PDR for Herbal Medicines

462/LEMON BALM

calyx is campanulate, bilabiate, and it has a shortly dentate

upper lip. The corolla tube is curved upward. The upper lip is

slightly domed and divided in two parts, the lower lip is 3-

lobed with an extended middle lobe. The flower has 4

stamens. The fruit is an oblong-ovate, 1.5 to 2 mm long and

chestsyit-brown, nutlet.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a perennial that grows

up to 90 cm high, with an erect, quadrangular, branched and

sparsely haired to glabrous stem. The leaves are petiolate and

have an ovate to rhomboid, 2 to 6 cm long and 1.5 to 5 cm

wide crenate leaf blade, which is shortly pointed at the end,

and stunted or wedge-shaped at the base. It is usually only

pubescent above or completely glabrous.

Characteristics: Before flowering, the taste and smell is

lemon-like, later becoming astringent to balm-like and

warming.

Habitat: The plant is indigenous to the east Mediterranean

region and west Asia, and is cultivated in central Europe or

established in the wild.

Production: Lemon balm is the fresh or dried leaves of

Melissa officinalis as well as its preparations. The leaves are

collected before flowering or before there is too much

branching. Leaves and stem are separated and comminuted

and dried quickly at temperatures between 30 to 40° C.

Not to be Confused With: Nepeta cataria. var. citriodora

(lemon cat mint).

Other Names: Balm, Sweet Mary, Honey Plant, Cure-AH,

Dropsy Plant, Melissa

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Volatit&f&ft-*{(W2-0.8%): chief components geranial (citral

a), neral (citral "S), citronellal (together 40^75% of the

volatile oil, aroma-carrier), furthermore, linalool, geraniol,

geranylactetate, methyl citronellate, trans-P-ocimene, 1-Oc-

ten-3-ol, 6-methyl-5-heptene-2-on. beta-caryophyllene, cary-

ophyllebepoxide, germacren D, eugenol

Glycosides: of the alcoholic or phenolic components of the

volatile oil, for example eugenol glucoside

Caffeic acid derivatives: rosmaric acid (up to 4.7%)

Flavonoids: including among others cynaroside, cosmosiin,
rhamnocitrin, isoquercitrin
Triterpene acids: including among others ursolic acid. Only
the very fresh drug (maximum 6 months old) is usable as a
sedative, because of the low volatile oil content and its high
volatility; the requirements of the German-language medica-
tion texts do not take this into consideration (no minimum
content requirement given).

PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

EFFECTS

The drug has mild sedative and carminative, spasmolytic,

antibacterial, antiviral, anti-oxidative and anti-hormonal

effects.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Approved by Commission E:

• Nervousness and insomnia
  The drug is used for nervous agitation and sleeping
  problems.
  Unproven Uses: In folk medicine, the drug is utilized as
  decoctions of the flowering shoots for nervous complaints,
  lower abdominal disorders, meteorism, nervous gastric
  complaints, hysteria and melancholia, chronic bronchial
  catarrh, nervous palpitations, vomiting, migraine, nervous
  debility, headache and high blood pressure. It is used
  externally for rheumatism, nerve pains and stiff necks
  (compress).

Homeopathic Uses: Melissa officinalis is used for menstrual

irregularities.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction

with the proper administration of designated therapeutic

dosages.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Comminuted herb, herb powder,

liquid extracts or dry extracts for teas and other galenic

preparations; liquid and solid forms for internal and external

use; combinations with other sedative and/or carminative

herbs may be beneficial.

How Supplied:..

Capsules — 395 mg

Preparation: To prepare an infusion pour one cup of hot

water over 1.5 to 4.5 gm of the drug and strain after 10

minutes.

Daily Dosage: The average daily dose is 1.5 to 4.5 gm of

drug.

Homeopathic Dosage: 5 drops, 1 tablet or 10 globules every

30 to 60 minutes (acute) or 1 to 3 times daily (chronic);

parenterally: 1 to 2 ml sc acute, 3 times daily; chronic: once

a day (HAB34).

Storage: Store in well-sealed, non-plastic containers, protect-

ed from light and moisture for up to 1 year.

LITERATURE

Aufmkolk M, (1985) Endocrinology 116(5): 1687.

Aufmkolk M et al., (1984) Endocrinology 115(2):527.

Aufmkolk M et al., (1984) Horm Metab Res 16(4): 183.