LEMON BALM
Melissa officinalis
Lemon Balm oh Lemon Balm, the love song I could write to this drop of pure sunshine! It’s no secret that winter in Vermont can be, shall we say…. drab. Yes we have those remarkable sunny days shinning over a fresh blanket of sparkly snow. You know what they don’t tell you about those days? It is freeeeezing cold. There is science to back me up on this but I am getting off topic. The point I am making here is that in the depths of winter, when I am low on all of the vitamins and the seasonal woes are hitting me hard Lemon Balm is my saving grace!
NERVINE
An herb that supports, nourishes, regulates the nervous system.
As a nervine, Lemon Balm has a beautifully uplifting effect on our nervous systems.
The bright, lemony, deliriously happy smell of this herb is enough to make me smile. Brew a pot of well dried Lemon Balm tea in the winter and my anxiety begins to ease. The tension I am carrying relaxes and my feeling of melancholy lifts to make room for comfort and hope that warmer days are around the corner. I will often drink Lemon Balm tea on it’s own for a few days to a few weeks depending on my mental/emotional state.
The only thing better than LB tea in the winter? Lemon Balm picked fresh out of the garden!! There is a juicy potency that comes from tea brewed with herbs picked only a few minutes before they go into the water. Sweet in allll the right ways! My FAVORITE summer drink is fresh Lemon Balm, Tulsi and Stevia, steeped in hot water until it cools and put in the fridge for herbal ice tea. We’re talking at least one giant jar a day and extra when company is coming over. I have never served anything that my friends love more than this tea.
I could go on about this herb for ages. I think it’s important to note that along with its unbelievable uses for the nervous system, it is also a beautiful digestive aid. Lemon Balm is gentle and effective at relieving gas and bloating. Its ability to ease tension and the disruption this causes our digestive system is why I included it in the Evening Ease blend.
