For many herbalists lemon balm is a staple in the herbal garden. For me though, this is the first year I have grown lemon balm and I only have a couple of plants. One is in a pot just outside the front door so that is where I went first to collect the fresh leaves to make into tinctures.
Then I went down to the garden where lemon balm is growing alongside oregano and squash plants. Around mid morning is a good time to harvest herbs because the sun isn’t shining with full force yet and the dew of the morning should have dried by then. This day in particular was pretty humid so, I left my herbs in the basket for about an hour while the remaining dew evaporated before making the tincture.
Inside I began by removing the leaves from the stalks and then chopping the leaves with a knife. I then grabbed a jar that was the right size for the amount of herb I had. I used one of these small jars and the fresh herb filled the jar till about half way, if you are going to use dried herbs to make a tincture, keep in mind that the herb will expand with the introduction of vodka, so I suggest filling the jar a bit less than halfway with the herb you want to tincture.
Then I filled the rest of the jar to the top with vodka. Put the lid on and, as always, labeled the jar before storing it away in the apothecary. In one month's time it will be ready to separate the vodka from the herbal material and put into small dropper bottles for easy use whenever I need it.
Medicinal Properties of Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Lemon Balm is great for easing tension and stress and is also a digestive aid for upset stomachs. Some people even call lemon balm and anti-depressant though I personally prefer the term uplifting.
According to my most often referred to herbalism book by Michael Tierra lemon balm "treats fevers, nervousness, hysteria, insomnia, melancholy, depression, cramps, and flatulence."
Tierra then goes on to say that lemon balm is an ideal herb from children who tend to like the flavor of the tea (especially with honey!) The tea or tincture can aid kids in unwinding after a hectic day, relieve an upset stomach so common with young ones, or as a morning infusion to help them pay attention in their classes. (from Planetary Herbology by Michael Tierra)
Reading through all the properties of lemon balm in Planetary Herbology alongside all that I have heard about this herb from social media over the years makes me so glad that I will have a tincture on hand all winter long to help me keep happy and upbeat as the weather turns cold and the days become shorter.