Balm

(Melissa officinalis L., Labiatae)

Also Called: Bawm, Cure-all, Dropsy Plant, Garden Balm, Lemon Balm, Melissa, Sweet Balm.

Description: Perennial, scented herb, increasing in size each year, up to 30-100cm (12-40in) high.
The stem is upright, square, somewhat hairly, slightly branched at first but abundantly branched in the flowering region.
The leaves are opposite, ovate or triangular, long-petioled, somewhat hairy, bluntly serrate, and acuminate, 3-5cm (1-2in) long (significantly smaller on the flowering branches),
The bilabiate flowers 0.8-1.5cm (0 3-0.6in) long, indistinct, corolla white; grow in axillary clusters of 3-6 on a short peduncle in the axils of leaves, and may vary in colour from pale yellow to rose coloured or blue-white.
The flowering time is July and August.
When bruised, the whole plant smells like lemon.

Part Used: Dried leaves; at times the flowering shoots are used domestically.

Habitat and Cultivation: Common in the Mediterranean area and the Near East, widespread in southern Europe as a garden plant and at times as an escape in stony places.
Mostly it is cultivated as a culinary herb in southern England and naturalised in some places, growing wild in fields and gardens and along roadsides.
Cultivation is from seeds, which germinate slowly, or preferably by division of plants, prefers good soil that is not too dry, planting is 30 x 40cm (12 x 16in).
The drug is collected 2-3 times annually as soon as the shoots attain a height of 30 cm (1 2in).
Drying is in the shade at less than 35° C (95° F), as rapidly as possible because the leaves readily turn brown if dried too slowly.
The plants may be cropped for 4-8 years.
Yield: 20-35 kg (44-771b) per are (120 sq yd) from 2nd year onwards.
Collect the plant before or after flowering.
The fresh plant is more effective than the dried.

Constituents and Action Volatile oil.
In small doses it is a digestive carminative; in large doses it is a mild soporific;
It reduces blood pressure to a small extent and slows the pulse.Antispasmodic, calmative, carminative, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, stomachic.
Balm is a remedy for common female complaints and is useful for all sorts of nervous problems, hysteria, melancholy, and insomnia.
Use balm tea to relieve cramps, dyspepsia, flatulence, colic, chronic bronchial catarrh, and some forms of asthma.
Try It also for migraine and toothache, and, during pregnancy, for headaches and dizziness.
The warm infusion has diaphoretic effects.
An infusion of the leaves added to bath water Is also said to promote the onset of menstruation.
Use the crushed leaves as a poultice for sores, tumors, milk-knots, and insect bites.
Balm is also used In herb pillows because of its agreeable odor.

Usage: As an infusion (5-25g (0.17-0.8oz) in 1 litre (1.75pt) of boiling water, do not boil) for stomach disturbances, nausea, abdominal pain.
Infusion: Use 2 tsp. chopped herb or leaves to 1 cup boiling water. Drink warm, as required.
Cold Extract: Use 2 tbsp. per cup of cold water; let stand 8 hours.
Tincture: The dose is 1/2 to 1 tsp.
Powder: Take 10 to 40 grains at a time.
Soothing for nervous conditions and an expectorant for bronchitis (action uncertain).