LEMON BALM OR MELISSA

Description

Blooming begins in May and the harvesting of the plant has to be carried out prior to that in order to preserve its active principles, since as the plant flowers it loses part of its active principles.

It is original from central and middle Europe and probably from southern France. It is commonly found lengthwise the Iberian Peninsula. It grows in shaded and damp soil and in the forest; although, it is also cultivated in meadows and orchards as it is very ornamental and has a pleasant scent.

Part used

Stem with the leaves, and sometimes the flower apex.

Indications

Internal use

• Digestive disorders, especially those of nervous origin. Digestive spasms, meteorism, flatulence, irritable colon or nervous originated gastritis, heavy and slow digestion, lack of appetite, hepatobiliary dyskinesia, cholecystitis, diarrhea, nausea, vomit, etc.
• Nervous originated heart disorders: hypotension, tachycardia, palpitations.
• Nervous disorders: nervousness, anxiety, stress, irritability, sleep disorders, insomnia, neuro-vegetative distony, depression, etc.
• Blood pressure related headaches.
• Menstrual disorders, dysmenorrhea.
• Respiratory disorders: bronchitis, asthma, etc.

External use

• Headaches, migraines, lumbalgia, rheumatism, arthrosis, arthralgia, contusion, etc. To be applied in massages or fomentations.
• Wounds, insect bites (fresh plant),
• Herpes labialis (oral Herpes simplex) and genital herpes.
• In therapeutic baths to treat nervousness, insomnia, etc.

Bibliography

- Real Farmacopea Española, 1997.

- British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, 1983.

- Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals. Norman Grainger Bisset (Ed). Max Wichtl. CRC Press.1994.

- Plantas Medicinales y Drogas Vegetales para infusión y tisana. Edición española a cargo de: Salvador Cañogueral, Roser Vila, Max Wichtl.1998.

- Plantas Medicinales. Margarita Fernandez y Ana Nieto. Ed Universidad de Navarra. EUNSA 1982.

- Fitoterapia: Vademecum de Prescripción. Plantas Medicinales. Colaboran: Asociación española de médicos naturistas. Colegio Oficial de Farmacéuticos de Vizcaya.

- Matière Médicale (tomo II). RR Paris - H. Moyse. Masson 1981.

- The Complete German Commission E Monographs. Therapeutic Guide To Herbal Medicines. Mark Blumenthal. American Botanical Council 1998.

- Fitoterapia Aplicada. J.B. Peris, G. Stübing, B.Vanaclocha. Colegio Oficial de Farmacéuticos de Valencia 1995.

- Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants. Jean Bruneton. Lavoisier Publishing.

- Plantas Medicinales. El Dioscórides Renovado. Pio Font Quer.

- Guía de Campo de las Flores de Europa. Oleg Polunin. Ediciones Omega S.A. Barcelona, 1977.

- Pharmacognosy 9th edition. Varro E. Tyler – Lynn R. Brady – James E. Robbers.

- Jean Bruneton. Farmacognosia. Fitoquímica Plantas Medicinales. 2ª Edición. 2001. Ed Acribia. S.A.

- Bulletin officiel Nº 90/22 bis" del "Ministère des Affaires Sociales et de la Solidarité, Médicaments a base de Plantes.

- French Public Health Code.

- Benigni, R; Capra, C; Cattorini, P. Piante Medicinali. Chimica, Farmacologia e Terapia. Milano: Inverni & Della Beffa, 1962.

- Bézanger-Beauquesne, L; Pinkas, M; Torck, M. Les Plantes dans la Therapeutique Moderne. 2ª. Paris: Maloine, 1986.

- Bézanger-Beauquesne, L; Pinkas, M; Torck, M; Trotin, F. Plantes Médicinales des Regions Tempérées. Paris: Maloine, 1980.