Super fragrant lemon scented herb. A well-known medicinal. One of our favourite herbs, we use the leaves for tea and tincture. Harvest Lemon Balm any time during the summer, even after the tiny white flowers have appeared. Fresh is best for this herb, as that is when Lemon Balm’s essential oils are at their peak.
In a comprehensive review of the antiviral attributes of Lemon Balm, titled “Antiviral Potential of Melissa officinalis L.: A Literature Review”, Behzadi and colleagues (2023) write:
Melissa officinalis is … utilized for its carminative, antispasmodic, sedative, analgesic, and tonic effects alongside its antioxidant and antiviral effects. Moreover, many articles emphasized the antiviral effect of Melissa officinalis against several viruses (such as HSV-1,18 CPV,19 HBV,11,20,21 HCV11,20,21) and confirmed its effectiveness as an alternative therapy against several viral infections…
Some studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of lemon balm against different diseases such as HIV-1, cancer, and Alzheimer’s. Lemon balm is a rich source of phenolic compounds such as thymol and carvacrol, which are the potential reason for the antibacterial and antioxidant activity of the lemon balm plant. The antimicrobial characteristics of lemon balm have been used against Gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli (E. coli), Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus, Klebsiella and Gram-positive bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Sarcina lutea, betahemolytic Streptococcus, and Bacillus cereus.
And specifically regarding its antiviral effects, the authors write:
Today, research has shown that this plant can also fight viruses including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) through various mechanisms such as inhibiting HSV-1 from binding to host cell, inhibiting HSV-1 replication during the post-adsorption or inhibiting main protease and spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, furthermore, be effective in treating related diseases.
This is a powerful medicinal herb, yet it is easy to grow. And tastes great.
How to Plant: Ease of Germination: Easy. direct sow in spring or start indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost date. Light dependent germinator; cover seeds with a very light covering of soil. If you don’t want Lemon Balm to be a perennial, just plant it in a pot for the summer.
Location: Sun, Partial sun
Life cycle: Perennial (Zone 4 and Up) or Grow as an Annual
Usable Parts: Leaves (dried, fresh)
Uses: Tea, Tincture
Height: 24 to 36 inches
