Lemon balm

Etymology

Melissa officinalis: the Latin name for this herb comes from the Greek meliteion, which means “lemon balm”. The word stem meli (Greek for “honey”) comes from the fact that lemon balm is cultivated as a plant for bees. Officinalis means “officially used as a medicinal plant”.

Melissa officinalis
Melissa officinalis

Characteristics

Plant family Lamiaceae (labiate)
Flowering season June to August
Harvest Before flowering: June to August
Origin Eastern Mediterranean and western Asia
Vegetation Dry grassland, shrubs, sparse forests

 

History

Eternally popular

Saint Hildegard wrote about lemon balm as far back as the 11th century:

«Lemon balm contains within it the virtues of a dozen other plants, being especially adept at relieving anxiety and sleeplessness.»

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