1. Michael Cefole, PharmD Candidate 2017
Commonwealth Center for Holistic Herbalism
Week 5: 10/17/2016 – 10/21/2016
Herb of the Week: Lemon Balm
Common Name(s): Lemon balm
Scientific Name: Melissa officinalis
Family: Lamiaceae/Labiatae
Uses:
Orally: anxiety, insomnia, dyssomnia, restlessness, dyspepsia, bloating, flatulence, colic,
attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Graves' disease, dysmenorrhea, cramps,
headache, toothache, sores, tumors, insect bites and as an inhalant for aroma therapy for
Alzheimer’s Disease
Topically: cold sores (herpes labialis)
Safety:
Orally: GRAS (generally regarded as safe) in the United States
Topically: GRAS
Pregnancy: insufficient reliable data available; avoid use
Lactation: insufficient reliable data available; avoid use
Efficacy:
Anxiety: clinical research shows that a standardized lemon balm extract (Cyracos) reduces
anxiety-associated symptoms and anxiety manifestations in patients with anxiety disorders
HSV: applying a lip balm containing 1% lemon balm extract seems to shorten healing time
and reduce symptoms of recurring herpes simplex virus if applied at the early stages of
infection
Dosing/Administration:
Adults:
1-cup tea orally several times daily as needed
Tincture (1:5 in 45% in ethanol) 2-6 mL orally three times daily
Standardized liquid extract 300mg, 600mg, 900mg
Children: 3 and 6mg/kg ethanol extract has been given to children 6-7 years of age
Adverse Effects:
Orally: generally well tolerated when taken up to 8 weeks
Topically: generally well tolerated when taken up to 8 weeks
Interactions:
Drugs:
Antidiabetics: in theory, lemon balm could cause hypoglycemia in diabetic patients
concurrently taking antidiabetic drugs. Lemon balm has shown to modestly reduce blood
glucose levels in animal models.
Alcohol and other CNS depressants: theoretically, concomitant use of lemon balm with
drugs with sedative properties may cause additive effects
Foods:
None listed
Herbs/Supplements:
Antidiabetic herbs: in theory, lemon balm could cause an additive effect with other herbs
that lower blood glucose levels. (e.g., alpha-lipoic acid, bitter melon, chromium, devil's claw,
fenugreek, garlic, guar gum, horse chestnut, Panax ginseng, psyllium, Siberian ginseng)
Hypnotic/sedating herbs: in theory, lemon balm could cause an additive effect with other
herbs that have sedative properties. (e.g., 5-HTP, calamus, California poppy, catnip, hops,
Jamaican dogwood, kava, St. John's wort, skullcap, valerian, yerba mansa)
Lab Tests:

2. Michael Cefole, PharmD Candidate 2017
Commonwealth Center for Holistic Herbalism
Week 5: 10/17/2016 – 10/21/2016
Herb of the Week: Lemon Balm
Thyroid function test: in vitro, constituents of lemon balm extract bind to TSH, preventing
TSH receptor-binding and leading to the inhibition of TSH-stimulated adenylate cyclase
activity. In theory, this mechanism will show decreases in circulating levels of thyroid-
stimulating hormone (TSH) and inhibit thyroid secretion.
Diseases:
Diabetes, thyroid disease or surgery
Mechanism of Action:
Applicable parts: above ground parts (i.e., leaf); major constituents: rosmarinic and caffeic
acids, tannins and many polyphenolic compounds that attribute to it’s antidiabetic and
sedative properties
Antidiabetic effects: polyphenolic compounds in lemon balm may inhibit alpha-amylase
activity; as well as, cause an upregulation of glucokinase, GLUT4, PPAR-gamma, PPAR-
alpha, and SREBP-1c, and the downregulation of glucose-6-phosphatase and
phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase.
Anxiolytic/Sedative effects: in animal studies, lemon balm has shown a moderate affinity for
the GABA(A)-benzodiazepine receptor site.
Herbalist Experiences:
Historical:
• The Dispensatory of the United States of America, 1890 – “Balm contains some tannic acid,
and a yellowish, highly flavored essential oil which, however, is present in such small
quantities that the plant has practically no remedial value…essential oil of melissa has been
used as a diaphoretic in doses of from one to three minims (0.06 to 0.2 mil). This oil is a
yellow liquid with a specific gravity of 0.9 to 0.925. Its most important constituent is citral.”
Contemporary:
• Henriette – “Give it a shot for the insomnia coupled with stress…Fidgety kids, especially
before Important Events like Christmas, birthday parties, or dear friends coming over…Mild
gut upsets, mild menstrual cramps…A memory enhancer…It's rather drying, so add some
mallow to your tea if you're a dry person yourself…Lemon balm bath. If there's no bath tub,
give a lemon balm foot bath a try…Eau de mélisse (Melissengeist) (or eau des Carmes
(Karmelitergeist)) is a French distilled lemon balm brandy, natch. You can try something
similar as a tincture: make a lemon balm tincture, strain, and add a handful of various
spices (coriander seed, angelica root, lemon, cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon). Let sit for a
week, strain.”