Lemon Balm — Nardea

Plant description

Extracted by steam distillation from the leaves fresh of Lemon balm officinalis L. (lemon balm, cedronella, lemon balm), perennial herbaceous plant of the Lamiaceae widespread in Europe, Asia western and Nordafrica in the areas fresh and wet — giardini, siepi, boschi riparial — where grows in piena ombra or semiombra. Gia in the XI century Avicenna descriveva the lemon balm as remedy for the sadness of the anima and the melancholy. The phytochemical profile is dominated by citral (geranial + neral: 25-45%), beta-caryophyllene (15-25%) and citronellal (10-20%), with linalool and geraniol. The citral has documented properties antiviral against HSV-1 and HSV-2 (herpes labial and genital), antibacterial and ansiolitic. The beta-caryophyllene contributes to the properties anti-inflammatory (agonist of the receptor CB2 of the endocannabinoidi). L'oil of lemon balm and one of the more costous for the low resa (350-700 kg of leaves fresh for 1 kg of oil) — frequentely adulterato with lemongrass, citronella or citral sintetic. In aromatherapy and used as antiviral for herpes, anxiolytic and sedative, antidepressant, tonic digestive and antispasmodic. Top note fresh, limoncina and sweet.

Origin

Europe, Asia

Part used

Leaves and flowering tops

Extraction method

Steam distillation

Main uses

The lemon balm is useful for treat numerous disorders of origin nervous as insomnia, headache, spossatezza, spasms of the stomaco, pain nevralgic, palpitations, assenza of mestruations and pain mestrual;also, is suitable in case of ipocondria, dizziness and disorders of the memory.
Giova to problems legati to the sfera emotional, as ipersensibility, panico and agitation;counteracts also the effects negative of the stress and helps aritrovare gioia and vitality.
Quest'essence facilitates the ovulation and the fecondity, helps to regolarizzareil menstrual cycle and ne relieves the pain.
IS antispasmodic and calms the nausea and the vomiting.
In concentration very low, is a oil veraly precious in the treatment of eczema and other conditions of the skin.
Acts on the heart and contributes ad lower the blood pressure and counteract the acceleration cardiaca.

Recipes & blends

Anti-herpes topical

2 drops Lemon balm + 1 drop Tea tree + 1 drop Lavender in 5 ml of gel of aloe vera. Apply to the lesioni herpetic with a cotton fioc to the primo segnal of formicolio, 3-4 times for day.

Sedative neurovegetative

3 drops Lemon balm + 2 drops Lavender + 2 drops Neroli in the diffuser. Recommended for anxiety generalizzata, palpitations nervous and states of agitation emotional.

Digestive anti-colite nervous

2 drops Lemon balm + 2 drops Fennel + 1 drop Chamomile Roman in 15 ml of almond oil. Massage on the abdomen in sense time for colite spastic, bloating and cramps nervous.

Recupero emotional post-trauma

3 drops Lemon balm + 2 drops Rose + 2 drops Sandalwood in the diffuser. Blend of support in the fasi of elaboration of the pain emotional, of the perdita and of the lutto.

Hypertension nervous quotidiana

2 drops Lemon balm + 3 drops Marjoram + 2 drops Lavender in the diffuser. Reduces the pressione sistolic in the forme ipertensive to component nervous.

Harmonization

Blends well with:

Lavanda Neroli Camomilla romana Bergamotto Ylang Ylang Rosa damascena

Contraindications

In genereèatossic but are possible irritations skin and sensitization:use in small amount. Occorre fare attention poiché is one of the oils more frequentely adulterati.