just floating in a mug of steaming honey-sweetened hot tea. In the summer, I love to take a pitcher, add lemon balm (and or mint leaves), a few lemon slices, add cold water and keep in the fridge. More flavor than plain water and so refreshing on sweltering hot summer days! Alternatively, freeze fresh-washed leaves into ice cubes for use in any beverage. The leaves are delicious chopped in fruit or green salads, is the perfect herb to season fish, and is a great accompaniment to roasted or grilled chicken. Lemon balm enhances any culinary dish! Here is a link to an easy chicken recipe with lemon balm.


Like many fresh herbs, lemon balm will lose flavor in cooking so it is best to add near the end of cooking a dish. Use up as much of the fresh leaves as you can during spring and summer (growing season). When dry, the lemon balm leaves lose much of their flavor but are still very fragrant and so make a wonderful addition to potpourri.

Herbal Remedy & DIY Uses for Lemon Balm

Many people use the medicinal properties of lemon balm for anxiety, restlessness, and sleeplessness. Lemon balm is used for treating digestive issues, upset stomach, bloating, for pain including menstrual cramps, headache, toothache. Aromatherapy techniques use lemon balm for Alzheimer's patients to inhale. Some people use lemon balm on skin to treat cold sores.


To use lemon balm on your skin as an astringent or to treat acne or bug bits, make a tea by pouring boiling water over a cup of fresh lemon balm leaves. Let it steep for 15 minutes, strain leaves. Use the lemon balm tea (for drinking) but also for topical use or a hair rinse.  Lemon balm has tons of antioxidants and once penetrated into the skin, helps protect against harful UV rays.Crush a handful of lemon balm leaves and run onto your skin (avoid the face) to protect yourself from mosquitos! Lemon balm has been found to be very effective in treating cold sores.This is a link to a DIY recipe for making your own lemon balm lip cream, which is claimed to help alleviate cold sores.


Here is one link to some more great ideas to use lemon balm in the kitchen or around your house.

Recipes

Lemon balm syrup

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• Lots of chopped lemon balm leaves (I use about 3 cups)

Boil water and sugar until sugar dissolves. Add lemon balm. Simmer for a few more minutes. Remove from the heat, let cool for 30 minutes, then strain the syrup, discarding the leaves.

Lemon balm frozen margarita, kid-friendly

 First you have to make the syrup. Then put 1/4 cup of it in a blender (you can adjust the amount to your preference), along with 1/2 can frozen limeade, 2 cups crushed ice cubes, 5 oz. club soda. Blend until smooth. (Add an ounce of tequila to make the grown-up version!)

Enjoy your Sunday! I'm gonna go have a big ol' glass of sweet ice tea with some fresh sprigs of lemon balm in it, wear a big ol' hat, and sit on my porch swing in the 105-degree heat and enjoy the drink, the scent of lemon, and the shade of the muscadine vines over my swing! Soon it'll be time to harvest muscadines from making juices and jellies! Cheers, Ramsey 

Check out a few of our other blog posts you may like: The Slow Life? , Canning, Aloe, & Rosemary Hair Rinse