A lemon-scented plant from the mint family (Lamiaceae), lemon balm is both pleasant and effective. It relaxes, soothes, and helps you let go. Native American traditions say it promotes deep sleep and inspires dreams.
Lemon Balm and the Nervous System
Lemon balm acts on the limbic system, the brain network that regulates mood and emotions. Suitable for all temperaments and constitutions, it is exceptional for emotional hyperreactivity and helps gently calm “behavioral incoherences.”
It soothes both emotional overload and the sense of emptiness or lack. Lemon balm dispels feelings of fear, anxiety, and worry. With a particular affinity for the feminine sphere, it helps relieve irritability and emotional discomfort linked to the menstrual cycle or perimenopause.
A true ally for those who are tense, fatigued, or sleepless, it brings calm, rest, and a sense of fullness.
All mints have mild calming effects on the nervous system, but lemon balm has something extra: it’s one of the few acidic mints, and that acidity brings an added refreshing energetic quality, especially beneficial for anxiety.
Anxiety can be seen as a “hot” condition, often accompanied by palpitations and bursts of stress hormones (adrenaline, cortisol), which speed up metabolism and increase glucose use. In other words, our internal engine is burning more fuel.
The citronellal in lemon balm’s essential oil also exerts a sedative effect on the nervous system.
Science-Backed Benefits Against Anxiety
Volunteers with mild to moderate anxiety and sleep disturbances reported a 15–18% reduction in anxiety symptoms after 15 days of taking a standardized lemon balm extract.
By the end of the study, 70% reported complete remission of anxiety, and 85% were free of sleep issues [1].
Other studies have examined lemon balm’s impact on the GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) cycle. GABA is the main calming neurotransmitter of the nervous system. GABA receptors are the target of benzodiazepine drugs, which enhance GABA’s inhibitory effects.
It has been shown that lemon balm inhibits the enzyme GABA transaminase, which breaks down GABA. By doing so, it helps maintain higher GABA levels in the brain, producing a natural anxiolytic effect. Compounds responsible include rosmarinic, ursolic, and oleanolic acids [2].
Other research found that lemon balm reduces stress hormones from the adrenal glands and increases GABA levels in mouse brains [3].
Digestive Benefits of Lemon Balm
Lemon balm is also known as a digestive tonic. Its slight bitterness stimulates gastric juice secretion and gently supports liver and gallbladder functions.
Thanks to its antispasmodic properties, it effectively relieves cramps and digestive spasms. Its antibacterial essential oils help eliminate gas-producing bacteria and prevent fermentation.
Its pleasant lemony taste also makes it a perfect remedy for nausea and vomiting, even during pregnancy.
The Vital Link Between the Nervous and Digestive Systems
The enteric nervous system, sometimes called the “second brain”, is part of the autonomic nervous system and controls digestion. It works closely with the central nervous system, so when one is affected, the other often is too.
This shows how deeply connected the two systems are, and why lemon balm stands out: it harmonizes both. When stress, anxiety, and digestive issues coexist, this herb truly shines.
Two of our products, Euphoryl and Stay Asleep contain lemon balm, known for its soothing and comforting properties.
References
[1] Cases, J., Ibarra, A., Feuillère, N. et al. (2011). Pilot trial of Melissa officinalis L. leaf extract in the treatment of volunteers suffering from mild-to-moderate anxiety disorders and sleep disturbances. Med J Nutrition Metab, 4(3):211–218.
[2] Awad, R., Muhammad, A., Durst, T. et al. (2009). Bioassay-guided fractionation of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) using an in vitro measure of GABA transaminase activity. Phytother Res, 23(8):1075–81.
[3] Yoo, D.Y., Choi, J.H., Kim, W. et al. (2011). Effects of Melissa officinalis L. (lemon balm) extract on neurogenesis associated with serum corticosterone and GABA in the mouse dentate gyrus. Neurochem Res, 36(2):250–7.
All the information on our products in this document and their components is for general information only and was made with the best of our knowledge. It does not claim in any way of suggesting a diagnosis or a treatment.
