Different Uses for Lemon Balm

If you have made the mistake -- as I did -- of actually planting lemon balm (Melissa officianalis) in your yard, you are probably wondering what you are now going to do with all of that lemon balm you currently have growing everywhere. There is, after all, only so much lemon balm tea you can drink. Lemon balm does have many other uses, though. Before you decide, therefore, that the remainder of your life is going to be spent ripping lemon balm out of your yard, you should try using lemon balm in other ways besides for making tea. [For more about this herb, see Lemon Balm: Grow an Ancient Herb in Your Garden.]

Culinary uses
Lemon balm imparts a subtle lemon flavor to any dish to which it is added.. Try chopping some fresh leaves and sprinkling them over sections of fresh oranges. Drizzle with a mixture of fresh orange and lemon juices, add some honey, and enjoy a refreshing fruit salad. You can also try stuffing a whole baking chicken with a few handfuls of fresh lemon balm leaves. Place the chicken on a bed of more fresh leaves, baste the chicken with honey, and bake as usual. You can add the fresh leaves to any food that would benefit from a hint of lemon; e.g., soups, salads, sauces, poultry, seafood, and desserts. By the way, you can also make a lemon balm wine cocktail, which will be great for relieving all of the stress that you have put on yourself by planting lemon balm in your yard. [For directions, see my article on How to Make a Lemon Balm Wine Cocktail.]

Medicinal uses
Lemon balm has sedative and relaxing properties, which is why it is so popular in tea. You can also drink the tea to alleviate tension headaches and even indigestion. However, you do not have to just drink tea to experience the medicinal benefits of lemon balm. It can also be used externally in infusions, poultices, and ointments to treat skin irritations and insect bites and stings. Lemon balm is actually an effective insect repellent, so rub your arms and legs with the fresh leaves when you are working outside to keep the bugs at bay. Finally, try some essential oil of lemon balm in your aromatherapy to help ease feelings of anxiety.

Household uses
Use lemon balm and distilled white vinegar to make an all-purpose cleanser that not only works well on all surfaces (except marble) but is also environmentally friendly. Just infuse the fresh leaves in the vinegar, strain into a spray bottle, and add some fresh lemon juice or essential oil of lemon balm. Lemon balm has antibacterial properties, which makes it an ideal cleanser. I have also used the fresh leaves to clean outdoor wood furniture.

Cosmetic uses
Make a steamy facial for complexions troubled by acne and take advantage of the astringent properties of lemon balm. You can also add some lemon balm to your collection of herbs that you use in your herbal baths.

References:

Houdret, Jessica. Practical Herb Garden. London, England: Hermes House, 2003.

Kowalchik, Claire and William H. Hylton, eds. Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, Inc., 1998.